Irwin Brey Picked Up

Gun, Thought to Be Not Loaded. Charge Enters

Young Ladies’ Face.

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TRAGEDY OCCURRED ON ALOIS BREY FARM, SUN

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Deceased Had Accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Jos. M. Tauer to Brey Farm, Short Time Before.

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A most distressing tragedy occurred at the Alois Brey farm in Lafayette township, some six and a half miles north of New Ulm, Sunday afternoon about 2:30 o’clock, when Mr. Brey’s son, Irwin, about twenty years of age, picked up a shotgun standing on the porch and thinking it was unloaded pointed it ahead. Upon the gun being discharged the shot took effect in the left side of the face of Miss Lillian M. Tauer, fifteen years of age, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Tauer of Lafayette township.

Dies Instantly.

Miss Tauer died instantly, the charge tearing a large hole in the back of her head. Deputy Coroner Anderson and Sheriff Chas. N. Norman of St. Peter were notified and after visiting the Brey home and ascertaining how the accident occurred, decided that there was no cause for an inquest, as it was a case of accidental death.

Coroner G. F. Reineke of Brown county and Dr. Jos. H. Vogel drove out to the Brey farm shortly after the accident occurred.

Irwin Brey and brother-in-law, Leslie Schreyer, who with Mrs. Schreyer, was visiting at the Brey place, decided to go hunting. The fowling piece was on the porch, leaning against the house. Schreyer went into the house to secure his hat, and Brey picked up the gun and pointed the barrel ahead, as was stated above. Brey and the girl were about ten feet apart.

Mr. and Mrs. Alois Brey were at New Ulm attending the Brown County fair, when the tragedy occurred.

Drove to Brey Home.

Mr. and Mrs. Jos. M. Tauer of this city, accompanied by the former’s sister, Miss Lillian, and Miss Mary Weiss of Golden Gate, Mrs. Tauer’s sister, motored to the Brey home shortly after two o’clock Sunday afternoon. Miss Lillian, accompanied by Miss Isabelle Brey, and Miss Weiss looked over the garden and orchard. They picked some apples, and were returning toward the house, when the tragedy occurred. Mr. Tauer, the girl’s brother, stood near her when she was shot.

Four additional loaded shells were ejected from the shotgun, following the accident by Attorney C. H. Quandt of Winthrop, who was visiting nearby. Jos. M. Tauer drove over to the home of his parents, Mr, and, Mrs. Mike Tauer, about three o’clock, and informed them of the death of their daughter and his sister.

Parents and One Brother.

Lillian M. Tauer was born November 24,1909, in Lafayette township, and is survived by her sorrowing parents and one brother, Jos. M. Tauer of this city. In 1921 the family removed to New Ulm, where they resided until 1924, when they returned to Lafayette township, and have since resided on the Brey farm, about a mile north of New Ulm, across the Minnesota River.

The deceased completed the eighth grade of the New Ulm public schools last year.

The funeral services were held from the Holy Trinity Catholic church, Wednesday morning at 9 o’clock, after which the remains were interred in the Catholic cemetery.

Brown County Journal,

Sept. 4, 1925

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