The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-04-28
The Death of Robbie Aspl ing.

One of the saddest and most startling events
that ever occurred in this community was
the death of Robert r. Aspiring by the acct
dental discharge of rifle Wednesday even
ing Robbie had left school at $50 p. m. and
returned home where he took music lesson
till 4 p. m. from Miss Reid. He then came
down to his fathers store took his gun and
left. He was fond of hunting and bada rifle, in
the use of which he was quite expert Moth
ing more was heard of him until p. m,
when J. G. Foster, returning from his work,
was startled by seeing human body hang
ing on a fence, head downward, about $50
yards north Of the residence of Mr.. Phil Nc
Govern. The body hung motionless and
dead and standing almost upright beside it,
leaning with the muzzle against a rail, was a
needle gun which had been cut Off Seeing
J. III. Trisberger working at McGovern's
Mr.. Foster called and the latter ran over.
The leftfoot of the body had caught between
the upper and second rails as IL fell forward
and the head was lying against the bot
tom rall, face downward. In taking hold
of the shoulders to turn it so the face could
be seen, the foot unloosened and the body
fell to the ground. "My God" said Foster,
sit is Robbie Aspling" The ball had passed
through the right wrist, powder burning the
coat sleeve and entering the right side of the
forehead between the eye and ear, had torn
out portion of the skull four inches in diam
eter.from which half the brain had escaped.
Word was Immediately conveyed to the
relatives and officers and a large number of
people were soon on the ground. Judge
Emerson, acting as Coroner, summoned a
jury of inquest and the evidence of Messrs.
Foster and Trisberger and DIR. L. Terry TAX
en-, the facts developing as above stated and
the DIR. testifying as to the cause of death.
1t was quite evident that in crossing the
fence the gun had been accidentally discharg-
ed, and that death had resulted instantly.
The Jury returned verdict in accordance
with the facts. The body was carried home
to his almost distracted parents by sad heart
ed men, aud many of neither kith nor kin
wept as they looked on the piteous spectacle.
From cumulative evidence it seems he must
have been dead a half or three quarters of an
hour when found, for although different per-
sons heard the shot and one lady saw the
object from q distance on the fence, some
time DtiOEc Inc Was given, ~ tHc gave
1t particular attention or noticed the time.
Robbie Aspling, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thos.
Aspiring, was one of the finest boys in the
village, of gentle and lovable disposition, an
eager and proficient scholar, courteous, gen.
teel, CHEEKY and dutiful, devoted son.
Many man has noticed and predicted for
him bright future. In the twinkling of an
eye his fair young life went out and with its
going come deepest sorrow and gloom into
the hearts of bis agonized parents and broth
ers for Robbie was the youngest and only
son at home. The family have the profound
sympathy OF the community in their great
sorrow.
The funeral will take place to-day at p.
m. from the Presbyterian church; services
by Rev. J. r. Russell, of Butte.