The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-05-20

the house and when she came near
there Chief Cunningham sent her in
the house to look around but she
could find nothing of the man or
woman, and she thought they had
gone away.
Brought Out Eldest Girl.
In a few Sheriff Plotner
returned with the eldest girl, whom
he had left at the office of States At
torney Herbert. Chief Cunningham
stated to the sheriff he believed that
the a had shot the woman but it
seemed increditable. The eldest girl
started for the house and the officers
accompanied her In. They searched
the house thoroughly. The girl did
not have the slightest information
that there had been any shooting,
and vas as much at sea as the Off
GERS. They asked the girl If there
was a ladder by which ascent was
made to the attic and she replied
that there was not, but they felt as
If the attic would reveal the situa-
ton. NTH a chair the sheriff was
able to lift the elder girl to the
opening in the ceiling and he told
her to look around and see if she
could see the folks. If there was
anything wrong the Sheriff expected
that she would reveal it by a scream,
but not a sound came from her.
When she was lifted down the girl
calmly informed the officers that they
were not in the attic, but as later de-
.veiopments revealed the legs of the
girls father laid within four feet of
her as he hung over the side of the
bed. The officers made a further
search of the premises, but no trace
rather a delicate position to be in.
The officers did not know positively
that the murder had taken place and
the supposition might be that Gray
was In the attic biding his time when
the officers attempted to go up there
and that he would then shoot. The
girl evidently was doing her best to
stall the officers after her investiga-
ton of the attic n her positive
statement that they We're not there.
Finally Sheriff Plotner climbed up on
looked through the opening in the
ceiling. The sight that met his eyes
confirmed the belief of Chief Cum
ningham hal the murder and sui
eide had been committed. He said
nothing when he reached the floor,
but sending the eldest girl out of
the house he told the chief of what
had happened.
Chief Cunningham gave it as his
opinion hal Gray shot the woman
first while she was lying on the bed,
as the stains OF blood were on the
pillow while Gray was lying in a
portion of the bed. He be-
lieved that after Gray had shot her
that he tore up a part of the sheet
and then hung her to the rafter.
Questioned As I o Relations.
Previous to the discovery of the
murder and suicide both the girls
We're questioned as to the relations
which have been existing between the
father and the sister. The eldest girl
maintained that there was nothing
improper whatever, but the youngest
girl admitted that the criminal rela-
tons had been going on for some
time. When faced with the state
ment of the younger sister the elder
finally acknowledged that such was
the case. The son came home
about 6 O'Clock from the Milwaukee
roundhouse, where he is employed
wiping engines and doing odd jobs
around the place. When he saw the
crowd at the house and learned of
the terrible crime that had been COM
mitted he indicated hat he knew
what caused it.
Are They Brother and Sister?
AS to the relationship existing be-
tween the man and woman, it is not
definitely known. The supposition
has been all along since they have
lived over there that they We're
brother and sister. Information has
come to light that questions the sup
position. In conversation with a
person who met the family shortly
after they came here some five or
six years ago, they stated that the
eldest girl gave them a little sketch
Of the family, saying they came here
from Duluth; that her mother died
a short time before coming here and
that the woman who came with them
was her mothers sister. While the
children called her aunty. the sup
position grew that Gray was the wo-
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