 On April 27, 1905, Shepard knocked down and killed a 12-year-old girl, Madeline Marduel.A trial followed, and on October 26 the judge sentenced Shepard to three months imprisonment, a $120 fine and he was ordered to pay $4,000 in damages to the girl's parents.Shepard appealed the decision, and the case was eventually settled in January 1907, with a reduced sentence of six weeks imprisonment.