Frank Crone

Private Frank Crone, of Covington, Kenton County, Kentucky, a member of the Kentucky National Guard, was on duty as a guard at the Newport Rolling Mill was being relieved from duty by John Yates of Newport; he was accidentally killed on 13 March 1922. A revolver slipped from Yates' pocket and fell to the ground, discharging and mortally wounding Crone.

Fatal Accident at Newport Is Probed by Military

The Cincinnati Post 14 March 1922 page 13

Second accidental death among Kentucky Guardsmen stationed in Newport was under investigation Tuesday. Private Frank Crone, 17, of 426 Philadelphia St., Covington, member of 38th Tank Company, was killed instantly late Monday when an automatic pistol dropped by a companion struck a stove and was discharged. The bullet struck Crone above the left eye.

Private John Yates, Brighton St., Newport, also a member of the tank corps and Crone’s “buddy,” is said to have dropped the pistol while twirling it on a finger.

The weapon, it is said, is the one with which Corporal Robert Deaton of Barbourville, Ky., was killed last December. In this case the pistol was discharged accidentally when Sergeant Charles Black, also of Barbourville, fell.