Kaufman, Orville (d. 1935)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1935 Aug 7 p. 1

Birth date:

text of obituary:

Tragic Accident Happens While Two boys Play.

Freeman, S. d., Aug. 1. — Friday morning, July 26, Orville Kaufman and Raymond Ries, the closest and most intimate of friends and pals, were target shooting when a tragic accident occurred. Both boys were experienced with firearms and fully knew the danger of them.

Unfortunately the boys picked up an old repeating rifle that was in poor working condition. The repeater worked heavy and the force Raymond put to it brought the barrel of the gun down. His hand slipped and the thumb accidentally caught the trigger which caused th e gun to discharge. Orville, who was sitting near by, received the discharge. The bullet penetrated the left arm and lodged in the abdomen. Orville was rushed to the hospital at Yankton where an operation was performed. His condition failed to respond and it was found necessary to undertake a second operation in the evening, when the surgeon discovered two more bullet wounds, but the boy never regained consciousness.

The father of the unfortunate lad had just bought him a new bicycle on the day of the tragedy.