Annie "Kret" Kramer

"A terrible accident occurred at the farm home of Peter Kramer, living 18 miles southeast of Odessa, last Saturday afternoon, the victim being Mr. Kramer's 13 year old daughter, Annie, who is also a sister of Mrs. C. A. Kiehn of this city. She was shot by a gun in the hands of her brother, Michael, aged 19 years, the charge entering her right breast, killing her almost instantly. The following story of the accident is told by C. A. Kiehn, who received the news by telephone shortly after it occurred and later visited the scene: Mr. Kramer and two of his sons went to Ritzville in the morning, leaving his wife, Michael, and Annie at home. They had a late dinner, after which Mrs. Kramer suggested to Michael that he take the gun and go out and try to shoot a rabbit. He lingered for some time, however, romping about the house with his sister, Annie; the two were always together and seemed very fond of each other. Finally Mrs. Kramer again spoke to Michael about going hunting and he went to where the gun hung and took it down and made ready to do his mother's bidding. He stood in the door with it in his hand when his sister tagged him with a stick. He tagged her back and after several passes were made he lifted the gun, which was loaded, gripped it, unknowingly, with his finger on the trigger and tagged her the last time. The barrel was pressed against her, when the gun went off and the full charge entered her right breast. She fell to the floor and the boy dropped down before her and pleaded for forgiveness, but she was unable to speak. Mrs. Kramer did what she could to stop the flow of blood from the wound and sent the boy to Ritzville, 12 miles distant, for a doctor. Arriving at Griffiths corners, four miles from town, he met his father and brothers and told them what had happened. Before they could arrive the girl was dead. She lived but a few minutes after she was shot. The boy was nearly crazed with grief and implored his father to shoot him on the spot. His mind has since become partly deranged over the affair and a constant watch has to be kept over him. The funeral was held from a near-by school house on Monday, Rev Gillman, of the German Lutheran Church of Ritzville, officiating. The Record joins in extending sympathy to the grief-stricken family and more especially to the boy who was the unconscious author of it all. Don't blame him; possibly he was careless but then we all make mistakes and can ill afford to condemn one that has been less fortunate than ourselves." (Odessa Record 1-16-03)