The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-27
Shot DOWN BEFORE Her MOTHERS EYEs.

basement, and seeing a rifle leaning
against the wall picked it up. and
pointing it at each of the persons in the
room inquired how he would look as
highwayman. When the gun was point
ed at Ethel Kempster she screamed
and said she was afraid it might be
loaded. Mrs. Wannenmacher laughed
at the fear of the child. and told her
that there was no cartridge in the gum
as Mr. Wannenmacher always empted
it when he brought it into the house.
Perceiving that Ethel Kempster was
the only one greatly frightened by his
action, Miller continued to point the
gun in her direction. Despite the as
surance of Mrs. Wannenmacher that
the rifle was harmless without shell
Ethel sought to hide behind the chair
of Kitty Wannenmacher. Following
her with the gun, Miller pulled the tr1g-
ger and the ball struck Kitty.
The child called to her mother that
she was shot and then lost conscious
ness. Mr.. Wannenmacher hearing the
report rushed into the kitchen, and
finding that his daughter was wounded
sent Miller for a physician. DIR. A. P.
Woodward who lives in the neighbor-
hood hastened to the WannenmacherS'
home He found the girl unconscious
and breathing heavily. She was re-
moved to the dining room and placed
on the table. where she died fifteen
minutes after the arrival of the doctor.
Sergeant Harper of the Stanyan-
street Police Station was notified Of
the occurrence by Miller and imme-
diately went to the house. Coroner Hill
was communicated with. and after he
had personally investigated the shoot
ing decided that it was purely acct
dental and allowed the body to remain
at the home Of the bereaved parents.
Miller was taken into custody by Ser
geant Harper and was charged with
murder at the Stanyan-street Police
Station. Later he was transferred to
the City Prison. He was full of re-
morse on account Of the result of his
foolishly careless handling of the rifle
and was inconsolable at the death of
his little playmate and the sorrow his
act had caused Mr. and Mrs. Wannen-
macher. VINO had been his benefactors.
The boy was considered by Mr.. and
Mrs. Wannenmacher almost as a son.
Four years ago young Miller's father
died and be, being thrown upon the
world. was taken in by the Wannen-
machers. He worked about the house,
| tended the horses and helped at the
butcher shop. His many good quail
! ties, his willingness to- assist in the
work of the household and the graft
! tude he showed for the kindness he re-
ceived, soon endeared him to the en-
| tire family. Even last night after the
unfortunate accident the father and
mother of the dead girl had nothing
but kind things to say of the boy who
had caused them their sorrow.
Mr.. Wannenmacher blames himself
to a certain extent for the accident on
! account of the fact that the gun was
left loaded. The rifle is a % caliber
Ballard with. magazine which holds
sixteen cartridges. How the single
shell which was in the gun happened to
be there he cannot explain. He says
that a few days ago when he used the
gun last he, as he supposed, elected all
the cartridges and stood it in the kitch-
en-. One of the shells he believes must
have caught in the magazine The ball
struck the child in the forehead about
an inch and a half above the left eye,
making a clean, round hole, and lodg-
ed in the brain. But little blood flowed
from the wound, but it is the opinion
of DIR. woodward that the hemorrhage
was internal.
The inquest DR.. Hill has set for /
/ o'clock this afternoon, and it will be
held at the house.