The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-07-02
A SAD TRAGEDY.
MISS Ella Kemp Accidentally
Shot and KtIls d by Her
Mother.

independent, July IL
A terrible and distressingly sad accident &C
Cured yesterday afternoon at the residence Of
MI CT Kemp. on the West Side, resulting in
the death of MI. and Mrs. Kemp's daughter
their only child-Miss Ella. The circumstances
as related by Mr.. Kemp, are as follows:
At about 8 O'Clock, or shortly after, he was
sitting at a desk in one of the front rooms.
writing. His wife and daughter were In the
bedroom back of the parlor, Mrs. Kemp being
sick. While engaged in writing, as above
stated, Mr Kemp was startled by the sound of a
pistol shot, proceeding from the bedroom.
Hurry1ng through the parlor aud into the
bedroom, he was Mortified to find his DAUGHTER
lying upon the floor beside her mothers bed.
with the blood oozing from a bullet hole in her
left temple.
As Mr.. Kemp entered the room, his wife cried
out:
80, have I shot Ellae?'
eyes," he answered; "why-how did YOU do
it?'
"lwanted to shoot myself" she said, "and
Ella was trying to prevent me from doing it. 1t
cant be that she is much hurt. She will surely
be better after awhile!" -and the poor woman
Wrung nef AandS In anguish,
MIR Kemp summoned assistance. physicians
to q bed in the room where her father had b beeu
writing. An examination showed that the ball
"a small-calibred one-had entered her left
ten temple I;si Just over the eye, and had lodged near
ness after receiving the wound, nor was She
again able to speak, the only sign of life being
her heavy breathing. She died about two hours
after the accident.
Mrs kemn waa o1~oe% ,~s,s -s.L
Wnen the doctors arrived they administered an
oplate which had the effect Of soon putting her
70 steep. She sept for an hrur or more. and on
sWaklng had forgotten all about the terrible GO
currsnce. ut seems probable that when the
accident occurred she was temporarily Insane
>he was calm and in her right mind when She
awoke, and was surprised to fluid that two or
enfee o. me neighbors were present. She in
CURED II she had been very i'll, adding tha she
qld NOT I Ell SICK. Her next question was for
Elia-if she had yet returned from her rida.
lElla at the time Of the accident was pre- airing
to take a ride with Miss Lalla Brooke.) The
ladies In attendance feared to a~cquaint her with
the truth, and at this writing she is still una
ware that her daughter lies dead in the next
room.
Later in the evening Mrs. Kemp renewed her
inquiries for her daughter, and was finally told
that Ella had been killed by falling from the
buggy while out riding. She refused to believe
1t, however, saying that Ella could not be dead.
Is one which he purchased several years agO-a
small Smith & Wesson, he believes. For some
time past it has been lying In his trunk, and
there.
The death of Miss Ella Kemp, In whatsoever |
manner it might have occurred, would have |
been heard of with deep regret by our citizens
for she was highly priced by all who |
mind and heart; but under the distressing cir
of the case her d ath il doubly and |
l~nspeakably sad.
A coroner's jury found that Miss Kemp came |
her death by the accidental discharge of q |
while she was attempting to take the pistol |
ON her mo her, who was laboring und er q fit
If temporary insanity.