Delhi, Dec. 14 — C. P. Baxter, 38, prominent Delhi business man, was accidentally shot and killed by a companion on a bird hunt near here this afternoon.
The fatal shot came from the gun of Richard Lee Sims of Delhi, friend of Baxter, and struck the latter full in the right side. He died before a physician was able to reach him.
Sims stated they were about 15 feet apart when their dog flushed a covey of birds close by. In the excitement, he said, his gun went off accidentally.
The two men were hunting in the woods about four miles south of here, and the tragedy occurred about sundown.
Baxter was well-known in this vicinity. He was the owner of a lumber and building materials business, and a member of the city council. He also was a deacon in the Baptist church, a Mason, and secretary of the Delhi Lions Club. Baxter came here about 13 years ago, and had distinguished himself as a progressive and civic-minded man.
Surviving are his wife, his widowed mother, Mrs. E. I. Baxter, who lives in Delhi, a son, William, aged 8, and a sister and six brothers. The sister is Mrs. Will Douglas of McGehee, Ark., and the brothers are: Don Baxter, of Delhi; Earl Baxrer, who is attending school at Arkadelphia, Ark., Andrew and George Baxter of Dermott, Ark., Roger Baxter, of Groof, Texas; Victor Baxter of Eudora, Ark.
Mr. Sims is a local cotton buyer, and was a close friend of Baxter's. They liked to hunt together, and their excursions into the woods for game had been numerous.
Whether Sims touched the trigger or something caught on it, or whether it discharged from another cause, he does not know for sure. As the covey of birds arose, he reached to release the safety. It is possible, he said, that the safety was already released, and that he touched the trigger in moving his hand to the safety.
"My God, I've shot you, I think." said Sims as the gun discharged. Baxter, who was still standing, replied, "Yes, but it's too late."
Sims rushed to his side and helped him to lay down. He then hurried through the woods to get a physician. On return with the doctor, Baxter was dead.
Citizens of Delhi were shocked and grieved to learn of the sudden death, removing an outstanding figure in the life of the community. The funeral was held Monday afternoon and the popular citizen was laid to rest with Masonic honors, A large number of admiring friends and acquaintances from Delhi and other neighboring towns and communities were present to pay their last respects.
Published in The Franklin Sun (Winnsboro, LA), December 26, 1929
The fatal shot came from the gun of Richard Lee Sims of Delhi, friend of Baxter, and struck the latter full in the right side. He died before a physician was able to reach him.
Sims stated they were about 15 feet apart when their dog flushed a covey of birds close by. In the excitement, he said, his gun went off accidentally.
The two men were hunting in the woods about four miles south of here, and the tragedy occurred about sundown.
Baxter was well-known in this vicinity. He was the owner of a lumber and building materials business, and a member of the city council. He also was a deacon in the Baptist church, a Mason, and secretary of the Delhi Lions Club. Baxter came here about 13 years ago, and had distinguished himself as a progressive and civic-minded man.
Surviving are his wife, his widowed mother, Mrs. E. I. Baxter, who lives in Delhi, a son, William, aged 8, and a sister and six brothers. The sister is Mrs. Will Douglas of McGehee, Ark., and the brothers are: Don Baxter, of Delhi; Earl Baxrer, who is attending school at Arkadelphia, Ark., Andrew and George Baxter of Dermott, Ark., Roger Baxter, of Groof, Texas; Victor Baxter of Eudora, Ark.
Mr. Sims is a local cotton buyer, and was a close friend of Baxter's. They liked to hunt together, and their excursions into the woods for game had been numerous.
Whether Sims touched the trigger or something caught on it, or whether it discharged from another cause, he does not know for sure. As the covey of birds arose, he reached to release the safety. It is possible, he said, that the safety was already released, and that he touched the trigger in moving his hand to the safety.
"My God, I've shot you, I think." said Sims as the gun discharged. Baxter, who was still standing, replied, "Yes, but it's too late."
Sims rushed to his side and helped him to lay down. He then hurried through the woods to get a physician. On return with the doctor, Baxter was dead.
Citizens of Delhi were shocked and grieved to learn of the sudden death, removing an outstanding figure in the life of the community. The funeral was held Monday afternoon and the popular citizen was laid to rest with Masonic honors, A large number of admiring friends and acquaintances from Delhi and other neighboring towns and communities were present to pay their last respects.
Published in The Franklin Sun (Winnsboro, LA), December 26, 1929
Delhi, Dec. 14 — C. P. Baxter, 38, prominent Delhi business man, was accidentally shot and killed by a companion on a bird hunt near here this afternoon.
The fatal shot came from the gun of Richard Lee Sims of Delhi, friend of Baxter, and struck the latter full in the right side. He died before a physician was able to reach him.
Sims stated they were about 15 feet apart when their dog flushed a covey of birds close by. In the excitement, he said, his gun went off accidentally.
The two men were hunting in the woods about four miles south of here, and the tragedy occurred about sundown.
Baxter was well-known in this vicinity. He was the owner of a lumber and building materials business, and a member of the city council. He also was a deacon in the Baptist church, a Mason, and secretary of the Delhi Lions Club. Baxter came here about 13 years ago, and had distinguished himself as a progressive and civic-minded man.
Surviving are his wife, his widowed mother, Mrs. E. I. Baxter, who lives in Delhi, a son, William, aged 8, and a sister and six brothers. The sister is Mrs. Will Douglas of McGehee, Ark., and the brothers are: Don Baxter, of Delhi; Earl Baxrer, who is attending school at Arkadelphia, Ark., Andrew and George Baxter of Dermott, Ark., Roger Baxter, of Groof, Texas; Victor Baxter of Eudora, Ark.
Mr. Sims is a local cotton buyer, and was a close friend of Baxter's. They liked to hunt together, and their excursions into the woods for game had been numerous.
Whether Sims touched the trigger or something caught on it, or whether it discharged from another cause, he does not know for sure. As the covey of birds arose, he reached to release the safety. It is possible, he said, that the safety was already released, and that he touched the trigger in moving his hand to the safety.
"My God, I've shot you, I think." said Sims as the gun discharged. Baxter, who was still standing, replied, "Yes, but it's too late."
Sims rushed to his side and helped him to lay down. He then hurried through the woods to get a physician. On return with the doctor, Baxter was dead.
Citizens of Delhi were shocked and grieved to learn of the sudden death, removing an outstanding figure in the life of the community. The funeral was held Monday afternoon and the popular citizen was laid to rest with Masonic honors, A large number of admiring friends and acquaintances from Delhi and other neighboring towns and communities were present to pay their last respects.
Published in The Franklin Sun (Winnsboro, LA), December 26, 1929
The fatal shot came from the gun of Richard Lee Sims of Delhi, friend of Baxter, and struck the latter full in the right side. He died before a physician was able to reach him.
Sims stated they were about 15 feet apart when their dog flushed a covey of birds close by. In the excitement, he said, his gun went off accidentally.
The two men were hunting in the woods about four miles south of here, and the tragedy occurred about sundown.
Baxter was well-known in this vicinity. He was the owner of a lumber and building materials business, and a member of the city council. He also was a deacon in the Baptist church, a Mason, and secretary of the Delhi Lions Club. Baxter came here about 13 years ago, and had distinguished himself as a progressive and civic-minded man.
Surviving are his wife, his widowed mother, Mrs. E. I. Baxter, who lives in Delhi, a son, William, aged 8, and a sister and six brothers. The sister is Mrs. Will Douglas of McGehee, Ark., and the brothers are: Don Baxter, of Delhi; Earl Baxrer, who is attending school at Arkadelphia, Ark., Andrew and George Baxter of Dermott, Ark., Roger Baxter, of Groof, Texas; Victor Baxter of Eudora, Ark.
Mr. Sims is a local cotton buyer, and was a close friend of Baxter's. They liked to hunt together, and their excursions into the woods for game had been numerous.
Whether Sims touched the trigger or something caught on it, or whether it discharged from another cause, he does not know for sure. As the covey of birds arose, he reached to release the safety. It is possible, he said, that the safety was already released, and that he touched the trigger in moving his hand to the safety.
"My God, I've shot you, I think." said Sims as the gun discharged. Baxter, who was still standing, replied, "Yes, but it's too late."
Sims rushed to his side and helped him to lay down. He then hurried through the woods to get a physician. On return with the doctor, Baxter was dead.
Citizens of Delhi were shocked and grieved to learn of the sudden death, removing an outstanding figure in the life of the community. The funeral was held Monday afternoon and the popular citizen was laid to rest with Masonic honors, A large number of admiring friends and acquaintances from Delhi and other neighboring towns and communities were present to pay their last respects.
Published in The Franklin Sun (Winnsboro, LA), December 26, 1929
Gravesite Details
He was the husband of Ruth Spiers Baxter. My thanks to Scout Finch for providing the obituary.
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