Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-10-21
4 YOUNG LADY SHOT
AND ACCIDENTALLY KILLED BY
 HER FRIEND.
In the Midst of Friends and Laugh ter, Miss Jeffie Harper's Life is Suddenly
 Taken Away.

Miss Jeflfe Harper. residing in the extreme West end of the city on Sixth avenue, was accidentally shot and almost instantly killed at the residence of Mr. Tom Lemanack, at No. 1918 West Sixth avenue, about 10 o'clock last Saturday. night.
 It was another case of didn't know it was loaded" and a careless woman and a ready gun.
 The circumstances are about as follows: About 9:30 o'clock last night Miss Jeffie Harper. and q neighbor, Mrs. o. V. Hopkins. both residing at the extreme West end of sixth avenue, near the Cotton Belt Railway, went down the street to visit Miss Catharine Lemanack, at the home of the latter's brother, Nr. Tom Eemanack, at No. 1918 West Sixth avenue, next door to Col. R.. M. Knox's residence.
 On the mantel-piece at Mr. Lena- hacks residence was resting a self acting revolver. After the visitors had become comfortably seated. and while engaged in mEinl discourse and merry laughter, little dreaming of the impending tragedy or that the merry scene would be shortly turned into one of sorrow and lamentations, Mrs. Hopkins turned to the mantel-piece and picked up the deadly weapon.
 The merry crowd of friends were gathered around the fireside, and the fire was burning brightly. No one paid any particular attention to the weapon, but pres ently there was a loud report, smoke was issuing from the barrel of the revolver, and Miss Jeffie Harper was lying on the floor i'll the last throes of death. She lived but ten minutes after the dis charge of the pistol.
 | ilNit flIN GCNEt clA Ntt NiOIS Alt iIie shooting. A GRAPHIC reporter was on the scene a few minutes after the accident, but the circumstances could not be ascertained. Some of the witnesses of the tragedy stated that Mrs. Hopkins snapped the pistol twice before it discharged, and that the weapon, being a double-action, was discharged just as she was in the act of laying it back on the man. tel. Others state that Mrs. Hopkins never 'snapped' the weapon at all, but all agree that the weapon was discharged just as she was placing it back on the mantel-piece.
 About the truth of the matter, and the one we believe to be the correct version, k, that the pistol, being a self-e0oking weapon, Mrs. Hopkins clasped it so tightly in her hands that she pulled the trigger and caused the weapon to discharge, all uneonsciously.
 The ball entered the back of Miss Harper's head, just behind the left ear, entering the brain and produced almost instant death.
 Dr. Jordan, who lives almost op- positc the scene of the tragedy, was quickly summoned, but medical or surgical skill was of no avail.
 Miss Jeffie Harper was the daugh- ter of Mrs. Alice Harper, a widow, and the eldest of five children. She was about sixteen years of age and the chief reliance and support of her widowed mother. She was employed as press-ieeder for the Adams Wilson Printing Co.,, and on yester- day was altogether one of the live Hest girls in the company's employ When she received her weekly stipend at 6 o'clock Saturday evening and bade goodbye to her associates, she was as merry aud cherry as one could be, little thinking that she was in the shadow of death and was leaving the office for the last time.
 The GRAPHIC sorely regrets the sad accident and extends it's profound sympathy to the bereaved mother, relatives and friends.
 A CoRoNER's INQUEST.
 Coroner Cook summoned a jury and repaired to the scene about F o'clock last night, and after taking some evidence, adjourned until