Evening star., 1898-05-16
DEATH DUE IQ ACCIDENT
Verdict Of Coroner sJuty in the Case of
Goldie Clanton.
Brother of the Deceased Played With
Revolver w,th) Fat ia, Results
Invcstigati6nh hy Police.

Some time Saturday evening between 6
and o'clock Richard Clanton a colored
school boy, eight years old, shot and killed
his sister. Goldie Clanton. who was less
than three years old. The killing occurred
in the room occupied by the Clanton fam
lily at PA Bassett's alley northeast. While
playing about the room Richard got hold
of his fathers revolver, pointed it at his
sister and pulled the trigger. The re-
mainder of the story was told at the cor
orer's inquest held at noon today.
Mrs. Clanton and her husband went away
from hom early Saturday evening. leaving
Richard to look after his little sister and
brother. When the mother returned about
8 O'Clock she found the three children in
the room. Richard and his youngest
brother were in bed, while Gcldie was
lying on the floor in POOL of blood. Dr.
Boyd was summoned, end he dressed the
wound, but unable to save the child's
life, for the bullet had been sent crashing
through the brain. The boys version of
the affair was that he was at the window
with his brother and sister playing. and
that the sister suddenly fell back on the
floor. 1t was his belief that the bullet had
entered the open window.
When the police of the ninth precinct
learned of the affair they made an in
effectral effort to clear away the mystery.
Detective Parham was later detailed, and
a truthful story of the affair from the boy.
Because of the boys extreme youth the
jury today held that the shooting was ac-
cidenta. and Richard was turned over to
his parents.
Added to the verdict was the following:
I'VE also suggest that parents be very
careful in leaving firearms about their
houses so that children may not get them"
Deputy C0rOner's Statement.
Deputy Coroner Giazebrook told the jury
that he made an autopsy on the body OF
the dead child yesterday morning The
face Yves covered with powder burns. the
position OF the burns indicating that the
weapon had been held within possibly fif-
teen inches of the face. Witness examined
the bullet hole over the eye. and discovered
beneath the scalp the evidence of a severe
hemorrhage. The bullet had passed
through the brain. Death, the witness
said, was due to hemorrhage following Il
gunshot wound of the brain. The bullet
taken from the child's head was exhibited
to the jury.
Detective Parham testified to the inquiry
he made which resulted in the boys arrest.
| He said he was detailed by Inspector Mat
tirgly TO make an investigation of the case.
| His examination Of the premises convinced
| him that it would have been almost mpos-
! s:fle for the shot to have been fired
through the window from the outside. Then
| he called on Mc and Mrs. CIanton ana
| learned from them that the former owned
iGNoiNeI. iu- NedpoE was taken from
| q chest In the house and turned over 70
witness. 1t showed that it had been re-
| Gently fired. and witness had Mr. ana Mrs.
| Clanton take. their boy Richard to head
| quarters. When they arrived there the
! boy repeated his denial of having done the
| shooting. and it was pot until O'Clock last
| night that he finally admitted that he had
| dcne the shooting. The boy then told wit
| ness that he found the pistol under the pill
| lew of his fathers he'd, and pointed it at
his sister. When it went off he put 1t back
| under the pillow, and picked up his little
| sister. Several tin.es he tried to have her
| stand. but she could lot keep up. Richard
| said that when he pointed the revolver at
his sister he didn't kr Ow it was loaded.
Revolver Kept in n Box.
| William Clanton, father. of the children,
testified that he kept his revolver in a box
| He thought he had left it there, although
| he sometimes kept it beneath his pillow.
Saturday night after the shooting. he said,
he found the weapon in the box.
| Did you keep it cocked?" asked juror
! NO. Sir, answered witness. Il never
! kept it cooked"
! Witness said he had kept the revolver
In different places for fear his son Richard
would get ii.
Has he ever had it before?"
| No, sir"
| DO you want to tell the jury how this
happened?" Coroner Carr asked the boy
under arrest.
| les, SIT, came the clllldlSh answer.
| TN tell 'em how It happened"
| How was it?'
| Didn't Know 1t Was Loaded.
II was on the bed lookin' at some pic
| tures,' he began, "and l found the pistol
| under the pillow ! was lookin' at it and
| it went Off"
| Where did you say you found the ps-
| tol?" interrupted a juryman.
| in the bed. answered Richard.
| You didn't point it at her?''
| yes, L did was his frank answer
| but" he added, Il didn't know it was
| loaded"
| why didn't you tell your mother as
soon as she came homer"
| Il was afraid"
| Richard said that the revolver was cock
| ed whea he found 1t. and ne, said he did
| rot know 1t was wrong to point it at his
| sister. This closed the testimony and the
jury rendered verdict as already stated.