Evening journal., 1892-06-04
SHOT BY HER BROTHER.
Little Annie Eckrich Instantly
Killed at Play.
THE FATHERS LOADED GUN DID IT,

The Little Brother Picking Up the Heav-
ily-Loaded Weapon. Can Not Resist tho
Temptation TO Point It at His sister
and Pun the Trigeer-Much Excitement
In the Neighborhood.
When little Annie Eclsrich fell dead at
her home this morning with a gunshOt
wound ia her neck. another victim was
added to the long list of children who
have had firearms left within their reach
Annie Eckrich, 7-years-old, daughter Of
Matthew and Maggie Eckrich Of No
l4O9 Marsh Road, was shot aud instantly
Killed by her 9-year-old brother this
morning.
The sad affair happened between and
s o'clock. The father of the children had
been out cunning yesterday and when he
came in neglected 10 draw the charge
from the gun. He placed il in the corner
of a room and left IL there The weapon
was a No. II. double barreled breech
loader
The children seeing II standing where
the careless father had left it, took IL 10
play with The mother was not about at
the time TO see their danger The ,ittle
girl was sitting on a chair against the wall
and the boy was few feet from
her. He played with Il for a short time
when he could not resist the temptation
to frighten his sister just TO tease her
Received the Fun Charge OF Shot.
The gun was pointed toward the girl.
He fingered and finally pulled the trigger
and she received the full charge In the
left side of the face and neck
She died Instantly, falling TO the floor
j n heap. Her parent, hearing the re-
port, rushed in and found the bleeding
corpse of her child lying on the floor.
Whole Neighborhood Aroused.
Tho news of the killing spread like
wildhre and the usually quiet commu-
nitywRs soon in a state of great excitement
The honse where the deed was committed
was surrounded by curious crowd Of
| people of both colors and sexes, eager 10
learn the particulars. The boy showed
great remorse for his crime and protested
that he did not mean 10 fire the gun,
neither did he know IL was loaded The
little fellow cried as though his heart
was broken
The father took the matter much to
heart and when seen by an EVENING
JOURNAL reporter blamed himself for the
deed in leaving the gun loaded. He said /;
81 am as much 20 blame as the boy as
should certainly not have left the gun
where the children could get it,
Overcome with Grief
The mother was too much overcome TO
say anything about the affair and is
nearly prostrated with grief. Much sym
+ pathy Is expressed for the bereaved
family although the father is blamed for
, his carelessness The children were al
9 ways loving towards each other and
!, y shared each others joys and sorrows
The Coroner Taking Evidence.
o Coroner Sparks received sword Of the
tragedy by telepone about 8 o'clock He
at once proceeded TO the place He had
to push his way through the large crowd
! that had collected before he could
= reach the house and enter He
, took the testimony of the father and
? strong man as he is, he could hardly
talk. The boy was next questioned but
e all he could say was that he did not near
TO do it. The mother said that she heard
the report and rushing into the room
found her child dead. The coroner alss
, questioned the neighbors as to what they
e knew
q A Certificate of Accidental Shooting.
2 The parents did not want an inquest
: held, and seeing that it was case oil
% clear accidental shooting on the part o
the boy, Coroner Sparks gave a certiii
cate Of accidental death from the above
p. cause. No arrangements have been mad'
!, for the funeral