I'd Have Sworn It Was A Turkey

From "The Daily Madisonian" August 16th, 1851

DREADFUL CASUALTY.-0n the morning of the

8th inst., a man by the name of William Stafford

acidentalIy shot Mr. David Rea, In Shelby

township, Ripley county. The circumstances are

these: Mr.Rea, the day prevlous, had been into

the woods and killed three wild turkeys. When

he went home he related his good success to Mr.

S., and told him the vicinity in which he killed

them. The next morning about daylight they

both repaired to the place-neither knowing the

design of the other. Mr. Rea got upon the ground

first, concealed himself by the side of a log, and

commenced squaling, in imitation of the turkey,

by blowing through his fingers, or an instrument

made for that purpose. Mr. S. being a short dis-

rance off, heard him, and looking in the direction

of the noise, saw Mr. Rea's head rising above a

Log. Supposing it to be turkey, he took delibe-

rate aim and shot him in the head - the ball entered

the occipital region and lodging in the frontal, pro

duced instant death.

Mr- Rea was a most excellent citizen; loved and

respected by all who knew him, and has left a wife

and large family of children to lament his untimely

end.- Aurora Standard.