Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-31
HATEFUL FATE.
"es'"y Observation-Disclosures of the
Unfortunate Event.

o"hoftunate Event.
Yesterday witnessed one of the saddes
IL 'Sters from a personal view, that ha
or oeen visited upon this community
1'e result was the tragic death of Will
JACK, the eldest son OF w. NJ. Jack, at tn
nahds oil his friend aud playmate Wesle,,
warren, the eldest son Of Chas. S. Warren
oucI al untOward accident is 50 appallin
IN IT, nature, especially when the partie
are 50 we'll known to the writer, that hi
pen almost refuses to do it's duty. Yet tn,
event is OF necessity public property, ant
IL Is due all to know the facts of the terri
Die tragedy as it occurred. The parents o
Doth the youths have been friends Iul
years, and the lads have been ''Chums'
since they were old enough to know what
friendship or compaionship meant. They
have played "hookey" and played ball to.
gether; they have shared in escapades and
Joined in all the sports hat belong to
youngsters, and as the years grew apace
the bonds between them grew tighter, all OF
which facts make the calamity the more
appalling.
The story of the accident is about as fol-
lows: Willie and James Jack nave been at
tending school at the college Of Deer Lodge,
and on Wednesday LETT that place for Butte
to enjoy the Easter holidays, several other
boys OF this city accompanying them home.
Upon their arrival, Wesley Immediately
sought out his old "chum' and he spent
the evening and night with him sleeping at
the residence OF Mr.. Jack. The boys must
have had a good time for they did not
arise until after 9 o'clock. Wesley repaired
tn hiS bona md about moan hiC ,,,,+bc,
sent him for the buggy in order that she
might arrange for some Easter flowers for
the church.. He did the errand and was
driving home when he overlook Willie, and
naturally invited him to q seat, which was
accepted and the pair drove to the Warren
residence. MIS-. Warren Immediately took
the vehicle and started on her errand and the
boys repaired to the room of Wesley where
a proposed jaunt during ~thesummer vaca-
tiOnWas begun and during its initial stages
young Warren spoke OF a revolver which he
possessed and which was brought forth
from its hiding place. 1t was d Smith &
Wesson 80 calibre and loaded. He showed
the instrument to his friend who examined
it for a moment and thsn returned it, with
the declaration that he did not know how
it would work. Wesley tool the
wrap0n unhinged it, explained how
the shells were thrown out and closed it
rapidly. AS he did so, the hammer, which
must nave been at full cock, fell and al ex-
plOsiou followed. In an instant the unfor-
tunata boy saw his companion fall upon
the floor and frantic over the result, he
grabbed the weapon which had fallen from
his hands, rushed down stairs, thence to an
clubhouse where he threw the pistol, thence
TO the parlor in which a gentleman was sit
ing to whom he announced the accident
and thence to the Court House where he
frantically declared that some one from the
outside had shot and killed his friend. The
gentleman refer red to, Mr.. Birdseye, had in
the meantime gone up stairs and noticing
the condition Of Willie arranged him in the
best possible manner and at once sent for
physicians and for Mr.. Warren. In ashort
time several physicians were in attendance
but a glance showed that science could be
OF no avail. The lac was still breathing
but the fateful bullet had done it's fatal
work, and it was only a question Of lime
when life would be extinct. 1T was impOs-
sible that he should suffer pain for the ball
had entered the head near the base OF the
brain III the rear OF the right ear and had
upward, passed through the head
and lodged between the forehead and ear
on the left side. The accident occurred
about l O'Clock and he fingered until about
O'Clock when he died. At the request OF
Warren an inquest was held by the
Coroner, DR.. Amsden, with the following
A. w. Barnard, DR.. Newton, +. B.
Themes, J.. F. Wyman, c. A. Henderson
and p. A. julien. The only witnesses were
Wesley Warren and Mr.. Birdseye, and the
'acts as elected are substantially related
IbOve. The boy was erVOu and excited,
out told Il straight story in an intelligent
manner. In addition to facts connected
with the event, he, under cross examina-
ion, said that he had purchased the pistol
about a month ago from Wchl, the pawn
broker, and that his father did not know
le had it; further that hehad subsequently
applied to the same party for another one
Dut was refused unless he an order.
JpOn being closely questioned he admitted
hat most OF the boys in the city were in
possession OF weapons, and that both OF
he Jack boys were or had been owners OF
After hearing the evidence tie jury re-
urned a verdict that deceased had come
q his death by the accidental discharge OF
pistol ii the hands OF Wesley Warren,
md that there was no malicious intent.
The saddest part OF tue affair is that
,ir. and Mrs. Jack, the parents OF the
'ictim, have been absent from Butte for
ome time on a pleasure trip to the coast.
Ihey were Immediately telc5raphed tC and
ound at Portland preparing to go to
and Seattle, in company with
cveral other Butte people. In response to
he announcement Mr.. Jack Immediately
lis Willie still alive. Is there
hope. Will start in the morning. 1t
must be mentioned in explanation that
telegram announcing the accident lie
reach him until after the train had de-
parted, hence the delay. In their mourning
nd on the sad termination of so pleasant
trip MIR. and Mrs. Jack will have with
hem III spirit the sympathy OF all who
new them, and the same ernest condOl-
nee is surely extended to Mr.. and Mrs.
Warren in their grief over the sad event.
arrangements for the funeral have not
zen completed but it will not take place
ntil after the arrival OF the parents.