The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-25
A PIECE OF PAPER
Captain Walton Thought He Was
Shooting at It, but His Bull.
let Killed a Boy.
Defendant Is on the Stand at Anoka
State Rested Its Case
This Forenoon.
Special to. The Journal.

Special to- The Journal.
Anoka. Mimi. Oct. 25.-Captain Percy
A. Walton. the Minneapolis national
guardsman, charged with manslaughter In
the second degree for the shooting of lit
tie Johnny Krisko, was called to the
| stand by the defense shortly before noon
day. He made a good witness and with
out affectation or restraint told Of the de-
plorable circumstances leading to the
death Of the little boy. 1t Is evident that
he feels his situation keenly and deeply
regrets the death Of the child. =,
The captain swore he thought he was
shooting at a piece Of paper and WIS hor-
riaed when he discovered that the target
was a human being and that he had in
advertently been the means Of taking a
life.
He said when the import Of his terrible
mistake came to him he did everything
he could to get medical assistance on the
spot to save the life Of the boy If 1t could
be DONE He and his associates lost no
time in summoning the physicians and au-
thorities.
The captain had not finished his evidence
at noon when the court adjourned until
1880 p. m.
Prosecution Rests.
The witnesses Of the forenoon aside
from the defendant were J. E. HILL coun-
Vt surveyor; J. N. Garfield Of Columbia
Heights; William Krisko, the father OF
Johnny, and Sheriff Tierney Of this county.
Mr.. Hill simply identified another plat
Of the ground where the tragedy was en-
acted and Mr.. Garfield testified as to the
general location and contour Of the coun-
try. Mr.. Krisko, the father, was recalled
and required to answer a question which
was put to him yesterday, viz: DO you
intend to bring a damage suit against
Captain Walton for the death Of your
SOM" To this the witness replied in the
affirmative.
evidence the clothes of the dead boy and
the store which the sheriff used to mark
the location of the dead body were placed
in evidence.
The prosecution then rested.
The cross examination of Captain Wat
son was completed early In the afternoon
and Winfield Porter, a Minneapolis pho
tographer, was sworn. Mr.. Porter testi-
fled that three days after the shooting Of
| the boy he took a photograph OF the range
and Its surroundings. A child was placed
in a recumbent position on the spot where
the Krisko child was killed, but the place
could not be seen or identified in the neg
alive until a second child was posed in
a standing position beside the one on the
ground.
Hoskins Tells Of the Shooting.
George H. Hoskins Of Minneapolis, Of
Company F, was the first witness yester-
day, and told of the circumstances of the
shooting. Captain Walton was examining
a small rifle and someone asked him to
fire at the target. He declined, but fired
at what he thought was a piece Of news
paper some 200 yards away and out Of
the range Of the targets.
A little child sprang into the air and
fell to the ground. The men Of the COM
pany hurried to the scene and found the
little one mortally injured Mr.. Hoskins
was recalled in the afternoon and said
there was grass between Walton and the
boy and slight depression In the ground.
The white rag or paper appeared to be
lying on the ground. e
1t was brought out by this witness that
targets were made of white cloth and
yellowish paper. Paper and cloth were
sometimes worn out and torn OFF and
thrown down, where they could blow
about.
Other Evidence.
DR.. G. A. Kelsey of Minneapolis, who
was summoned when the boy was shot,
described the nature Of the wounds. The
bullet, he said, entered under the sixth
rib and came out at the neck.
DR.. G. F. Ewing corroborated his testi-
money.
Mr.. and Mrs. Krisko gave some testi-
IIlOIy ISldIlfc " IAo dSS VI IIlo 10Y dHO
his clothing, and then Michael Krisko,
uncle Of the dead child, told Of placing a
child in the same position as his nephew
was at the time he was shot. He said
the feet of the child and most of the body
could be visible from the place where Cap
tain Walton stood when he fired the fatal
shot.
James Muschare said there was only one
small tuft Of grass between Captain WAL
\ Ton and the how and that not sniff.
cient to conceal the child from the marks
man, who, it is asserted, wore goggles at
the time he fired the rifle.
J. p. Hill, county surveyor, presented a
map showing measurements, etc., on the
rifle range, with points noted. He saw no
evidence Of plowed ground.
Charles Krisko testified he placed rock
where the boy was killed and, standing
near where Mr.. Walton stood, he could
see it.
Frank M. Nye Of Minneapolis and Will
liam Blanchard and G. H. Wyman Of
Anoka appear for Walton. County At
torney Pratt represents the state.