The Brookhaven Ledger
Brookhaven, Mississippi

August 3, 1882

On July 22nd, a negro boy, Willis Bell, about sixteen years of age killed himself on the plantation of Dr. W.G. Ford, about three miles west of Wesson. The particulars, as related, are as follows: Some of the negroes on the place had traded a violin for a pistol and placed the same loaded in a trunk. Willis was lying on the bed alone in the room, and the trunk was at the edge of the bed. Leaning over, he took out the pistol, and in putting it back the hammer struck the lid of the trunk, exploding the weapon, the ball penetrating the lung. He died in ten minutes.

Page Created January 18, 2006
©2006  Jane Combs  All Rights Reserved
Submission Remains the Property of Jymie Carol Ford Inmon