Sheppard, Ben. Obituary
Montgomery, AL Advertiser
March 1, 1881
Submitted by Larry E. Caver, Jr.
lecaverjr@aol.com




March 1, 1881:


A colored youth about 18 years old, named Ben SHEPPARD, 
met with a fatal accident on Wednesday last, near the 
burying ground on Mr. A.J. WELLBORN's place, 
a few miles north of this city.  He was attending the 
funeral of his sister's child, but had taken his gun along 
with him, with the intention of trying to shoot a rabbit 
after the funeral… After the funeral he went to the bush 
to get his gun, seizing it by the muzzle and pulling it 
toward him.  In doing so the gun fired, lodging the whole 
load of large squirrel shot in the pit of his stomach, 
and producing his death in ten or fifteen minutes. 
-Eufaula Bulletin