Blythewood Youth Dies at Columbia Hospital From Accidental Injury

Belvin Branham, 3-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Branham (Mary Cornelia Abbott Branham) of Blythewood, who was accidentally shot by his brother, Clyburn, December 1, died at the Columbia hospital at 8:10 this morning.

Clyde Branham, who is five years old, obtained a .22 rifle from the car of his father had parked in front of the house, and while going into the house the gun accidentally went off, the bullet piercing the forehead of Belvin Branham, who was standing inside the front door.

Mr. Branham, father of the boys, had just returned from a grist mill and had gone around the house to carry a sack of meal when Clyburn obtained the gun. Both parents heard the discharge, rushed to the front and found Belvin lying on the floor. The bullet went through the screen door.

Coroner John A. Sargeant, who investigated the accident, said today that there would be no inquest into the child’s death due to the fact that it was plainly an accident.

The young boy had been in a

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critical condition at the Columbia hospital for the past month.

Funeral services will be held Thursday morning at 10 o’clock from the Smyrna Baptist church in Kershaw county. Interment will follow in the churchyard.

Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Allen Branham (Mary Cornelia Abbott Branham) of Blythewood, six brothers, Caldwell Branham, Winnsboro; George Branham, Carlilie Branham, Claud Branham, Clyburn and Grady Branham, all of Blythewood; four sisters, Mrs. Eleanor Goff, Winnsboro; Mrs. Melvin Stockman, Kershaw, and Misses Irene Branham and Clara Branham, both of Blythewood.