The times., 1898-05-16
THE MYSTERY SOLVED.
Richard CIanton Confesses the MUIR
der of His Sister.

The mystery concerning the death of
Goldie Clanton, the three-year-old colored
child who was killed at her home in Bas-
setts Alley on Saturday night. was un-
raveled yesterday by Detective Parham.
and it is now known that she was shot
by her brother Richard, a boy of eight
years of age.
Detective Parham had Richard al head
quarters for nearly an hour yesterday
evening The boy was closely questioned
by the detective and finally admitted that
he had shot his little sister on the fore
head over the left eye with his fathers
revolver. The boy was therejIpon placed
under arrest. charged with murder, and
sent to the Twelfth Street Station 10 be
held by Matrcn Pennifll until the cor
oner's inquest decides this morning what
further action shall be taken.
Richard stated that ne found the pistol,
a 22-caliber red Jacket" under his ia
ther's pillow He picked it up and aimed
il at Goldie not knowing 1t was loaded.
Then ne pressed the trigger and the
weapon exploded, the bullet entering his
sisters head. The little girl threw up her
hands and fell TO the floor with the eXcla-
nation
Richard stated that he tried 10 get Gold
lie to stand upon her feet, but each time
she sank back to the floor, blood pouring
from the hole in her head.
''Then" said the boy, coolly, 81 lit the
lamp. left Goldie on the floor and went to
bed"
AS soon as Coroner Carr reported to
detective headquarters that the child
came TO her death by a guushot wound.
Detective Parham was detailed 10 invesu-
gate the case in connection with the po-
lice of the ninth precinct. He went inn
mediately to No. PA Bassett's Alley,
where the shooting took place. and eX-
amined everyone supposed to know any
thing of the affair. AS on the night be
fore the Marshalls, who occupy room
on the first floor at No. 2l4, and the
Perrys, who live next door, stated they
knew nothing whatever of the circum-
stances connected with Goldies death.
1t was left for the father of the child,
William Clanton, to furnish the clew TO
the mystery. He told Detective Parham
that he had a S2-caliber pistol, which on
examination showed that one chamber
had very recently been discharged. The
revolver was found in trunk where it
was kept and must have been replaced
there by Richard after he shot his little
sister
The little boy, however, stoutly main
tains that he did not kill Goldie nor did
he take the pistol out of the trunk, where
1t was found. to play with it. The report
of Deputy Coroner Glazebrook, who made
the autopsy. however. will show that the
child came to her death by gunshot
wound and also that the weapon was
discharged very near her. This will be
proven by the powder grains which are
imbedded in the child's face and fore
head. 1t is also confidently believed that
when the ball is extracted, If that be-
comes necessary, it will be found of 81
caliber.
1t will be remembered, as stated in The
Times of yesterday, that in the room on
the first floor of the house in which the
child was killed John and Mollie Marshall
live, and that while they were at home
during the whole evening, they did not
hear any gunshot The Perrys, who live
in the next house. and whose little girl,
Alberta, is supposed to know something
concerning the death of Goldie, also stat
ed that they were at home, and that their
doors and windows were open, but they
did not hear any shot fired.
Coroner Carr will hold an inquest
| over the body of Goldie this morning at
q O'clock