Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-24
DWIGHT |. MINER, II, SHOOTS
AND KILLS BROTHER HERBERT, 20
Tragedy at PendIeton HILL Few Miles From Westery-Dr
ScanIon. After Investigation, Takes Dwight to Sheriff
Casey For Safe Keeping-Deed Accidentally Committed
With Revolver Boy Used For Target Practice

Dwight L. Miner, the II year old son
Of James o. Miner, shot and killed his
brother, Herbert o. Miner, aged 20,
just before noon Friday. The family
resides on Pendleton Hill, beyond the
church, about IL miles from Westerly,
and about half q mile from the main
road.
A few minutes after the shooting DR..
NJ. H. Scanlon was summoned by tele-
phone and responded as quickly as
possible, accompanied by a representa-
tive of The Bulletin. When the Miner
house was reached Herbert Miner was
seated in a chair near the kitchen
stove, dead, and his brother Dwight,
who did the shooting, sat directly OPP
posite, the other persons present being
the mother Of the boys a married son,
James, and another son years of age
and three neighbors. The father was
chopping in the Woo6s at the time of
the shooting. A messenger was sent
10 notify him, and before it was known
that Herbert was dead.
Dr.. Scanlon asked Dwight for the
revolver. and was told it was behind a
trunk in the kitchen, where the shoot
ing occurred. After the revolver was
secured Dwight was questioned in re-
gard to the shooting. He said that he
and his brother were playing Wild
West, his brother pointing his finger at
him and saying "Bang!" and finally
said he could get the drop" on Dwight
before he could pull his gun. Dwight
said he whipped out his revolver in
play, and must have unfntentionally
pulled the trigger; there was report,
and Herbert shouted I'm Shot!" and
placed his hand over his heart, but did
not fall from the chair.
Dwight said he threw the revolver
behind the trunk and unbuttOned his
brothers shirt to see If he really had
been shot He saw the hole in the left
breast, with just little blood trfckling
from the wound.
He said he had unloaded the re-
volver a short time before and was
swapping at objects in the room. He
then reloaded his revolver and knew 1t
was loaded when he aimed it at his
brother. He declared that he had no
trouble with his brother and that the
revolver was accidentally discharged.
He traded a watch for the revolver in
StoninEton about eight months ago
and usually carried it with him in a
homemade holster When he first got
the revolver he purchased the cart
ridges at WIZARDS in Westerly, but
when these were used in target shoot
ing he hlled the shells himself. The
revolver Is Of 80 calibre and of the
safety pattern.
Dwight said Herbert was sitting in
the chair when the revolver was dis
charged and that he stood about two
feet away. At tho time OF tho shoot
ing no ono was in the house besides
Herbert and Dwight but Mrs. Miner
and she was in a room adjoining the
Kitchen.
Dwight stated that he is expert with
the rife and a fairly good revolver shot
and that his specially was target
shooting.
MrB Miner explained that she came
into the kitchen as soon as she heard
the report OF the revolver and heard
Herbert say Tn shot" She immedi-
stely sent for a neighbor and tele-
phOned DR.. Scanlon Come immediate
Is, for Gods sakeI Dwight has shot
Herbert" She said she had warned
Dwight repeatedly TO stop his target
shooting and the reading Of Wild West
novels, but he was stubborn and would
not do as he was told. She was posi-
tive that Dwight did not intend tc
shoot Herbert, that they had had nc
trouble and were in a playful MOOD
when she left the kitchen q few min
utes previous to the shooting.
After the questioning Mr.. Miner
father Of the boys, arrived home. He
had been told Of the shooting, but die
not know that Herbert was dead. When
the father entered the room and learn
cd Of his sons death he cried bitterly
and reproached Dwight, saying that he
had repeatedly warned him to stoT
carrying the revolver.
Dr.. Scanlon found that the bullet
went direct to the heart and that
scarcely any blood flowed from the
wound. Herbert had on a coat an6
sweater, but these were open. for the