Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-11
Death of Miss Dye.
KILLED BY THE ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE OF her
STEP. FATHERS PISTOL


At Police Officer W. B. Dyer's residence, No.
e31 street northwest, Miss Lena DJe, his step
daughter was accidentally shot on Monday
evening. as related In yesterdays STAR. DR..
B. B. Adams and other physicians We're In
attendance. but the wound was Such-passing
directly through the body-that all that could
be done for her was to alleviate her sufferings.
1t being apparent at O'Clock p. m. yesterday
that death would soon ensue. Rev. Father
McCarty, OF the Church OF the Immaculate Con-
ception, was called and administered the rites
the church. rthaving been rumored during the
day that the published accounts Of the shooting
were not correct the District Attorneys Office
was notified, and it was decided to procure at
once the ante mOrtem statement OF the girl.
Accordingly, about O'Clock, Mr.. F. Fl. Howe.
with Justice Bundy called, and the dying girl
maze a statement, which was witnessed by
Lieut.. James johnson, OF the second precinct.
Tie girl fingered until last evening about
O'Clock, when she died. The deceased was, as
has been stated, about IS years of age, and was
the step daughter OF Policeman Dyer. Her
rather died when she was eight or nine years
OF age, and she was placed In st. Vincent's
orphan Asylum and her little brother in st.
Joseph's. After her mother married Mr.. Dyer
she was, (some five years since), taken out OF
the asy ium and has lived with them ever since,
having learned in the meantime the trade OF
dressmaker. She was much beloved and many
VIII regret her early death.
A CoRoNgR's INQUEST
was held at 10 o'clock to-day on the body of
Miss Dye at the house OF Mr.. Dyer, prior to
assisted by Drs- j. F. Hartigan, j. Ford Thomp-
sen, Chas. A. Ball and b. b. Adams The jury,
body took seats in the parlor, and Mrs Dyer,
mother or the deceased, was the first witness.
She testified that the occurrence took place
about $50 IN the evening that ME- Dyer was
was seated the deceased. Mr.. Dyer had his pistol
out and flourishing it when Mary said: "Oh, ma,
take that That from n He m9edaey threw
flash and 1t struck her daughter. She had
stepped In front of him just before he flung the
pistol On the lounge, and he put his hand
against witness. 1t must have struck the
lounge, as it Immediately exploded. CroSSeX-
anime d-She was not afraid that he would In
Jure either herself or deceased. Mr.. Dyer has
shown symptoms Of undue excitement some
times, which she thinks may result finally in
insanity, but there was no 1ll-will between any
of them. There was never better father, and
thinks he flung the pistol from him to prevent
her from taking it out OF his hands, thinking
she was about to try to grasp it. He did not
fling it to witness, nor to her daughter, but
where 1t would strike. The shot took effect In
her daughters back and came out through the
breast, taking an upward course.
Louis Dye, brother OF deceased, about Is
years old, testified that he was present when
the accident took place. Deceased was his own
sister. His father and mother were standing
near the fire place, in 'front.' OF the lounge on
which his sister was seated, when the pistol
was flung. There was no quarrel between
them. He described the situation, and said his
mother was trying to get the pistol from his
fatner, but there was no quarreling between
any OF them. His father pulled out his pistol
and put ii up to his head and said, 'goOd bye"
and was handling 1t, when his mother, who Was
standing near him, caught at II and he flung
It. His sister fell on the lounge saying, she was
shot. Here DR.. Patterson read the following
DYING STATEMENT OF MARY SALIVA DYE
before Justice Bundy: 81, Mary Salina Dye,
feeling that am mOrtally sick and wounded
and being certain OF immediate death and that
i cannot recover, do make this my dying state
ment: was In the dining room Of the house
No. 631 street northwest My stepfather was
him take the pistol out of his pocket and 20 to
put it on the lounge. / asked my mother for
gracious sake to make him put the pistol down.
He then threw 1t on to the lounge, and 1t must
have struck on the end of the lounge and went
Off, ana the ball struck me In the back and
came out at the 'front.' 1t was accidental, There
was no quarTelliDg between u.s."
The foregoing statement was first made by
Mary Saltna Dye to me after being fully
cautioned and informed that she was in dying
: condition, and she saying that she fully real
lied that she was soon to die and could not re-
cover. 1t was then written out by me and
read over 70 her, and she affirmed the truth OF
the same as written this 10th day OF November,
1850, in the presence OF Frank 81. Howe and
Robert Ball, esq. and James Johnson, Neuten-
ant OF police.
Signed, c. s. Bundy, j. P.
DR.. II. b. Adams, who assisted in the autopsy
gave testimony as to the wound. She died OF
internal hemorrhage This closed the teSti-
mODy and the jury afterwards gave verdict OF
accidental shooting.