The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-08-18
JOHNNY KRIsKo, THREE YEARS
OLD, is ACCIDENTALLY SHOT
BY MILITIAMAN
BOYS WHITE WAIST WAS
MISTAKEN FOR NEWSPAPER
Capt. Percy Walton, Who Did the
Shooting, is Overcome With Grief
Soldiers Were Practicing on Rifle
Range at Time of the Accidentally
in Line of Fire.

Three-year-o Johnny Krisko, son
of a milkman living at Columbia
Heights, was accidentally killed yester-
day morning by bullet from rifle
fired by Capt, Percy A. Walton, captain
of Company F of the First regiment of
the Minnesota state troops.
Capt. Walton had several members
of his company out for target practice
on the range yesterday morning. Sew
en- men had fired ten shots each from
the regulation Springfields, and the
captain was asked to experiment with
a small caliber rifle which one of the
members of the company possessed.
II can't shoot at the target" he said.
for only regulation rifles can be used.
I'll shoot at that piece of paper" point
ing at a white spot about thirty yards
away, and some fifteen yards out of the
line of fire.
Capt. Walton fired, and little boy
sprang into the air and rolled over on
his back, shot through the body
Capt. Walton ran to the scene, picked
up the little one, and Lieut.. S. S. Smith,
who followed him, placed his thumbs
in the bullet holes while the captain
sent for surgeons.
6eyond MEDICAL AID.
DR.. c. "A. Kelsey, who was summoned,
came to the scene as soon as possible,
but as soon as he examined the wound
he announced there was no hope for
the child. and he died in few mo-
ments. The doctor placed the body In
his carriage and drove to the Krisko
home a few blocks away.
The sheriff and coroner of Anoka
county were summoned at the request
of Capt. Walton, and after lingering
about the scene for several hours the
captain came to Minneapolis and Lieut.
S. S. Smith, who is an attorney, met
the officials and promised that he
would be present at the inquest which
will be held this afternoon at o'clock.
Although the child was shot at a,
Few moments Of II o'clock yesterday
morning it was not until Z o'clock that
the Minneapolis police headquarters
were notified, and then Mr.. Krisko,
who had arrived home about 1 o'clock
called and announced that his child
had been killed.
Authorities Are Notified.
The Anoka county officials did not
communicate with the authorities, and
evidently were satisfied with the state
ment of Lieut.. Smith that the captain
would be present at the inquest this
afternoon.
Mr.. KrisSo, who is a dairyman and
owner of small plot of land in the
locality of the rifle range, said that
yesterday morning the little child had
dressed himself, and that a part of his
apparel was a white waist
Mamma, see how nice I look he
said to his mother, and then he left
the house, and evidently went to the
rife range, although he had been eau
tened to keep away from the rang&
for there has been regular practice
on the range every Sunday since early
in May.
Capt. WaItons Story.
Capt. Walton is overcome by grief,
and said last night that no one re-
GREETED the occurrence more than than
he.
Il took several members of my COM
pany out for rife practice yesterday
morning" said he Seven men had
fired ten shots each, and while the
two men in the pit were coming back
to the firing line to shoot at the target.
One of the men had a rifle not of
tho regulation pattern and wanted to
fire at the target. He did so and then
only regulation rifles could be Used,
and said [ would shoot at what [
thought was piece Of paper. There
were several papers-neWspaper
DIONluS across the range, and point
ed to white spot a short distance
away-and fired. A little boy jumped
into the air and then fell to the
ground. Lieut.. Smith and others stood
beside me at the time; all thought I
was firing at a newspaper.
Have Shot the Boy.
ct have shot that boy I exclaimed,
and rushed to the place as fast as
could. Mr.. Smith and other members
of the company followed me, and we
did all we could to stanch the flow
of blood, and I sent for a physician.
but as soon as he arrived he said the
child was dying
When we were setting up the
targets the youngster with other chill
dren, was near us, and Corporal Bar
ing Gould ordered them away repeat
eddy. All departed save this little child.
and finally the corporal told him to go
away or he would be shot. We lost
- ira elk Of him and thought he had gone
back of the firing line. Some cattle
strayed upon the range and we look
ed about for the boy to arl5e them
away, but he was not to be seem
Will ASK E0R EtIkIHc