"A treacherous trigger — John Fisher accidentally shot by his best friend" headlined the New Era (Vindicator predecessor) May 24, 1906. The story continued:
"A shocking tragedy happened on Cedar last Sunday, May 20, 1906. Johnny Fisher had about finished building a nice house on the Hoxie farm he had purchased a few months ago, and intended to move into this week.
"That Sunday morning he had shown the new house to his aged mother. In the afternoon, he and his neighbor, Otto Van Gaasbeek, were on the premises when James Green, an engineer at Waddel's Sawmill nearby, came along and joined them being on his way to Otto's to show him a new hammerless gun with safety lock.
"Fisher proposed they try it and see who could put the most shot in a tossed block or board. Otto tossed the block and Fisher made a first shot putting more than 20 shot in the wooden 'bird.' Then Otto essayed to try his marksmanship on a similar target, which Johnny went to toss up. With gun in hand Otto awaited Johnny to cast the 'bird' when, from oversight or lapse of caution, the trigger was pulled and the gun prematurely discharged just as Johnny was stooping to pickup the target at close range — the awful deed was done!
"He (Otto) had depended on the safety lock, which Johnny had failed to reset, or did not realize that the other barrel was loaded since he was used to regular target shooting rules of only loading one barrel at a time for safety.
"The sudden change from joy to sadness palled on Otto, from the impression to the realization of the killing of his boyhood friend, a sense of horror overcame him and his mind became almost unbalanced over the heartrending, horrible homicide.
"A coroner was notified and a jury and witnesses to the scene was summoned early Monday morning. Following a hearing of the testimony of the case, a verdict was returned of death by accidental discharge of a new hammerless gun in the hands of Otto Van Gaasbeek.
"John Fisher was 44 years of age. He was survived by his wife and two daughters, ages 14 and 15, and his mother, two sisters, and one brother. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery."
The historical society museum will open at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 5.
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