The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-12-07
SHOOTING ACCIDENT IN LIBERTY.
A 12-year old Boy the Victim of a Hunters
Gun. Earl D. Bean, who fired the fatal
shot, held for the S. J. Court.

Ralph Waldo, the 12-year-old son of Frank
Emerson of Liberty, was fatally shot when
near his fathers home last Sunday afternoon
With his little brother, Charles w. he haG been
calling on their grandfather and they were re-
turning home near dusk. and running alter each
other over knobs, when they heard TWO Shots
and 1t is said that one ball passed between
them and the other struck the ground near by
The third shot struck Ralph in the side tear
ing its way through his abdomen He scream
ed, so, am shot!' and started to run, going
about 600 yards before he fell, and in the
meantime had climbed two stone walls, failing
over both, and had gained the open field near
Herbert Cunninghams residence The little
brother called for help all the way and ran to
the Cunningham house to give the alarm The
little sufferer was taken into the house and
apparently realized his condition, as he said
"Do you think will die?"
Mr.. Cunningham found he could do nothing
to relieve him and taking him in his arms
carried him to the Emerson home mile dis
tant, at the same time sending neighbor's
boy to the nearest telephone II miles away
for DR.. c. B. Holt of Liberty, who responded
Immediately, but saw that the only hope was
to send the boy to the Waldo County Hospital
The neighbors made him as comfortable as
possible and started for Belfast ABOUT
O'Clock, but he died about O'Clock Monday
morning, when near the Belfast Trutting Park
The case was reported to Coroner Charles r.
CoombS and the body was placed in mis- UNDER
! taking rooms. Sheriff Edwin Jenkins Orrin J.
Dickey of the associated press and County
Attorney Eben F. Littlefield drove to Liberty
| Monday to investigate the case, upon which
Deputy Whitaker was already at work under
instructions from Sheriff Jenkins. At l.
o'clock Monday night sufficient evidence had
been secured to warrant the arrest of Earl d.
Bean of East Corinth and Albert BoyntJn of
Liberty. who had been hunting deer III the
vicinity, and they were taken into custody
a,Ih 10 Ralt
Tuesday morning Coroner Coombs empanel-
led his jury, as follows: Messrs. Charles F.
Thompson, Charles Z. Owen, N W. Deano,
W. H. Hall, George A. Quimby and Orrn j.
Dickey. After they had been sworn in Cuun-
ty Attorney Littlefield objected to Mr. Dickey
and Frank G Mixer substituted After
viewing the body at the undertaking rooms
the jury adjourned to the city building. when
Hon. j. r. Dunton, counsel for Bean and BOyn-
ton, stated that Bean was anxious to tell
every particular IN the case, and ii was most
affecting scene when, with tears and sobs, he
told his story, which substantiated the evil
dence secured by the officers He said they
had borrowed gun and had been deer hunt
ing all day and were following the trail of
wounded deer when they came upon the chill
dren, and thinking they had located the game
fired three shots Mr. Boynton heard the
screams of the boys, and said Good Gou you
have fred at chidren!' They went immedi-
ately to the place, but found no indications
that the boys We're injured and seeing them
running thought they were only frightened
and dld not follow them, but went home. AS
this statement eliminated Boynton from the
case he was released from custody. Bean was
taken to the county Jail and Tuesday after
noon was before judge Knowlton of the mu-
nicipal court, who found probable cause and
held him for the grand jury of the S. j. Court,
January, l9l2, term. He gave bonds for $1,000,
with Albert Boynton and Clayborne Gates as
sureties and went to his home in Liberty.
The little Emerson boys were well known to
Rev. David l.. Wilson and the members of
Castle North, X. o. K A., who had camped
near their home for two seasons. Mr.. Wilson,
who speaks in highest terms of the dead boy,
went at once to the undertaking rooms and
was moved to tears at the sight of his little
friend. Knowing the home conditions of the
boy he provided a suit for Ralph, and when he
made the fact known that the family would
appreciate assistance, Mr.. C. E. Owen gave
suits for the three younger brothers, and Mr..
Orrin J: Dickey started subscription paper
for ready money::for the family --~.