#cecil van hoose

On 18 May, 1929, 6-year-old Carl Mahan and his friend, 8-year-old Cecil Van Hoose, went collecting scrap metal in Kentucky to sell to a local junk dealer when they got into an argument after Cecil stole some scrap metal from Carl. 

Cecil then slapped Carl, who responded by running home, climbing up a chair to reach his father’s 12-gauge shotgun. Carl then went back to Cecil and shouted “I’m going to shoot you” and shot Cecil dead. 

Carl was found guilty of manslaughter and was allowed to go home with his parents, who had to pay $500 bail.