The herald., 1898-09-24
A TRAGIC ACCIDENT
EUGENE HASKELL KILLS HER
MOTHER INSTANTLY
WHILE SHOOTING At A BIRD
The Charge Penetrates Mrs. Haskells
Brain-The Daughter Exonerated
by the Coroner's Jury

A terrible accident occurred Thursday az
ternoon about rdne miles north of Newhall,
resulting In the accidental shooting and
killing of a mother by her N-year-old
daughter. The affair took place In the
presence of three other daughters of the
deceased, who stood watching their sister
wry to kill a bird Just before the shotgun
was accidentally discharged. Mrs. Mary
E. Haskell was the victim Of an accident
and Miss Eugenie Haskell held the gun at
the time OF Its discharge.
Ali of those concerned in the tragedy are
members of the family of John c. Haskell.
a contractor, whose local residence Is at
4Os Fremont street. Mr.. Haskell has a
mine In the Haskell canyon, and also owns
a ranch, near by. He and his son, Fred W.
Haskell, have been working the mine. and
during the summer the family were in the
habit Of removing to the ranch to pass
the vacation and be near Mr.. Haskell.
Thursday afternoon. about 8 o'clock, Mrs.
Haskell and four of her daughters were out
on a platform which was built around a
large tree, under which the family have
their meals served during the warm
weather. One of the women noticed a bird
alight near the tree, and Miss Eugenie ran
over to the house and returned with the
shotgun, a doubie-barrel hammerless. Be
fore she could take aim at the bird the
creature had flown away, so, In order to re-
move al, danger Of loaded gun about the
place. Miss Eugene stopped to throw opsn
the breach and take out the shells. She
must have forgotten to throw on the safety
trigger, for before she realized what had
happened one OF the charges exploded.
driving the but. Of the gun against her side:
and instantly followed screams from her
three sisters, and one OF them cried, "Oh,
Genie you have shot mother"
Mrs. Haskell had been standing within
twenty feet OF the muzzle Of the shotgun.
in direct range, and the charge Of bird shot
had entered the right side Of her head.
She fell to the ground without groan.
For an instant Eugene was dazed al the
repor. Of the gun. and then realizing the
frightfui result Of the accident she threw
down the weapon and with scream ran
20 her mothers side and tenderly caught
her In her arms. Nearly the entire charge
Of shot had entered the woman's brain and
she expired almost instantly. The condition
of the young woman who had un!ntention-
ally caused the death Of her mother was
ptiful, and so frenzied was she with grief
and misery over the deed that her sisters
feared she might attempt to follow her
mother. The youngest child was dispa tched
to the mine to notify Mr.. Ha ske1l, while the
ether sisters tried 20 pacify Eugene. Mr..
Haskell had left the mine and was COM
ing home when his daughter breathlessly
told him Of the tragedy. Haskell was
overcome with grief, hut hurried forward.
only to find hds wife dead.
An Inquest was held over the body and
verdict generating ,Eugenie from blame
was returned by the jury. The body was
brought 20 this city yesterday. afternoon
and removed TO the family residence on
Fremont avenue where the funeral will be
held this afternoon at 2 O'clock.
Eugene HASKELL Injured
AS an illustration of the saying that mis-
fortunes never come singly, Eugene Has
kell years old, a nephew Of Mr.. Haskell
fell! twenty feet from the rear porch Of his
fathers residence at S19 Bonnie Brae street.
Thursday afternoon at about the
same time that the unfortunate tragedy
IN the other branch of the family occurred
in another part Of the county The child's
right arm was broken in two places, his
left arm In one place and his skull was frac-
,ured The little fellow had rallied from
the shock yesterday, and as his condition
had taken a favorable turn hopes are
on ortained FOR his recnycry.