St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-12
DISTRESSING CASUALTY.
Harry Turner, Lad of Twelve, Acct
dentally Shoots Himself.
Heartrending Circumstances Connected with
the Affair.

Lying cold in death, and surrounded by
bowed and stricken family whose deep an
guish no eloquence of tongue or pen can
fathom, yesterday afternoon, was bright,
beautiful boy, the hope of his fond parents
and the joy of household whose happiness
was so rudely sundered early yesterday morn
ing. The corpse was that of Edward ID.
Turner, the twelve-year-old son OF
Mr.. and Mrs. E. H. Turner, residing
on the corner of St. Adams street and Mar
shall avenue, and he came to his death in a
manner almost tragical from its
fearful force and suddenness.
The family circle from which the chief joy has
so suddenly departed, consisted of Mr.. and
Mrs. Turner, two little girls and the subject
OF this sad obituary.
About { O'Clock yesterday morning the
eldest girl, about ten years of age, while-prac-
ticing at the piano, heard a peculiar sound,
like the report of gun, proceeding from
the second story of the house.
She went into the dining room
where Mrs. Turner was engaged with the ser
want in the preparation of breakfast and re-
lated what she had heard to her. The latter
went up stairs and on going into her bed
| lOOll BIC Was HOTTiHcu 10 lnU 0er son lying
on the floor struggling as though in agony
Directing her gaze to the bed she saw re-
volver lying on the cover
| lid, and the inference was
plain that the lad had been shot
The servant was attracted by the cries of
Mrs. Turner, and some one started for a
doctor, the services of DR.. Leasure being Sc
cured. The latter did all in his power to
| 1aH b1t int a1 CHI ~
after his arrival.
Various rumors were started yesterday as
to how the boy came to shoot himself,
and unfortunately some color was
given them by the sensational
and random statements did little else than
infiict added pain where suffering was al
ready almost more than could be borne.
HOW IT HAPPENED.
| AS nearly as could be ascertained by the
investigations of a coroner's inquest the ac-
cident happened as follows:
Shortly after the family had risen yesterday
morning one of the little girls told hermamma
that Harry had gone out on the porch in his
stocking feet, and that his feet were wet.
Mrs. Turner called the lad and directed him
to go up stairs and change his stockings, the
precaution being necessary and thoughtful in
order to- prevent his taking cold. The lad
went up stairs and after quite while had
lapsed his little sister heard the report of the
revolver.
The theory is, as he did not talk after be-
ing shot, that on going up stairs he went in
to his mothers eoom and boy-like got to
playing with the revolver. The business OF
commercial traveller calling Mr. Turner
out of the city frequently, it had been the Gus
| tom of Mrs. Turner to keep a revolver under
the pillow or mattress of her bed. On en-
tering the room the lad drew a chair close
to the head of the bed, and turning the back
towards the pillow he placed himself astride
of the chair. Then he reached over and got
the revolver and while carelessy handling
the weapon it went off.
The theory of intent OF
suicide is absurd from
the fact that the ball entered the nipple OF
the left breast; had he shot himself inten-
tionally he would have naturally placed the
weapon to his head. The revolver is a cheap
affair of 80 caliber, and having five cham
| bers.
The grief of the distracted mother is heart
rending, and to make matters worse Mr..
Turner was out of the city.
The latter returned from Wisconsin last
evening and did not hear of the dreadful
tidings until he reached the city. The news
almost Frustrated him, as the boy was wor-
SHIPPED as the jewel of the family.
| :-c-e THE INQUEST
Coroner Quinn was notified of the occur
renee and he held an inquest last night. The
jury was composed of Rev. Henry Kittson
Thos. H. Pitts, Brandon Brown, L. +. Cum
mings and Leonard Leigh.
The principal witness was Mrs. Turner
who testified to the facts in the case as sub
stantially given above. The jury found thai
the deceased came to his death from the acct
dental discharge of a revolver while in his
own hands. The funeral-will be announced
hereafter. In speaking of the character Of
the lad it may be said that he possessed {
sunny nature and a sweet disposition, his
temper having no faint of moodiness.