THE FLAGLER TRIBUNE
Bunnell, Florida
Thursday, May 24, 1928

 

On April 28, a telegram was received here announcing the death of E. Harry DeVaul by accident. It has since been learned that death was caused by a pistol wound inflicted by a 17-year-old youth who shot him in the back while he was sitting in his car in front of the home where the youth and his mother resided, and where he was having his laundry work done.

A letter received at this place states in part as follows: "The writer had a long talk with Mr. DeVaul after the tragedy and he stated most emphatically from his death bed that there had been no trouble of any kind between them, and the fact that the boy shot from the back while he was sitting in his car is conclusive evidence that he shot without cause or provocation. The boy is a mental weakling who would be better off in some asylum. (Signed) C. .E. Reeves."

Also a letter was received from the mother of the boy who committed the crime, deploring the fact that so good a friend should have met his death in that manner.

Mr. E. H. DeVaul resided in Bunnell for more than two years. He attended strictly to his own business and made friends with all whom he chanced to meet; was always ready and anxious to do a favor, or kindness to anyone when the chance presented itself. His greatest ambition in life was to help others. Much labor and many deeds of kindness were performed in and around Bunnell for which he received no recompense, except the thought of knowing he had done a friendly act. And in a statement from his death bed he expressed a desire that the youth who committed the crime should not he punished.

Mr. DeVaul left Bunnell on January 11 to seek employment in Texas where he had been very successful until he was taken sick about the first of April. He was just recovering from sickness when the tragedy occurred which caused his death in the Baytown hospital on April 27. He was buried at Cedar Crest cemetery on Tuesday afternoon, Rev. J. D. Fuller, officiating.