Emma Pearl was born on February 29, 1892. She was the 4th of 11 children born to William and Matilda Kimbrel. Her death at 18 months old is tragic and heartbreaking.

The following story was printed in the Journal-Democrat (Dodge City, Kansas) 13 Jan 1894 p. 4
HORRIBLE CRIME
Wm. Kimbrel, His Wife and Eighteen Months-Old child Shot through the Window-The Wife's Sister Also Shot.

Last Sunday evening about nine o'clock, William Kimbrel and family who reside about seventeen mile southwest of Dodge City in Concord township, Ford county, were retiring for the night. Mr. Kimbrel had lain down in the bed. The sister of Mrs. Kimbrel had retired on a couch in the same room under the south window of the house. Mrs. Kimbrel sat by the stove undressing her child.

A shot was fired though the south window at Mr. Kimbrel on the bed. The shot struck him in the neck, tearing the jugular vein, and some shot also hit him in the bed on the floor Mrs. Kimbrel and her sister sprang to his assistance. While tending over him, another shot was fired through the north window into the group, hitting all of them. Mrs. Kimbrel's fell to the floor. The shot entered her side and shoulder. The child was hit with some of the shot in the head. The sister received several shots in her face and neck.

The sister being the least injured, started for the barn after a horse to go for assistance. At the barn, she met Joseph Walker a cousin of Mr. Kimbrel. She says he seized her and attempted to commit rape on her. She fought him off, mounted the horse and started for the neighbors. Walker went into house.

In a short time she returned with a brother of Mr. Kimbrel and several other neighbors. Mr. Kimbrel at once accused Walker of doing the shooting. He denied it and said four men on horseback had fired shots at him.

The neighbors attended to the injured ones and sent a messenger to Dodge City after Dr. Milton and Sheriff Beeson. The doctor and Beeson started for the scene of the tragedy at 2 o'clock Monday morning. On their arrival, the doctor examined the inured parties. The child was unconscious from wounds in the head. Mrs. Kimbrel had several shot pass through her side and was bleeding inwardly. Mr. Kimbrel was bleeding badly from the wounds in his neck and was weak from the loss of blood. The doctor stopped the bleeding but could do very little for the child which was unconscious and failing fast.

Sheriff Beeson made an examination of the premises and found no traces of the horses Walker spoke of; but he found tracks near the windows outside which corresponded with Walker's shoes. He took Walker in charge and started for Dodge City and lodged him in jail.
From all accounts there is no question on the guilt of Joseph Walker. The inured child lingered until Wednesday afternoon at one o'clock when it died. It was buried on Thursday afternoon. This is one of the most fiendish crimes every known in Ford county.

An inquest was held by Coroner Samuel J. Crumbine over the remains of the child last Thursday morning. The jury decided that the deceased came to its death from gunshot wounds inflicted by Joseph Walker.