The Bowbells tribune. [volume] (Bowbells, Ward Co., N.D.) 1899-1969, 1916-06-23
M0AALl GIRL. SHOT !:
BY HER FATHER

Minot, N. D., June 22.-T. H.
Druen, Mohall veterinarian, in an
attempt to take the life of his
wife and her companion, one Kin
ney. a perfume peddler, accident
ally shot and killed, his own little
three-year-old daughter, Hattie
Blanche Druen, at Mohall Saturday
morning at 1870 O'Clock. Druen
gave himself up and was brought
to Minot where he entered a plea
of guilty before Juuge Burr, who
sentenced him to serve 20 years at
hard labor in the penitentiary. He
will be taken to Bismarck some
time this week.
A representative of the lndepend-
ent called on the prisoner in the
county Jail Wednesday and found
him in very talhative> mood,
willing to tell Of his crime, even to
the slightest detail, Drucn tells
a. Straightforward story, admits that
he tried to kill his wife. whom he
considers faithless, regardless of
her. He would undoubtedly have
accomplished his purpose had not a
bullet stuck in his .25 automatic
Colts revolver after he had fired
three shots al q distance of not to
exceed six or eight. feet.
Druen's wife had left him a
number of times but before had
always returned to him. She ap-
parently would grow tired of liv~
ing with him and would leave.
taking the couples bright little
girl with her, going to work at res.
taurants Or as a domestic in private
families. Prior to the shooting
she had been working for Mrs. Mer
rifield. who operates restaurant
at Mohall.
Druen stated that Mrs. Merrifield
and his wife conspired to keep him
away from his wife and little girl
and would not even let him visit
his child. He brooded over his
troubles and believing that his wife
was keeping company with other
men, he obtained the revolver.
Friday night. he says he lay under
a derrick in the lot at the rear OF
the Merrifield restaurant, believing 9
that he would detect his wife in
company with some man, intending
to kill them a. both. Later he
crawled into an automobile stand
| ing In the yard expecting to see a
light. At 1880 he stepped into, the
dark hallway of the restaurant, be-
lieving that his wife was in the
place, when he, ,saW.;,the lights of
an approaching automobile. The
machine came down the grade
,, quietly, with the engine turned off,
and he saw his wife step from the
auto, under the street light. holding
their little girl In her arms.
my wife was not over six feet
from me-" he said. II saw her
get out and then saw the driver,
! who was Kinney. the perfume ped
dler, step out. MY wife threw her
arms around him and he did thf
same with her and they kissed each
! other I grew crazed and fired
The first shot evidently passed
through my wife's .ert hand. JUS
as she was withdrawing it fro:a
around Kinney's neck. The bu'le'
must have gone through Kinney !"
clothing. I fired twice more, ono
: of the DULLES striking my little
! daughter in the head, killing l,.ar
, instantly. / did not realize tina
! the little girl was in danger. !!
. know now that. when I began shot
| ing my wife held the little girl
! between us to protect herself, but i
; could not think at the time Kin
ney ran. After firing, three s':ots
81 shell stutk in the gun and could
not shoot any more. gave my
self up and then was taken before
Judge Crewc where they say ]
pleaded guilty. do not hardi:
know what happened.
Il loved my little girl better thar
; my own life. She was always with
/ her daddy always at my heels and
: often accompanied me on my trip:,
, out in the country. They would
r; not let me attend the funeral. which
was held at the Methodist church
! Sunday. Rev. Major. who preach
! ed the sermon. called On me and
=: forgive me and asked if would
! forgive her. I said that would,
, for although I tried to take her
life, I still love her. She would
not come to the Jail to see me. how
ever, regardless of the fact that we
will probably never see each other
| again. was allowed to go and
see my little girl as she lay in her
coffin. / bought her the finest
casket could get and some pretty
flowers. l have one Of the flowers
in my pocket which / will always
keep Here he produced a piece
of newspaper wrapped about car
nation.
Druen is SO years of age and his
wife SO. They were married Feb.
|12. 1912, at Preeceville. Can. The
woman years ago married man
named Boyd in Iowa and has three
children by her first husband. one
a lad of seventeen living, at Hawar-
den, la. Later she married Geo.
Kaoso. whom she divorced twice,
when she married 1Druen. She d.
vorced Druen and the couple were
remarked by A. B. Dill in Minot
last December Druen lived at
Donnybrook in the winter, moving
! to Tolley In the spring and short
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