, 1889-11-21
KILLED HIS OWN SON.
A Sad Accident Which o.
CURED Yesterday
IN The OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN
Ezra Baxter Shot Dead by a Gun
In the Hands of His
Father.

The report of a Winchester rifle rang
out on the stiffness of lower Poverty Hat,
on the south side of the rivera short dis.
tance below Monroe street bridge, at 4
% clock yesterday, and q moment later
the startling cries of n man attracted
several residents of the locality to the
cabin of Harmon Baxter, whose 15-year.
old son, Ezra, was found lying beside
the cabin with ghastly hole in his
forehead from which the blood was
trickling In stream.
The father was bending over the proy
trate boy imploring him to speak or giySk
II sign of recognition.
Mr.. Baxter stated that white placing
his Winchester rifle in the rack 1t had
been accidentally discharged, the ball
passing through the wall of the cabin
and striking Ezra, who was outside,
carrying in wood.
Theodore sutton, whose cabin is only
a few yards distant, was one of the first
on the ground. He went inside the
cabin and found the rife just us it had
been left by Mr.. Baxter when IL was
discharged. The breech was resting on
the bed, and the muzzlc in the loop OF
the rack against the wall. Mr.. sutton
ut once sent a man up town TO notify
the police.
1t was evident to those present that
the boy could only live short time, and
nc was not removed from the place
where he fell. Thrcc-quarters of an
hour after the accident occurred he
breathed his last.
Officer Smith arrived on the scene
soon after, and the remains were taken
TO Bicksler d Webstcr's undertaking
rooms. Mr.. Baxter was taken to tho
city jail, where he was soon after seen
by REVIEW reporter.
THE FATHERS STORY.
Mr.. Baxter was evidently SUFFERING
great mental Distress and in falterin
voice gave the reporter the following ac1
count of the sad occurrence:
1.-The Winchester rifle was lying on
the bed, where Ezra, who had been us
ing it, had left it a short time before.
He then went outside to carry some
wood. saw the gun lying on the bed
and went to put IL In the rack, which
raised the muzzle and placed it in
leather loop, which is fastened to the
wall for that purpose. The breech was
covered by the blankets, and | pulled
them back so | could get hold of it,
when the gun was discharged,
diagonally toward the front OF
the cabin. at once stepped to the door
and looked out and saw Ezra lying near
the front end of the cabin close to the
wall where the bullet had passed through.
| did not hear him utter a sound.
Ezra was in his sixteenth year, and
we lived alone in the cabin. | became
paralyzed in my left side several years
ago, and have never since been able to
do any work. Ezra worked all the time,
doing odd Jobs around town, and since
we came here has supported both of us:
OF late he has becn cleaning brick and
driving team.
"We came to Spokane Falls about -four
weeks ago from Miller, Oak. We wet
to that place from Minnesota. | sepS
rated from my wife, Ezra's mother, IN
Minpesota, and she is now married
again. have one other child a
daughter. After my family became
broken up | came West and brought
support but was all that was left ma
of my family"
THE WOUND.
The body of the dead boy was still
warm when seen by the reporter at the
morgue. There was a large, ragged hole
directly in the center of the fore
head, indicating that the bullet
had passed out there, instead of having
entered, as was at first supposed. An
examination proved this to DC the case.
The ball had entered about two inches
above and a little back of the left ear.
Mr.. Baxter was released from the jail
later in the evening, and passed the
night in the office of the undertaking
rooms.
Coroner Mclean will hold an inquest
over the remains at 10 o'clock this