The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-09-13
A SCISSORS STABBING.
Scissors Blade Goes to the Heart
of Lafayette Trump,
A Boy at the Reform School,
and Proves His Death.
he Was Playfully ScufH ng With
Robert Hart When the Ac.
cident Happens

Lafayette Trump, colored boy IL
years old whose home was in Oswego,
was killed at the Reform school yester-
day afternoon with a pair of scissors.
The coroner's jury last night held no
one responsible for his DEATH He was
stabbed in the heart while scuffing
with another boy for possession of the
instrument.
The scissors We're sharp and the
blades long They were used on Satur-
day to cut the boys hair and were left
on a window in the play room of B.
cottage of which A. ]. Ash has charge.
1t was carelessness on the part of Fam
lily officer Ash 40 leave the scissors
where they could be picked up by the
inmates, but the boys left in the room
in this instance were what is known as
guards. They were Lafayette Trump
who lost his life and Robert Hart, a
white boy from Kansas City, Kan, who
has the position of first guard Hart
by virtue of his position has been in
charge during absences of the family
officer.
The two boys were in the play room
talking yesterday afternoon. Robert
Hart sat in the window while Trump
stood near talking to him. The hour
had arrived when the inmates are sup
posed to write home. Those who DO so
are sent to the school room and those
who have no relatives go to the play
ground.
The Hart boy ordered his colored
companion to go to the school room or
picked up the scissors which were ly-
ing on the window and started from the
room himself
Give me those scissors" said Trump,
playfully.
L won't" said Hart decisively.
Trump grabbed Harris hand which
held the scissors. He caught them
where the handles cross and he did not
notice that one of the long slender
blades was pointed directly toward his
body. He gave a jerk but Hart though
much smaller held on. Then Trump
summoned all the force that was in his
almost giant frame. Drawing the arm
of the Hart boy back he gave terrific
jerk. The scissors came from the boys
the slender blade penetrated the body
OF the colOred boy. His head fell for
ward and the scissors dropped to the
floor His first words We're: Give me
water"
Come with me to the wash room, -
said Hart and placing his arms about the
wounded boy he started to lead him in
TO the next room. AT the door he
found himself unable to longer support
the dying form and Trump dropped
helpless to the floor
Hart at once ran up stairs and in
formed Family officer Ash of what had
happened. Ash ran down and knelt by
the side of Trump who was still breath
ing.
How did it happen?'' inquired Ash.
Il was fooling with the scissors and
stabbed myself said he. mo one was
TO blame
Coroner Westerfield made post NOR
tenn examination and found that the
scissors blade had penetrated the heart
The body will be buried today at the
Reform school unless some word
should be received from the family.
Lafayette Trump has been in the Re
forn1schoOl twice. He was first sent up for
highway robbery but was discharged but
again became incorrigible. Though but
II years old he was as large and strong
as a man.
Robert Hart is a homeless boy who
came to the school from Kansas City.
superintendent Hart says that he is
what is known as an honor boy and
he would have been sent away but he
has no home. He is Is years old.
Though having the same name as the
superintendent he is in no way related
to him