The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1905-10-27
TRAGIC END OF BOTTINEAU BOY
A Fair Young Life Pays the Penalty of Criminal
Carelessness in Handling of Dangerous
W. Weapon. Calamity Casts Gloom
Over the Community.

A terrible tragedy occurred in this
city yesterday at noon when Frank,
the only son Of John Rodney, was
accidentally killed by his playmate,
Albert Wicks. The sad affair hap
pened during the noon horr while the
two boys were alone in the Office of
Rodney's livery barn. They had
come from school together and Frank
stayed at the barn while George Lee
per, the hostler, went to dinner.
Young Wicks entered the Office with
him. Shortly afterwards John Myles,
Jr. who lives six miles southeast of
Souris, rushed into the Merchants
hotel exclaiming "Someone has been
shot or stabbed over at the barn!"
A score Of men rushed over to the
barn and beheld pitiful sight. Frank
Rodney lay on the floor bleeding from
a CHASTITY wound above the left temple
and, although still breathing, it was
at once apparent that there was no
hope. The shot had penetrated his
brain and he lay in pool of blood.
DR.. J. A. johnson, county coroner,
was at once summoned. He confirmed
the fears of those who had first seen
the victim and said the end was at
hand. Meanwhile the unfortunate
boy whose weapon had caused the
death was running about the barn half
crazed with grief and fear and inco-
herently telling the story of the acci
dent.
Albert Wicks' Story.
From what was then told and from
further information brought out at the
inquest last night it appears that AL
bert Wicks, who is fifteen years old,
was classmate and friend of the de-
ceased and that they had come away
from school together, as they often
did. When they were lett in the
livery Office Frank asked to see the re-
volver which young Wicks had bor-
rowed from his brother Henry. He
took it from his pocket. Frank asked
how it was loaded and young Wicks
opened it and put in five shells. They
were still examining it and Frank had
just returned it to his companion when
in some manner, which Wicks cannot
explain. the weapon was discharged
and Frank fell to the floor. There were
no witnesses to the affair but John
Myles, Sr. and his son John Jr. were
in the barn feeding their horses and
heard cries of "Help, Help and 60
ing to the office-saw Wicks trying to
raise young Rodney and saying over
and over 'sHe's Dead" When the
alarm was given and the crowd came
Albert Wicks gave the weapon, a 80
calibre, Eve shot. double acting revol-
yer to Alex Mckenzie and he turned
it over to the coroner.
The Inquest.
A coroner's jury composed of II.
A. Bate. David Clark and Peter
Scott was empaneled and met at
$50 last night in States Attorney
Bowen's Office where the facts before
related were brought ont. The jury
returned q verdict, stating that "We
find that Frank Rodney came to his
death through the accidental discharge
of revolver held in the hands Of
one Albert Wicks. =
After the shooting messengers were
dispatched to carry the sad tidings to
the relatives of deceased in this city
and to his sister. Mrs. Cameron
near Kramer. Another sister, Miss
Della, was summoned by telephone
from Minot and will arrive tonight.
The father was in st. Paul with a
shipment of cattle and was reached by
telegram this morning. He will ar
rive here tomorrow morning to
place the mortal remains Of his
only son beneath the sod.
The Deceased.
Frank Gordon Rodney was born at
Carthage, 3. Dak., on Jan. II, 1891,
and came here with his parents five
years ago. He was bright loyable
boy. He was in the seventh grade at
the city school and making good pro-
gress. The keen intelli ligence and
good disposition Of the boy gave prom