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Obituary- James, Asa 1

A Terrible Tragedy
Peter Kovar Shoots Asa James
Claims it was Accidental

Rossville and vicinity was inexpressly [sic] shocked when the news was ‘phoned in Sunday evening from R.D. James’ farm that their nine year old son, Asa, had been shot and killed. The shooting took place about 6 o’clock, in the evening, shortly after the boy had left the house to pull alfalfa to feed the hogs.

The report of the gun was heard by the family, followed by screams, and when the father reached the pasture he found the little fellow wrething [sic] in mortal agony. A physician was ‘phoned from Delia and the wounded boy carried to the house, where he died in a few minutes, without having made any statement as to who did the shooting.

Coroner Keith and Sheriff Norton arrived in Rossville shortly after midnight on the west-bound flyer, and drove at once to the scene of the tragedy. Many wild rumors were circulated as to the manner of killing, but nothing definite was obtained until nearly noon Monday. Searching parties had been out all morning and tracks leading from the spot where the shooting took place were being followed. These were leading directly to John Kovar’s house, about a mile northeast of the James place. Mr. Kovar went to them and said they need look no further, as his boy, Peter, did the shooting. Peter Kovar is ten years old. According to his story, he and a neighbor boy, John Selik, fourteen years old, had gone to Will Kovar’s house, an uncle, who lives almost directly across the road from the James residence, to borrow a rifle to shoot crows with. The Selik boy carried a rifle. Peter said his uncle gave him the rifle loaded and cocked and told him to shoot crows. The two left the house and passed along the road north when they met young Asa James who was just over the fence pulling alfalfa. They stopped and asked what he was doing and a general boyish conversation took place, about the number of pigs each owned. When he lifted his rifle to go young Kovar says the trigger must have caught in his clothing for the gun when off and Asa fell to the ground. Then they both ran home.

There are other versions of the affair to the effect that the Selik boy told Kovar to shoot James and that Kovar deliberately aimed the rifle and pulled the trigger. There are several who were in the vicinity of the killing who claim to have hear two shots fired close together. The bullet that killed the little boy entered the abdomen a little below the center. It severed the large artery, as well as many of the intestines, and lodged in the backbone. There was also a wound on the left hand consisting of a furrow across the fore finger and a bullet hole in the back of the thumb.

The coroner’s inquest will be held this afternoon in the city building at Rossville, conducted by Coroner Keith and County Attorney Schenck. A thorough probing into the facts will be made and the blame placed where it belongs.

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