Pubished in The Annona News, April 2, 1914

Front page story under the headline

"Howard Fuller Dies From Pistol Shot"

Young man who was accidentally shot in telephone office Friday night passed away Sunday morning.

Howard B. Fuller, aged 19 years. Son of Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Fuller and who was accidentally shot with a 44 caliber pistol in the office of the Texarkana Telephone Company's exchange here at 11:30 Friday night, died at the residence of his parents about five o'clock Sunday morning from the effect of the wound. Funeral services were held at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Fuller at 10 o'clock Monday morning, followed by internment in the Annona cemetery. The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. K. R. Isbell, preceded and followed by several appropriate songs by the local church choirs. Every business house in town was closed and one of the largest crowds that ever attended a funeral at this place gathered to pay the last sad rites to the memory of the character of this young man. Nearly a hack load of lovely and beautiful floral wreaths were tendered by relatives and friends of Anonna, Paris and other points. The pall bearers were: Jack Nuckabay, Guy Housouer, B. G. Tidwell, R. D. Rhodes, W. W. Brown and Al Davis.

The history of the shooting as given out by Howard Fuller before he died was as follows: He and Henry Lawson were operating the exchange on the night of the shooting. About 11:30 o'clock they heard a noise in an adjoining room. Howard secured the pistol and went into the room in a search to discover the source of the noise. On entering the room he struck a match, but on finding nothing he attempted to put the pistol beneath the waist of his pants. In some manner the gun was discharged, the ball entering his right side and coming out his right hip. Lawson at once notified Howard's father and other parties of the accident, who rushed to his side. He was removed to his father's home and was operated on Saturday afternoon by several physicians, but they gave out no hope of his recovery at that time. His wife was at Ashdown, Ark., at the time of the shooting, she having gone there on Wednesday for a few days to relieve a temporary vacancy in a telephone office at that place. She was at once notified and arrived in Annona Saturday afternoon.

The deceased was married to Miss Ellie Walker about one month previous to his death.