The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-03-28
A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT
Joe Hickey Shot Down and In
stantly Killed.
Two Charges of Shot Go Crash
ing Through His Brain.

Mr.. Joe Hickey, aged about 20 years,
was accidently shot and killed some time
late Tuesday afternoon. On that day in
company with two friends he left town, he
to hunt ana they to fish. A short distance
below town he left his friends and pro-
ceeded down the river bank, not far from
the old drill grounds. He was TO have
met his friends at the river at about
o'clock, to return to the city with them,
but not doing SO, they left without him.
In town they learned that he had not
returned, and making inquiries at his
home, and hearing nothing from him,
they became uneasy and went down on
the river, and made a careful search
nearly all night, but without finding a
trace of him.
Yesterday morning they resumed the
search, and found him in fence corner
of Mr.. Charles Muller's field, not a great
way off from Robinson's hide house.
He had been shot through the head,
and Doctor Swearingen, who examined the
wound yesterday, expressed the opinion
that he had been killed instantly.
From the situation of the body and g I'm,
it seems that young Hickey had climed
over the fence and then attempted
to draw his gun through between the rails,
when it went off, sending the contents of
both barrels into his forehead, scattering
his brains out. The hand and arm with
which he had grasped the gun near the
muzzle was powder-burnt.
Coroner Calhoun held an inquest yes
terday, at which the following testimony
was had:
Camp Harm testified as follows: I knew
the deceased. His name was Joseph
Hickey, and he was about 20 years old at
the time of his death. On yesterday
| (Tuesday) about 2 O'Clock the deceased,
W. r. Garner and myself started to the
river-Garner and myself to fish and
Hickey, with a shotgun, to hunt. We
went down East avenue to the river, and
separated about half mile down the river
from where we struck 1t. The deceased
then left Garner and myself and went
away to hunt. About $50 O'Clock Garner
and myself, desiring to go home, went
on top of the hill to see if I could see
anything of Hickey, but could see nothing
of him, and thinking he had either gone
home or would soon follow, we went home
as the deceased knew was obliged to be al
home by o'clock.
At O'Clock the deceased had not
gotten home, and 1 sent over to his
house to inquire after him, and found he
had not returned, but l still was not un.
easy about him. At $3.50 I again sent over
to his home and found he still had not re.
turned. then went down to the depot
and thought he might be with my brother
who worked there, as they were great
chums, but found out that my brother had
not seen him. l Immediately returned
home and took my fathers horse and
buggy, and together with Mr.. Garner and
Policeman Davis went down to the river,
where we had last seen the deceased, tC
look for him. l also got Sergeant Palmer
and another policeman, both of whom
were mounted, and we searched for the de-
ceased until about 11:30, when we wen
home in hopes he had returned home
but found he had not done SO
l then got his brotherin-law, Jim Belgium
and Mr.. Garner, and three other persons
whom 1 did not know, and we again
searched until 2:30 in the morning, whe1
we concluded to &c, home and wait unit
morning.
This morning "wednesday as soon az
we got up Mr.. Garner and myself started
in search of the deceased, Mr.. BELGIUM
having gone on ahead of us.
After search of about twenty minutes
we found the deceased lying inside of 6
fence adjoining the river. He was sho
through the head, and one part of hil
head was partly shot away. The shotgun
the deceased had was lying on the outside
of the fence with the barrie partly pro
truding through the fence pointing TOWARD
the deceased. He wos stone dead and haG
apparently been dead all night.
Mr.. Garner then testified, corroboratine
the statement made by Mr.. Harm.
Mr.. Hickey was the son of Mrs. James
Hickey, widow lady, who resides on the
corner of West Sixth and San Marcos
streets, and she is greatly Frustrated ovel
the sad and untimely death of her son
who was most exemplary young man
The blow is especially hard for her tc
bear as it is the third sudden death IL
her family during the past few years. A
few years ago she had son accidently
drowned in the river and about
sixteen or eighteen months ago her hus
band, while passing along the street in
apparent health, opposite the Hotel Orr
suddenly fell to the sidewalk and in few
moments expired. Mrs. Hickey is an ole
citizen of Austin, is kind, generous lady
and has wide circle of friends who pro
foundry sympathize with her in this the
hour of her sore affection.
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