New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-07
CHARGE IS HOMICIDE.
Girl Shot by Hungarian at Hibernia
Dies.
CAUGHT BY POSSE AFTER CHASE


Morristown. Dec 6.-The charge against
Frank Bectsa. Hungarian. twenty-seven years
old who shot ten-year-old Minnie Root in Hi
hernia yesterday is homicide for the girl died
to-day as the result OF her injuries. Bectsa was
lodged in the county Jail here this evening. He
was captured after a chase on the White
Meadow road some miles from Hibernia. Mar
shall II. r. Dobbins. of Hiberna. with a posse of
from Hibernia, tracked him across the
mountain by his footprints in the snow. Bectsa
was a stranger and wandered rather aimlessly
about in the mountains II is not believed
Beotsa intended 10 kill the child. but il Is
thought that he did intend TO kill either her
father, Daniel Root or John Kasssky, with
whom Bectsa had been boarding.
Bectsa had boarded with Kassisky. who is a
sub-foreman in the mines Mr.. Root is the fore
man. Kassisky lives in one half of a double
house Mr. Root, his wife and the child lived
I'm the other half Bectsa discharged from
the mine last week and paid off on Friday.
Saturday afternoon he intoxicated and ap-
peared at his boarding house and started dis
turbance. Mrs Kassisky and Mr.. Root put him
out.
Mrs Root ana her daughter had followed Mr..
Root into the Kassisky part of the house and
were in the room were several other per
sons. Minnie Root stood close TO the fireplace
across the room lioil inc " liluoN al Ns4iN4i
Bectsa had knocked. a minute elapsed
after Kassisky had pulled down the window
shade and then shot fired outside. 1t
crashed through the middle lower pane of the
upper sash OF the window Almost Immediately
there was a second shot This bullet entered
the middle pane OF the lower sash. went through
the shade and across the room. striking Minnie
Root in the head. She dropped unconscious. 1t
IS said that one or two more shots were fired,
but accounts differ as what took place after
the child was hit. Bectsa fed.
The wounded child carried TO a bed and
DR. Foster called. The bullet had entered the
brain and nothing could be done. The child
lived until > o'clock this morning when she
died. Later in the day Drs. Foster and Flags
performed the autopsy and extracted a bullet
from the brain. The inquest has been set for
Thursday.
Within an hour after the shooting Marshall
DObbins had formed posse and the pursuit OF
Bectsa taken UP. The trail was comparatively
easy TO follow. owing to 1he fact that the muir
derer left the beaten tracks almost Immediately
and took 10 the mountain. Following il was
slow. however. owing tc the darkness, as the
could proceed no faster than walk most
Of the time. and the trail wandered about
through the mountain. Those following ii knew.
however. that IL they kept reasonably close 10
the fugitive they would easily OVertake him, AS
they saw he was hopelessly lost, and seemed
to be searching for some road ard always keep
ing away from even the mountain paths. Bectsa
was too tired and worn out when found TO make
any resistance. and brought back to Hi
hernia. There Coroner Surnburgher held him to
await the inquest. and this evening. after he and
his captOrs had rested. the prisoner was brought
TO the jail here.