Morris tribune., 1912-12-20
JOHN Killing
SHOT BY BOY
FOUND DEAD AT HOME
BY SONS.
While Family Was Away from
Home Wednesday Evening, a
Boy Living at the King Home
Shot and Killed MIR. King and
Took Horse and Buggy and
Escaped. Captured Near FL
bow Lake.

John Killing, a we'll known farmer
of Donnelly, was found dead at his
home on Wednesday evening when his
sons returned from Donnelly. A To-
| year old boy who has been staying at
the King home for several weeks
was missing, as was also horse and
buggy and gun.
When Mr.. Kings sons, David and
Emil, returned with their wives on
Wednesday evening. they found their
father lying dead on the floor with a
gunshot wound in his back. 1t ap-
peared as tho he was eating his supper
| when he was killed, and that death
was instantaneous and that he had
fallen forward to the floor from the
Ichair in which he was sitting. From
the appearance of the wound, it seems
that the gun must have been dis
charged at him from distance of
several feet, for the shot had spread
| several inches and there was no evil
dence of powder burns. The course
of the shot was somewhat upwards,
indicating that the old man was bend
ing forward slightly at the time, pro-
badly stopped over at the table. His
meal was not eaten.
[ The boy who is charged with this
horrible crime comes from near Fer
gas Falls. He has been an unruly
boy, and his mother had asked Mr..
Killing to take him in the hope that
/ the Christian atmosphere Of the King
home would lead the boy to reform.
His name is Ole Chrisropherson. He
has made considerable trouble at Fer
gus Falls. and has been in Jail there
His father is dead, and since his
mother moved from the farm and
married tailor in Fergus Falls, the
boy has not got along we'll with his
step-father. Mr. King became in
terested in helping to make him
better boy and couple of weeks or
more ago was at Fergus Falls and
gave the boy letter to his sons on
the farm. The boy took up with his
new home, and appeared to be a
bright and willing boy.
I Wednesday evening, the Killing boys
left for Donnelly with their wives
about AS. Christopherson was asked
and said he would finish the chores.
AS soon as the King boys left he
must have gone to the house. eaten
his supper, which was in a dining
room adjoining the one where Mr..
Killing was. In this room shot gun
and rifle were standing in one corner,
and he must have picked up the shot
gun, and shot Mr.. King just as he
was sitting down to supper. The boy
then went to the barn, took an old
mare and hitched her to light wagon,
and started north, as the tracks later
showed. He passed the Werk farm
six miles north at eight O'Clock. He
must have travelled most of the
night.
| The King boys returned at II as
and finding their father killed, notified
neighbors and the officials. Sheriff
Zahl, Coroner Caine and County At
torney Beise went up from here at
once, and Immediately took steps to
find the murderer.
: The murder is shrouded in mystery,
at least until this boy tells what hap
pened at the Killing home Wednesday
evening. 1t is impossible to imagine
what would lead even the most Grim
inally inclined to take the life of such
kind old man as Mr.. Killing. He
appears to have been shot in the back
in cold blood. Robbery was evidently
not motive, for money and valu.
abIes were not taken.
John King, the murdered man, is
an old settler in Donnelly. and one
who has been most highly respected
by all who knew him. He is sur
vived by his wife and a family oi
grown children. He has always tried
to advance the Christian life of the
community, both by precept and ex.
ample. and has lived most useful
o life. OF late years he has given over
4 the management of bis farm to his
sons. He expected soon to 60 TO- Gal.
iforniaeo He.yss 56 years old. @a
Arrangements for the funeral have