Wichita eagle., 1888-03-24
ACCIDENTALLY SHOT.
once j, w. Kirwin Killed on East Douglas
Avenue Yesterday Morning.

yesterday morning occurred another
tragic and distressing accident, in which
| Officer j. w. Kirwin OF the Metropolitan
police force lost his life. The deceased, al.
though he had been in the city but short
| time, was well known and highly re-
! spected. The accident is peculiarly sad
and distressing. Death occurred without
| minutes warning, and by his untlmely
| taking off his wife and family, of whom
| he was the sole support, are left in desti-
! tute circumstances.
Officer kirwin entered a second hand
store kept by William Christensen, No.
903 East Douglas avenue, and knowing the
proprietor quite well stood at the counter
in conversation with him for some time
He finally asked to exchange his revolver
for one with a longer Darrell. Mr..
Christensen told him that as his was a
new revolver he would make the trade
The officer then stepped across the room
about five feet from the counter and
with his face toward the wall The store
keeper walked to the front Of the building
and while looking from the window upon
the street was startled to hear pistol shot
and glancing around to hear the officer ex-
claim ''Oh, Ny God" and fall back upon
the floor He ran to the PROSTATE form
and cried for assistance, but the man was
past human aid and must have died almost
instantly.
Mr.. Christensen says he can not tell
what kirwin was doing when the revolver
went off, but he thinks that he was taking
the cartridges from the chambers prepare
tory to making the exchange. An exam
ination afterward made by DR.. Hood
showed that the ball, for 3S-calibre, eli
tered the chest and ranging downward
passed through the heart. His family was
Immediately notofied of the sad occurrence
and the coroner was also informed
that the necessary steps for an inquest
might be taken A jury was summoned
by Justice Barrett in the absence of Coro-
ner Percy and an investigation begun.
After hearing all the evi1ence-there was
but one eye witness to the occurrence, Mr..
Christensen-possiblet to be addUced, YER
dict was returned that the deceased came
to his death from a pistol shot fired by hts
own hand and that the shooting was acct
dental. WhiIe the inquest was in progress
the wife of the deceased entered the room
and her distress and sorrow elected the
deepest sympathy from all present.
The body was afterwards removed to the
residence of his family No. 1857 South
Lawrence, and from there the
funeral will this afternoon at
2 o'clock take place. Rev. Father Casey
will officlate, and the remains will be laid
TO rest in the Catholic cemetery. The |
family are poor and subscription paper
was passed around yesterday by the |
officers and quite liberal amount was
subscribed to defray the funeral expenses |
and for the aid and assistance of the |
family.
The deceased came to Wichita several |
months ago and rented from Mr.. II. G. |
Rose the house in which the family lives
At the time he said he was very poor, hav-
ng lost all his money in cattle specula-
ions in the west. He was about AZ years
IF age, a low, heavy-set man, with dark
lair and chin whiskers. He was pleas
mt, genial gentleman. and an honest,
efficient officer. There survive him be-
'ides his widow eight children, the oldest
/ son of %. He is highly spoken of, and
nay succeed his father upon the force.