On This Date in Minnesota History: April 3

April 3, 1906 – “The nine-months-old infant of Mr. and Mr. Frank Bovet, Chisholm, Minn., was shot dead as its mother held it in her arms in the kitchen of the Bovet home at the Glenn mining location. A stray bullet fired by boys who were indulging in target practice half a mile away, entered a window and penetrated the child’s skull, scattering its brains over the dress of the mother and killing the child instantly.”

The Bemidji Daily Pioneer; “Infant Hit By Stray Bullet. Babe Instantly Killed in its Mother’s Arms.”; April 03, 1906; p.1



Interesting how journalism has changed over the last century. I don’t think the line “scattering its brains” would be included in a story today. Also, neither the child’s name nor its gender is ever mentioned.

This story was carried in a number of newspapers across the country, including The Atlanta Constitution, The Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, Wis.) and The Grand Rapids Tribune (Grand Rapids, Wis.).

http://www.ci.chisholm.mn.us/index.asp?SEC=9AD1BC56-2762-4F67-A497-F8891F1F9882&Type=B_BASIC