Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-24
GUN WAS LOADED.
Young LitchfeId Boy Fatally
Shoots His Cousin.
Daniel N. Powers, Aged IS, Causes
Death Of Fred {. Taylor, 10 Years.
Thought 10 Frgh.en Him by Swapping Cap
But the Gun Was Loaded.


(SpeciaD.-As the result of carelessness
with gun, little Fred Everett Taylor,
10 years of age, son of Marguerite
Taylor now lies dead, having been kill
ed by his cousin, Daniel NJ. Powers, Is
years of age. From what could be.
learned at the place of the accident, the
following story is told:
Mr. and Mrs Alden Powers and their
son, Daniel. live on very pretty place
on the top of Oak hill. just within the
town limits of Litchfield Sunday af-
ternoon. they went to ride and left
Daniel alone at the house. While they
We're gone Fred Everett Taylor. a
cousin of the Powers boy, came up on
an GRAND for his mother, and the two
played about the yard for a while.
Thinking it would be fun to scare the
Taylor boy, Powers went into the house
and obtained an old muzzle loading gun
that he has used. and his father and
mother had both told him was not
loaded. put cap on it. and, going out,
pointed it at his friend and pulled the
trigger.
The next instant young Taylor fell
forward and Powers realized what he
had done. He dropped the gun to the
ground ana rushed to his friend and
picked him up. He did all he could
but found that he was dead.
What was he to do? He could not
leave him III re for the people who We're
passing by to see, so he took him
cut back of the barn where he would
be out of sight until his father re-
turned
lie put the body down but was oblg-
"a t. again move il to have it out Of the
way. Then he went back to the house.
some 50 feet, and awaited his fathers
return.
Mr.. and Mrs. Powers soon returned.
and. seeing their son covered with
blood. asked what the matter was.
Everett is dead. l killed him."
This is all that young Powers could
say at first. Then he told his father
the whole story. Mr.. Morrell, a neigh
Dor. was informed of the facts and he
went to the Corner. about a half-mile
away. and there reported the affair
Dr.. Gilbert was called but could do
nothing. as death was instantaneous.
The mother was soon called, and. grief
her home, where kind ncighbors COM
f0rtcd her.
The body of the little fellow was re-
moved to the home Of Mr.. Powers
where it was to await the arrival Of
the coroner. Coroner Hidreth could
not then be reached and the body was
taken care of until morning when he
could be Informed Of the facts At
q
phone reached him. and he made known
what he had learned to County Attor-
ney Heselton. DR.. Giddings was di-
rected to examine the remains
Coroner Hildreth with Journal re-
porter. started for the scene and arriv-
cd there at noon The surroundings
We're carefully examined.
There was three places on the ground
in front of the shed adjoining the
house where the life blood of young
Taylor had flowed out. One was where
he fell forward. the other two where
he had bled while Powers held him in
his arms. Then there was a trail of
blood out to the rear of the barn and
there We're spots where the body had
laid. The cap was found and the visor
was badly riddled where the shot had
pierced it. There was no signs of any
struggle.
After the arrival of the doctor the
body was carefully examined. 1t was
Just as it had been when he fell with
the blood still on it. From the eXami |
nation it was found that there were
five wounds. One on the right cheek, !
where he fell on it. one extending from
the centre of the lower lip and three |
in the forehead. These three caused in
slant death. as the shot 50 badly frac- |
tured the skull that the brain matter
had OoZed out
Meanwhile Coroner Hildreth was
holding an investigation. He found |
that there had never been trouble be |
tween the boys in any way and that
they were the best of friends. The |
Powers boys acknowledged doing the
deed and carefully explained his act |
ions. showing just how it was all done.
From what could be learned there was |
TO reason for the arrest of the boy, as |
it was clearly case of accidental /
shooting No matter in what way the |
questions were put, Powers always an |
swered them the same, and as the |
reighbors all spoke in the same man |
ner Of him. the matter was allowed to |
rest that way for the present
on returning to the city, all the facts I
were reported to County Attorney Hes |
elton and what action he will take VIII |
not be known until after the Decem-
her term of court.