The Cairo bulletin., 1906-11-08
GIRL IS FATALLY
SHOT IN WOODS
MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY lMPLl-
GATES STRANGE MAN IN
STORY OF WOMAN. x
VICTIM OF ASSAILANT
But Authorities Who Are Investiqat.
ing Strange Case Find Few
Cews to Go By--Went Out
After Squirrels.

Keene, N. r., Nov Lying un-
conscious in the woods half a mile
from her home. with bullet in her
head, Miss Lillian Paine, aged II, the
| daughter of Alexander Paine, OF
Parkhill, Westmoreland. was found
by searching party of thirty CT liens
She is now in a critical condition at
her home, with little chance of her
recovery.
How Miss Paine was shot is a mys-
terry, and in the intervals of ner-con-
sciousness since she was found she
has told no connected story. She did
say that she was knocked down or
shot by "a horrid looking man"
She went into the woods near her
home after expressing her desire to
get a squirrel. When she failed to re
turn at dark her family, in alarm,
telephoned for aid, gathering a posse
of neighbors for a search.
After about two hours the posse
found her lying near a sugar house,
while the ground about her was spat
tered with blood She was at once
aiken home and attended by Dr.
Craig, of Westmoreland. The bullet.
which had entered about an inch and
half above the right eye. wa.s
found to have lodged at the base of
the brain.
Victim of AssaIant.
There are various accounts of what |
Miss Paine said in her conscious |
moments, but all of them agree that |
she was attacked by a man. While |
DR.. Craig did not think that her men
tai condition was such that reliance |
could he placed on what she said |
she is understood TO have said that |
she loaded the rife. stood 1t against |
the house, near which she was found. |
and started to meet her brother who
she thought would be coming along
the road about that time.
She went down the road some dis
lance and not meeting him, retraced
her steps. Nearing the sugar house
she was shot or knocked down by a
strange man.
If Miss Paine was shot by man.
here seems to be no motive. for
here Is no evidence of struggle or
lttack. Miss Paine is young lady
II excellent reputation and has never
lad mental trouble.
Officials Are Notified.
County Solicitor O. T.. Cain and
Deputy Sheriff Edward II. Lord. of I
his city, were notified and went to
VestmOreland to make an investiga. |
ion. Sheriff Lord iis Of the opinion
hat the shooting was accidental His !
heory is that Miss Paine thought she
'ould 20 to meet her brother and un-
ertook TO set the rife inside the (
agar house and tnat she was lean {
ng over II when the weapon was ac :
identally exploded v
Wounded, she fell into the wood t
he'd and later crawled out as far as I
he corner where she was found. He c
lated that the rife was found as it
night naturally fall under such con.
itions and there was no evidence Of
,ul play or attack.
1t has been stated by one of the
party that there were pow.
er marks on Miss Paine's forehead {
nd the flesh appeared to be burned.
ldicating that the rife had been dis.
larged close TO her head. The eye
nd forehead are much discolored.
II h also stated that there is
nall door connecting the woodshed :,
18th the sugar house and that blood ',
aims and a comb were found in the !.
oodshed. She was found several feet :
ON this doorway. The rife was :
'und on the opposite side OF the :
Igar house. standing muzzle down.
Miss Paine is understood 10 have n
I'D her mother that she crawled as -
IT as she could on her hands and
1ees after she was shot irving to =,
It home. The girls condition isl -
'itical, but the county solicitor will :,
, his best TO get statement from
II before she dies.