The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-08-01
WAS NOT A MURDER.
MAGGIE CRAIGIE'S DEATH WAS
THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT.
She Wa, Killed by the Nine-fear-
Old Son of Earnest LANCE Nho
Was Trying to show Maggie HOW
Ia Fire the SHOTGUN.

Minneapolis. July 2S.-Ihe death or
Maggie Craigie of Minneapolis, whose
body was found Oh the farm or Ernest
LANCE near DsSeO, was not the result
of murder. as at first appeared, but or
an accident. The girl was killed by the
discharge of a shotgun in the hands
of Fred. the nire-year-old son OF
LANCE. The boy admitted the deed.
When the coroner arrived TIE body
Of the girl was found lying in the
ward near the corner Of the granary,
which is situated about thirty feet TO
the rear of the house and little 10
the west. II was said. however, by
those who had seen it first, that IL had
been moved to that position TO get it
out of he sun. and that it first lay di-
rectly behind the house and only few
feet away. Upon examination IL was
discovered that death had been inlet
ed with a shotgun at short range. for
the skull above the right temple was
completely crushed in and the face
was badly pOwder-burncd. The face
and shoulder were filed with scattered
shot. After making his examination
of the remIinS the coroner had then re-
moved to the front room Of the house
and properly laid out. The coroner
held IN inquest, and the jury's verdict
was that Maggie Craigie came TO her
death from gunshot wound in the
head, caused by the accidental dis
charge OF a gun in the hands of Fred
LANCE, and that the jury does not hold
him guilty OF criminal intent Mr..
Craigie, the father of the unfortunate
girl. fully shares the opinion of the
jury, and believes that his daughters
death resulted from an accident. No
action whatever will be taken against
Fred Lange.
The little fellow said that instead of
being away, as supposed, he was at
home and after Il lot Of questioning
he admitted that he himself had killed
the little girl He said that after his
mother left the house, taking the only
son, Henry. with her, To go 10 her
father-in-l? VS. house. he remained in
the yard. playing by himself for some
time Maggie and the baby being in
the house upstairs. After about ten or
fifteen minutes he went into the house
and Maggie called To him To come up
stairs. When he went up he found her
playing with the shotgun. She cooked
IL and pointed it at him. but she said
she did not know how 10 shoot il.
Fred then told her that he would
show her. He roOk il in his hands for
that purpose. but almost before he
knew it the gun was discharged, the
charge striking Maggie in tie head.
She fell TO the floor. He Immediately
took hold of the body and dragged it
down the back stairs and through the
kitchen into the back yard where he
left it. Next he took an old sack and
vest, which he found at hand. and. re-
turning 10 the room where the tragedy
occurred, wiped up the blood as best
he could. afterward throwing the
bloody articles lie had used as a mop
into the wOOdpile. He then went out
to play. and says that he soon forgot
all about the matter not even think
ing about 1t any more.
Tie seemed to have no cOmDrphen-
sion of the terrible deed he had acct
dentally done. When the coroner
asked him If some one had told him 10
tell the story he had narrated. he DOS
ltlvely declared that he was telling the
truth lie said he had no trouble with
the little girl whatever. The coroner
round the gunny sacy and vest in the
wood pile. where the boy had said he
threw them. The sack was saturated
with blood, and the vest had several
clots Of blood on it. Further inyesti-
cation showed big pool Of blood in
the fatal chamber, and spiashes OF
blood and fragments OF brain on the
walls. There We're also q number of
stains OF blood on the kitchen door.
me BOY remained perfectly calm
Whiie he told how the terrible affair
occurred, and Is particularly without
any realization Of what he has done,
NOT even seeming to exhibit any signs
Oh remorse or sorrow. Capt. Craigie
was present at the inquest He and
MRS Craigle are nearly Frustrated
with grief over the loss of their
daughter