Bulletin: William Alred, Policeman of Hope Mills, Probably Fatally Wounded Last Night When Pistol 
Dropped From Pocket; Bullet Passes Through, Head

Word from Hope Mills late this afternoon stated that Mr. Alred was barely alive and that 
physicians held out no hope for his recovery. A dreadful tragedy occurred at Hope Mills about 
9 o'clock last night when William Alred, aged about 34, mechanic for the Virginia & Carolina 
Southern Railroad and policeman of the village, was accidentally shot, a pistol ball crashing 
through his brain.

Mr. Alred was in his home undressing when his pistol fell from his pocket to the floor and was 
discharged, the ball entered the left side of the nose, on through the corner of the left eye 
and into the brain, coming out at the top of the head and entering the wall of the room.  Mrs. 
Alred, who was in an adjoining room; heard the report and went to see what was the matter and 
found her husband stretched on the floor with his brains oozing out.

T. M. Byman informed an Observer reporter that when he left Hope Mills about 10 o'clock 
this morning Mr. Alred was still alive, but the brains were continuing to ooze out and there 
was no chance for his recovery.

Mr. Alred is a good citizen highly esteemed by all who knew him.  He is a prominent Mason 
and member of the Junior Order. He has a wife and several children. His mother lives in Fayetteville.

William Alred, policeman who was accidentally shot Friday night, died Saturday afternoon at 
4:30 o'clock. An account of the tragedy was given in Saturday's Observer. The funeral was held in 
the First Baptist Church at Hope Mills Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. The lodges of Masons and Junior 
Order attending and conducting their ceremonies at the grave. Mr. Alred was a prominent member in 
both orders. About 9 o'clock Friday night Mr. Alred was undressing in his home when his pistol fell 
from a pocket in his pants to the floor and was discharged,  the ball passing through his nose and 
left eye entering his brain and coming out at the top of his head. Although his brains were oozing 
out he lived 19½ hours after being shot.