Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-03-17

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The residence Of General John B
Dennis was yesterday morning tbs sesss
OF one Of those heastsspding AFFAIR
which call forth The strongest synpaehiss
OF community. The family we're pro.
pairing to partaks Of the moFning meal,
when Il was discovered that Mn. Dennis
son Albert bad not yet come down from
his sleeping apartment, in the second
story OF the house. His little sister was
sent to tho room 70 notify him that
breakfast was waiting. She stepped IN.
dds the room and found Albert standing
fully dreseed, ct the foot of the bed, and
nearly in front Of minor, With small
revolver in his right hand which he sp.
peared to be examining. A. his sister
entered the room, Albert turned towards
her and lsu9hingly remarked that he
vas going to shoot himself. Tho sirl
was frightened and turned and ran down
stairs. calling loudly to the people below.
Almost at the instant Of her rapid flight
from the room the revolver was dis.
charged, and the noise Of the explosion
and the shrieks Of the girl brought the
family quickly to Albert's room. They
found him lying dead upon the Aoor,
about ten feet from where he was last
seen standing. A little blood upon the
wall near where his sister had left him
indicated that he had not moved from
his position until after the fatal shot had
been fired, and that in falling he had
staggered few PAGES toward the other
side of the room. The bullet. which vas
Of the smallest size. twenty-five calibre,
had entered his body Just to the right of
the pit of the stomach, and, ranging up
ward and to the left. had penetrated the
heart. Death was instantaneous. The
theory Of the case 10 that the young
man. who has always exhibited . fond.
ness for firearms. was looking at the
revolver when his sister entered the
room, and that he made Q play
ful effort to frighten her BY
pointing the weapon ct him
self and threatening to shoot. Her sud.
den alarm startled him 10 that he acci.
dentally discharged the revolver, With
the result given.
The suicide theory has been advanced,
but is not given much credence BY the
family or immediate friends. They say
the victim was possessed Of cheerful,
happy disposition and there was not the
slightest cause for an act Of self destruc.
tion.
The deceased, Albert J. Dennis, was
the son Of Mrs. John B. Dennis, and
was eighteen years and six months old.
He came to Ysnkton last fall, from
England. which was his place of birth
He had. just before his departure, COM
pleted term Of instruction as jsweler,
and in England this business includes
the repairing and cleaning Of pocket
firearms. So he was entirely familiar
with revolvers. Since his arrival in
Yankton he had lived at his mothers
homo and had made macy friends among
the people OF Yankton.
General Dennis was away from home
at the time Of the dsplorabie affair. A
telegram this morning found him. at
Sioux Falls. but whether it reached him
in time to bring him home tonight is q
matter of uncertainty.
The funeral will occur at 2 O'Clock to.
morrow afternoon from Christ church.
THE RIYER.
Mr.. Phelps raised sunken .tiat boat