Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-01
|CHANCE SHOT IS FATAL
Gen. Girard's Daughter Killed
by Mayor Buses Brother.
WAS EXPLAINING WEAPON
Showing Maid How to Use Revolver,
When It Goes Off.
VICTIM BEFORE HER MIRROR
Bullet Came Through Window From
Adjoining Apartment to Pierce
Her Heart-No Arrest Made.
VICTIM BEFORE HER MIRROR

arms of her father, Brig. Gen. Alfred G.
Girard, retired, a few minutes later. Busse
was eXonerated from all blame by a cor
oner's jury today.
Mrs. Tuckerman was visiting her par
ents. accompanied by her two children.
She arrived from her home in New York
last Tuesday.
few minutes before o'clock last
ing table in her bedroom, arranging her
toilet for dinner, her Seven-year-old son
playing about the ROOM
Across the court on the same floor. the
fourth, was the apartment of George
Busse and his mother. Buses bedroom
window was directly opposite the win
dow of Mrs. TuckermanS room. Mayor
Busse was making call on his mother
and was in the dining room when he
heard the shot.
Brother Gives Him into Custody.
George Busse contemplated leaving the
city for few days and was in his bed
room explaining to Bertha Lembke, a
maid, how to handle the revolver in the
event of burglars attempting to enter
the apartment. The weapon was point
ed toward the window when, in manipu-
lating it. it was discharged.
With scream Mrs. Tuckerman stag
gered toward the door of her room and
fell PROSTATE. Her father and mother
hurried to her. not realizing what had
happened.
Mayor Busse, who had heard the shot
and scream. ran to the Girard apartment.
Then. perceiving what had occurred. he
called a policeman to take his brother
into custody. Gen. Girard himself re-
fused to ask for the arrest. saying he
realized that it was an accident.
George Busse was overcome by the
tragedy. He staggered across the hall,
and after viewing the body Of Mrs.
Tuckerman collapsed in the arms of
his brother. He was placed under a
physicians care and instructions were
given that he should see no one through
out the night
Mrs. Tuckerman's husband is a fruit
dealer in Milton. Her son Marion, ten
years old, is with his father. Girard
Morrison Bush, twelve years old, child
by her first marriage, is in school in Oak
land, Cal.
Had Just Returned From a Walk.
Mrs. Tuckerman planned to stay with
her father and mother for several weeks.
Her father arrived in the city from Fort
Ieavenworth, Kan, Saturday in response
to a telegram that she was here. He
had been i'll for several weeks and was
not strong when he arrived home.
noon walking about the west side. He
returned on a street car. His daughter
and grandchild walked. reaching home at
> o'clock. They went at once to their
room to prepare for dinner.
Since the death of Gustave Busse,
father Of George Busse. several weeks
ago. his widow and the maid have been
alone in the house much OF the time.
George Busse has been travelling. When
he returned home Saturday he announced
intention no of ~ in
last night. His mother asked him to get
the maid revolver and teach her how to
use 1t In case they were molested.
Busse bought revolver Saturday and
afternoon. few moments later Mayor
Busse arrived. and George showed the
revolver to him.
Showing Maid How to Use It.
George explained to the maid how it
| worked, and then told her he would place
| it in a drawer in his bedroom. He and
| Miss Lembke went into the bedroom to-
gether and Busse was giving her some
| final instructions in the use of the
| weapon. pointing it toward the areaway
| in order to avoid an accident Then he
| broke" it to show the girl how to ex-
| tract the shells. AS he closed the re.
volver cartridge exploded. A scream
followed. and Busse heard a fall in the
into the hall. where he met his brother
and the two crossed over to the Girar I'd
apartment together.
Gen. Girard heard the shot at almost
the same moment. He was standing in
the front room talking with his wife.
AS he approached the door of his daugh-
ter's room he heard her fall
Father. I'm shotv' she exclaimed.
Gen. Girard lifted her to a place on a
rug. She was dead before she could ut
ter another word.
AS she lay in her fathers arms Mayor
Busse and his brother ran in.
I've killed her" cried George as he
saw the body. and staggered into his
brothers arms.
BY this time Mrs. Girard had reached
the room almost in a state of collapse
But she was able to pick up little Alfred
Tuckerman. who had seen his mother
shot, and carry him away from the scene
Later he was taken to the fiat OF Charles
Swain. a neighbor. still ignorant that his
mother was dead.
Gen. Girard summoned Drs. James r.
Smedley, C. NJ. McKenna. A. A. Small
and August Zimmerman. They said the
bullet had passed through the heart and
lodged near the spine.
Gen. Girard Blames No One.
When the police arrived Gen. Girard
said:
This is lamentable accident 1 know
Mr.. Busse will appear at the inquest
That is all I ask"
George Busse retired to his room and
by order of his physician was not al
lowed to talk with any one. He is thir-
ty-eight years old. unmarried and has
been manager of his brothers farm al
Fox Lake. Recently he has represented
the mayor as travelling salesman for his
coal business.
Gen. Girard is sixty-four years old He
has been in the United States service for
| over forty years.
Mayor Busse is heartbroken
To the newspaper men who went to his
mothers fiat he said:
my mother. my wife and myself were
| sitting in the dining room adjoining the
bedroom where George was showing Miss
| Lembke how to handle the revolver He
pointed 1t out into the court while he
showed her how to hold it, and placed his
finger on the trigger. 1t was then that it
was discharged. / ran into the bedroom
and found George standing with the
| smoking weapon still in his hand. I asked
| him how it happened and he said it had
| accidentally gone of. 1t was dreadful