The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-08-21
SHOT OFF His HEAD
John AndersOn's Rifle Goes off
by Accident
AND BLOWS HIM INTO ETERNITY.
&s uad Been III and Delirious and Was
dnnting for Imaginary Thieves
The Inquest

Seine two weeks ago John Anderson,
mining man, who resided with his family
Ct No. S93 South, Seventh West street.
wss taken Ill, and on Tuesday and Wednes-
day be became delirious. On Wednesday
night he was unusually nervous and in
sisted to his wife that there were thieves
sVout the place who were trying to break
IN. Mrs. Anderson tried to quiet him, and
partially succeeded, but along towards
midnight she awoke and saw her husband
creeping around the room with rifle IN
his hands, and looking through the win
dows as though expecting to see some one.
She got him to come to bed, and
he placed his rife within easy
reach to protect himself against the
imaginary thieves. He then became per
fectly quiet and Mrs. Anderson drop
pea asleep. AT f.bout ? O'Clock she was
awakened by the report Of gun in an ad-
joining room. She sprsng from the bed
and in rushing to the open door most hor-
rible sight met her gaze. A lamp which
was burning on the table threw its light
upon the form Of her husband, who was
stretched out in chair, with the rife
resting against the table. The top Of the
unfortunate mans head was blown off, and
his brains were spattered against
the walls. OF course the man
was beyond all human aid, and
nelghbors soon came in and took the dis
tracted wife away. Undertaken Sleeves
was first notified of the affair, and he ar
rived on the scene just before Coroner Har-
rls, and the body was taken up town.
The inquest was held yesterday after
noon, 9. NJ. Hammond, c. w. Churchill
and II. j. James being sworn as jurors.
Mrs. Mary Anderson, the widow, was
the first witness. She testified; For some
time past my husband has been quite sick,
and at times was delirious. Last night he
was quite nervous, and several times in
sisted that there were thieves about
the place. Along towards midnight
l swoke and found him going
around the room witt the rifle in his hands.
] got him to come back TO bed, and before
quieting down, he put his rifle by the head
Of the bed l dozed on, and along about ,
O'Clock was aroused by the report of the
rifle in the adjoining room, and on going
there, I found my husband lying in chair
dead.
&. n. Fonda, who was on the scene soon
after the affair, testified: When l went
iuto the room, / found Anderson stretched
back in a chair. The gun had fallen
against table, with the butt resting be-
tween his feet After passing through his
head, the bullet entered the ceiling directly
above the spot where the butt of the gun
rested. showing that the man must have
been standing up when he was shot and
then fallen back into the chair.
Charles Ballsntyne, brother-in-law of
the deceased, testitied--l called at the
house cary this morning, and my sister
explained to me the situation of the body.
From my knowledge of the man and all
me circumstances, l am satisfied that An
Cersou shot himself accidentally.
y was also brought out that Anderson
Lac ha! some litigation over mining prop
crty and that he had been somewhat des-
r"odvnJ of late. The circumstances
-orF!y indicated that it was q case of
irt.v although there is possibility that
IN was acciden tally discharged. The
u0wever rendered verdict to the
that death resulted from the acci.
discharge OF the rife.
fole stated, Anderson was a. years
Ae leaves a wife and five children,
Eest being two years old and the
mt.
funeral viii be held this afternoon.