Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-17
STRONG VITALITY,
William Willis DISCHARGED Ris Pistol Twice
After Receiving His Death Wound.

j
Special to the Gazette.
GALVESTON, lex May 16 The theory
50 to the cause Leading to Mr.. William a
Willis sudden and tragic death, az given
in to-dsy's dispstca, is corroborated by
suost quent Investigation. The ststemen,
made by Mrs Willis to Coroner Spanp, is
| tnss whdn Mr. Willis WAS awakened by a
noise he awakened her. Alter listening
for some moments he said he would 60
down and see what was msking
the noise. Sic begged him not
to 60 down but he persisted and
st!er psrtislly dressing himself he took
the pistol and, cooking it, started down
stairs. Sac followed Elm, and was,stand-
ing at the head Of the stairs when the pis-
tol exploited and her husband tell. Within
a few seconds TWO more pistol shots fol-
lowed The first explosion. The mat
ter has been thoroughly investigated
by the police, By Coroner Spanp, by three
phyaicisrs and oy friends and relstives
CT the deceased. aud the conclusion ar.
rived a and as detailed by MI. ] G.
GI!dtnWaHe, 3 brother-in- lsw, is con-
Cured in 81 al', that in descending the
stairs and when within about three
steps Of the bottom he step
ped on the bsnana, his foot
slipped of, he threw his hand up, point
ing the muzzle Oh the pistol towsrd his
hesd. Striking the banister with his
elbow Ca sed MIN TO unconsciously press
the trigger and the explosion followed.
Falling, remaining Consciousness led
him 10 believe that he had been shot
by some one and the last effort
of his strong Wit ,lity enabled him
to fire the two succeeding shots in the
belief that he WAS defending himself. The
ball thsl penetrated the br.in entered
about half an inch above the right ear
and coming out st the top of the head
was picked up In the pool OF
blood at the foot Of the stairs.
The other two balls penetrated the wall
few fet above the head of the expiring
man as ne lay on the f1or. The course
Of these balls proved cInclusively that
these two balls We're f ed while
he was lying on the floor. The
doctors sgree that being man
OF strong vitality he could and did fire
the two snots after receiving his death
wound. Tne side of the head where the
fatal bal entered WAS powder burned,
showing the close proximity Of the muz.
z!e OF the pistol at the time
OK the explosion. There was
no evidence Of any struggle and every
opening in the house was securely
fastened, precluding the possibility Of the
presence Of anyone in the house save and
except the family.
William 81. Willis vas the son OF the
late Peter j. Willis, one of the founders
OF the great commercial house of P.
J. Willis & Bro. He was forty
two yesrs old last December
snd held Leading position in the firm. |
Outside OF his interests in the firm he was
large holder Of Texas lands and was
argely interested in various enterprises
the state. He was director
n the Texas L.nd and Loan Company,
ne Citizens Loan Company, the Texas |
Banking and Insurance Company CT this |
,ity. He was also director in the Ms. |
ional Bank of Bolton and WAS president |
i the Park Hotel Company Of L smpssas, |
he wasla man Of sterling worth and
'trictest business integrity. HIS domes-
lie relations were OF the hsppiest charac-
er. He married Miss Price, daughter of |
:. Beverly Price, banker at Columbis,
3oone county, Mo.