MILBURN, Pansy
Date of death: 15 Jan 1897 – Johnson County, Indiana
The Franklin Democrat, Friday, January 22, 1897,
Volume XXXVII Number 28, page 1 column 5
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FATAL SHOOTING.
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Terrible Accident on the Banks of
White River.
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Last Saturday Pansy Milburn, the five year old daughter of H. E. Milburn, was accidently shot by her eight year old brother and instantly killed.
Milburn lives at Indianapolis, but spends a great part of his time tenting and fishing along White River. He with his two children, in company with a man whose name is unknown, were camping about one and one half miles west of Smith’s Valley. The two men left the children in the tent and rowed across the river. They had left a shot gun in the tent and the boy in playing with this accidentally discharged it. The load took effect in the little girl’s face, tearing away almost one side of the head and causing instant death. The boy at once ran out and called to his father in great alarm and told him that Pansy was dead. F. L. Barger, Justice of the Peace, was sent for, but being sick, J. M. Scott was called and an inquest was held. On investigation, Mr. Scott found that death was accidental and so reported, bringing his report to Franklin Monday and filing it with the county clerk. The remains were taken to Indianapolis Saturday night.
Note: The Indiana WPA Death Index, 1882-1920, referencing Book H-7, page 8, records that Pansy Milburn, a 6 year old white female, died 15 Jan 1897 in Marion County [sic].
Submitted by Mark McCrady and Cathea Curry