Kern County Obituaries

Anthony Cleary

Submitted by Don Stowell; 13 Feb 2008

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Source Unknown; 6 Aug 1953

.22 Rifle Shot Snuffs Out Boy's Life
Anthony Cleary, age 11 was shot and killed by the accidental discharge of a .22 
caliber rifle Tuesday evening, August 3, 1953 about 7:30 p.m. it was reported by 
sheriff's officers from Mojave sub-station.
The victim was the son of Mrs. Evelyn De Wald, 649 Athens St., Altadena. He was 
visiting his uncle, Ben Ordway, at the time. 
The tragedy occurred at the West Antelope Pump station of the Los Angeles 
Aqueduct, 18 miles from Mojave. The shot was fired from a gun in the hands of  
13-year old Raymond D. Atkinson, son of Farrell G. Atkinson who was working as a 
patrolman for the Aqueduct in the absence of "Reg" Kelsey.	
The dead boy and his uncle stopped at the Atkinson trailer, parked near the 
station, to borrow; a rifle. While the two men were inside the house drinking
coffee: the younger Atkinson went inside the trailer to get the gun.	.
Raymond told Dep. Sheriffs K. J C. Fiddler and Bill Boruff he stumbled as he 
stepped from the trailer and the gun was discharged accidently.	
The officers said the victim was standing 93 feet from the trailer steps. The 
bullet passed through his neck, entering it from the front right side. The missle 
then went on to pierce two wooden wall investigators reported. 
O'Donnell ambulance was called from Mojave and the Sheriff's sub-station was 
notified. Dr. Gish, of Mojave Medical Center, who accompanied the ambulance 
pronounced the boy dead when he arrived on the scene.
The body was removed to the O'Donnell Funeral Home and an  inquest will be held 
at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, August 6.