The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-05

Campbell, Aged 10. shoots and Kills His
Sweetheart Of 16.
4

Sweetheart sf l6.
Philadelphia Ledger.
Clad In the white robes OF death the body
OF Gertie Hiskey lies in q coffin at little
home in the village Of Lehigh- Locked in
. cell in the town jail. and charged with
murder. Is Webster H. Campbell. Tho
prisoner Is is years Of age. and the girl
whose heart heats were stopped by bullet
was just entering that year when she fell
MORALLY wounded by her youthful lover.
Campbell is the son Of storekeeper at
Weissport Last fall. while he was Ill with
typhoid fever. one of his visitors was pretty
little Gertie Hiskey. When the boy was
able to be down stairs the girl called more
frequently and was ct the house almost
daily, and when health was restored these
visits were returned. That the two were in
love was evident. and they spent many
winter evenings together in the warm
kitchen ut Mrs. Hiskey's home. The cou-
pie attracted much attention. and every
body was sure that wedding would be
arranged. A pistol shot started those who
we're stopping at Mrs. Hiskey's home
Thursday night II was half an hour be-
fore midnight, and in q moment another
report VAS heard. The first had been fol-
lowed BY . scream and the noise OF fall.
Mrs Hiskey ran down stairs. and on reach
ing the kitchen found her daughter lying
on the floor.
The girls limbs were twitching convul-
sively and blood Was ooxing from the
bodice of her dress. As the mother
entered the room so did young Campbell.
Tearing open the waist the mother saw q
small wound on the child's breast from
which blood trickled. She bent down.
The girl said:
Mamma, mamma. I'm dying" there
was gasp: the little form lay still, and the
lips the mother touched were growing cold.
the eyes were fixed and soon the CLASSY
stare told that she was dead.
The mother arose. Leaning against the
wall was Campbell. He was shivering, Is
it cold. and his form was bent consider
ably.
who did this. webs' asked the
mother.
II; but 1t was an accident" said he
stammering.
Just then . constable ran in.
II saw you. Campbell" he exclaimed.
and the click Of irons o. they united
around the boys wrists aroused the half
stupe6ed mother.
Don't do that" she screamed. "He
was TO marry my daughter. He has not
done anything wrong. This was an acct
dent"
The constable then explained that he had
seen Webster enter the house after throw
ing something away. That something he
found to be revolver with two chambers
empty, and so the lad was taken away to
Jail.
This morning a coroner's inquest was
held and the boy was arrested for murder
The question that is on everyone s tongue
in the village is. did the boy kiln his
pretty young sweetheart because of jeal-
ousy?"
The only evidence in support of this is
circumstantial. For the first time in his
life young Webster carried revolver last
night. and that revolver he took from his
fathers drawer. For a week past one of
the older boys OF the town had been paying
the girl attention. and it was known that
Webster objected to this.
The boy prisoner was seen by q CORES
pendent this afternoon. and he answered
each question put to him.
Il went to Gertie's house about o'clock
last night" he said. "We sat and talked
together all evening. When I left home
took my fathers revolver along. During
the evening. I don't know what time,
took the revolver out OF my pocket and put
1t on the mantel so there would he no
danger. While / was standing near the
mantei picked up the revolver and went
20 place IT in my pocket, when 1t slipped
and fell out of my hand. | don't know
whether it went OF when il was in my
hand or after il fell TO the floor | was
excited and can't remember. Gertie fell
over instantly, and saw she was shot.
ran outside with the pistol in my hand and
fred . shot in the air. then | threw the
pistol across the street When l returned
TO the house l wanted to go for the doctor
but the folks wouldn't let me. We never
had any quarrel and were on good terms. >,