Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1913 — Mock Indian Duel Fatal to Boy With Toy Pistol [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Mock Indian Duel Fatal to Boy With Toy Pistol

PITTSBURG, Pa.—During a mock Indian jfluel with a toy pistol and a flobert rifle as the weapons, Frank Larkins, aged nine, a son of James Larkins of 2544 Spring alley, shot in the head and instantly killed bis cousin, Francis Barr Boyle, aged seven, a son of Edward Boyle of 31)04 Penn avenue, the other afternoon. The accident occurred at the home of the children’s grandmother, Mrs. Bridget Egan, at 2313 Penn avenue, rear. Young ran crying to his home and told his father that he had shot his cousin. The boy was taken to the Penn avenue police station. but was later released at the request of Coroner Sanruei C. Jamison. ’Younk Larkins In relating the incident to Police Inspecor Bailey, said: "Francis and I were playing in grandma’s bedroom when Francis found an old gun. We didn’t know It was loaded. Francis said we would play Indian and have a duel, so he gave me the gun and be took a pistol wtth caps in 1L 1 stood up on the bed

and Francis shot at me with his pistol. Then he told mo to shoot again. I pulled the trigger and”—the child here broke down, crying bitterly. Resuming again he said: “I saw Francis fall on the floor and the blood come and then I ran home and told papa." The rifle was owned by Mrs. Egan's late husband and had been under the bed since his death, about nise years ago. Mrs. Egan said that she had forgotten that It was there. Shortly after he had been taken to hla home by his father, young Larkins disappeared. He was found sitting g» the curbstone at Twenty-seveotlk street and Penn avenue weeping.