Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-01-06
KILLED BY A PISTOL SHOT.
The Accidental Shooting of John
e. Hutchinson, Jr.
A SAD CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY
OF OUR CITY.

of the facts connected with the sad
affair which occurred in this city on
Saturday night, we publish the fol-
lowing testimony, taken at the coro-
ner's inquest on Sunday, the finding
of the jury. and the result of the
hearing before Justice Ansley on
Wednesday:
DR.. Vivian:-Am a resident of
Mineral Point; am praeticing ply
stefan in said city. This morning by
command of the acting coroner,
made an examination of John
Hutchinson, j.. That his death was
caused by bullet wound; the ball
having entered nearly the center of
the left temple, which ball remains
now embedded somewhere in the
cavity Of the skull.
DR.. F. w. Patterson:-Am a resi-
dent of the city of Mineral Point:
am a practicing physician in said
city. Was called last night, Dec.
31st, 1881. about midnight, to 90
down town and see John Hutchinson.
Jr.; found him at the shoe shop of
Peter Frieden; examined him, and
found that he was dead. From the
condition Of the body, which was
still warm, was satisfied that he was
recently dead. This morning, BY
command of the acting coroner,
made an examination of the body
of John Hutchinson, Jr., in company
with DR.. John II. Vivian, and found
that his death was caused by a
pistol shot in the left temple; the
ball pierced the skull, and lodged
somewhere in the cavity Of the skull.
Richard J. Tenant, sworn:-Am
resident of Mineral Point; BY oc-
cupation a laborer. Last evening, |
met John Hutchinson, Jr., at P. Con-
ways; we were there for awhile;
conversed together friendly. l can't
state how long we were there,
but stayed there until Conway shut
up; then several of US together went
to VIM. Matthews; we stayed there
for awhile until he closed up; then
we agreed that we would go down
and see if Conway was open; went
down as far as James harness shop;
met two men who said Conway was
closed; | think we stood there for
few moments. The two men we
had met passed on ahead of us. We
then agreed that We go up street and
90 home; we walked along together
until we got to Brewer & Penhalle-
CONS, or thrreabout; we heard two
pistol shots up street; | said that
would answer them; | took my
revolver out of my pocket and fired
in the air; | pulled back the ham
mer to do SO again; then fired
about a second or SO afterwards |
John Hutchinson, Jr., fell; | said to
Joseph Nichols, who was the nearest
to me, "What is the matter with
him? He said, you have hit
him" | think | said, Il believe he is
fooling;" when Joseph Nichols took
him by the head or collar, and said
mo, he is not fooling. Then | said,
ooh, my God!" One or two of the
others said, "You had better skip" |
said, "No, [ will not; it will do me
no god to skip; | can't They then
persuaded me to skip again. Then
Joseph Nichols and | walked up
street together and went home; The
odore Branger stayed behind; don't
recollect anything more that trans
pired last evening. Theodore Brang-
er, Joseph Nichols and Luke Nichols
were with me at the time of firing
the pistol.
CoRoNER's INQUEST.
An inquest taken at the city Of
Mineral Point, county of Iowa, on
the 1st day of Jam, 1882, before I. S.
Ansley, one of the Justices Of the
Peace for said county, upon the view
of the body Of John Hutchinson Jr.,
then dead, by the jurors whose
names are hereto subscribed, who
being sworn to enquire on behalf of
this state, when, in what manner.
and by what means the said John
Hutchinson, Jr., came to his death,
upon their oath say, that the de-
ceased came to his death by pistol
shot fired by the hand of Richard
j. Tenant, on Saturday night, Dec.
3lst. 1881, near the hour of mid
night. at the city of Mineral Point.
In testimony whereof, the said
justice of the peace and the jurors of
the inquest have hereunto set their
hands the day and year aforesaid.
I. 5. ANssLEY, J. p.
SAM. JENKIN, FIN.
JNo. FRANCIS,
G. III. JAMES,
J. H. GUNDRY,
DENNIS LYNCH,
GEO. III. MAsTEN.
In the hearing before Justice Ans
ley, on Wednesday afternoon, the
testimony of Theodore Branger,
Joseph Nichols, and VIM. Sand
ers was taken. Their testimony did
not materially differ from that Of
Tenant himself.
The Justice asked for time to ex-
anime the law and the evidence, and
and fixed the hour for giving his
decision at 2 p. M, on Thursday
afternoon.
COMMITMENT
At the hour appointed Tenant
was again brought before the court.
Justice Ansley said:
81 have examined the law and
the testimony, and whilst l do not
think him guilty of intentional hon.
icide, | do think the evidence estab-
fishes probable guilt of a reckless
use of a loaded pistol in the dark,
and he may be guilty of man
slaughter in some of the degrees,
and | think it the duty of the court
with greater jurisdiction than have
to inquire into the guilt or innocence
of the accused"
Tenant was bound over. to appear