The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-15
KILLED HIS FATHER.
p. L. Stegman, Of Garden City.
Victim of Son.
Tried to Take Gun Away From
Boy.
THEN 1T WENT OFF.
Parent Instantly Killed by the
Discharge.
COrOner's Jury ExOnerates
Young Man.
THEN 1T WENT OFF.

Garden City, Feb. 15.-The coroner
jury in the case of P. L. Stegman, who
was instantly killed late Sunday, re-
turned a verdict finding the death of
the victim due to a wound inflicted by
a shotgun in the hands of his son, Joe
Stegman.
The shooting occurred while Joe
Stegman was trying to wrench the gun
from his fathers hands.
Sunday night about o'clock Coroner
Clark telephoned Sheriff Reeve that
q man had been murdered in the Steg-
man place. seven miles northwest of
Garden CITY,. Clarks informant had
been the son-wEo was responsible for
the killing. He had come in to make
funeral arrangements for his father.
At about the same time Sheriff Reeve
was called by young Stegman and he
was asked to meet him down town.
When seen. Stegman told of the hap
pening and was Immediately placed
under arrest.
Cars containing Coroner Clark, D.
J. Foulk Bryant Garment. o. P. Reeve
and County Attorney Evans left for
the scene of the tragedy shortly after
o'clock.
Arriving there, the body of the dead
man lay upon the kitchen floor. an
enormous hole in his left cheek 1ndl-
him. After an examination by the
Jurors appointed, the gruesome spec
tacle was removed into an adjoining
room.
Called upon to testify the wife of
the deceased man told the Following
story, her broken English being alded
by an interpreter:
sHThis morning my husband was in
bad humor. He ate his breaktasG
without speaking and at the end OF
the meal threw a saucer VlolehtIy 70
the floor Later he asked the boys TO
hitch up to the light wagon in which
10 go to church. On my complaint at
its being too small me struck me. lie
had a misunderstanding with Joe on
The way back from church. 1t did not
last long, however
"'In the afternoon the boys were
playine cards and drinking with Fred
and lake Geesewine Conrad Beck,
Jacob Beck and Jacob Bait. SeVeral
times my husband abused and threat
ened me and Joe told him to drop IT.
After the boys left, Joe. and the old
man went into another room and
drank some more beer. Joe was not
drunk but his father was l had my
back turned to the door, and the next
think I knew q gun was fired and my
husband dropped to the floor. Joe
was excited and said he would go tc
town for a DOCTOR.
No other witnesses we're present. at
of 10 was in an adjoining room and d
girl of 16 was in the yard gathering
kindling when the shot was fired
Both were questioned as well as a
younger son and a nephew of the dead
man.
The verdict of the jury was suspend
&c until after the examination of joe
Stegman His evidence was practical
ly Identical with his mothers He
stated that he had had no quarrel with
his father, that his father had threat
ened his mother and himself; had
taken the gun and was crossing into
the next room when he approached
him from behind and wrenched the
gun away. The father turned and the
gun at the same time was accidentally
discharged.
He states his mother as having ex-
claimed, MY God you have killed him,
and he answered Eyes, but 1 couldn't
help it,
Stegman senior, is said to have beer
a man of violent temper at times, and
his son on the contrary even temper
ed. They had had no quarrels of con.
sequence and the evidence did not leac
to a supposition of aggravated circum-
stances that would tend to intentiona
shooting.
The case may be brought up before
the district court at the option of the
county attorney. This will be decided
of