Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-13
KILLED BY MlSADVENTURE
James B. Bocook Accidentally Shot While
Out Cunning.
COrOner's Jury Hears the Saddening
of Accidental Death.

James Branch B0cOck, chleI or the draugnt-
ing division of the patent office, in bad
ly wounded condition He was hurriedly
removed to the Emergency Hospital where
he died while being placed on the operat-
ing table.
The fatality was the outcome of a gun
ming trip of a party comprising Mr.. Boz
cock. Mr. Daniel w. Edelin,, also Of the
draughtng division of the patent office,
and Mr. John b. Peyton. These gentlemen
had made a trip to the quarters of the
Gunston Rod and Gun Club at Hallowin
Point, near Wright's wharf, on the Po-
tomac, opposite Glymont While waiting
for game yesterday afternoon Mr.. Pey-
toms gun was accidentally discharged, the
shot striking Mr.. Bocock in the back. He
was socn thereafter placed aboard the
steamer and brought to the city, At Alex
andria the Emergency Hospital was re-
luested, by telephone, to send its ambu-
lance to the Washington wharf of the Ran
dali, which was done, and Mr.. BOcock
given medical attention at the earliest pos
Sibe moment.
The story of the shooting was told in de-
tail at the coroners inquest, which was
held this afternoon in Bankers undertaking
establishment, 612 18th street northwest.
The inquest was conducted by Deputy
Coroner Glazebrook, in the absence of
Coroner Hammett. The jury was made up
of the following: James Allen, Thomas
Fitzgerald, Robert Leitch, ST., William z.
Phelps, Isaac Hartstall and Andrew w.
Hancock.
story of the Tragedy.
John B. Peyton, who held the gun from
which the fatal shot was discharged. was
the first witness called. Although in ap-
parently a nervous state of mind, he ex-
planned clearly the details of the shooting.
He said: Mr.. Edelin, the other day invited
Mr.. Bocock to go down to the club house
for few days shooting and later asked
me to accompany the party. 1 had never
met Mr.. Bocock before. After luncheon
yesterday We started out to shoot, Mr..
Edelin, and Mr.. Bocock preceding me. Mr..
Edelin, took the lower position, Mr.. Bocock
above him, while I lay at a spot up the
river from the latter. The place where we
established ourselves forms point. iut-
ting into the river. Mr.. Bocock was on the
point, and about or 10 feet to the right
and rear of myself. We lay there some
time, until the tide came in, and l had to
move back. I was lying on a network Of
roots, over which l had placed a rubber
coat. 1 arose with the coat in one hand
and the gun In the other. When l was
about half way around the gun went off,
but whether because the trigger caught IN
branch or whether 1 accidentally touched
it, do not know.
Il thought at the time that the shot had
gone into the river. In a moment, however.
l noticed that the line of smoke extended
in the direction where Mr.. Bocock was
lying, and l was about to inquire if the
shot had gone near him when he groaned.
l went to him, asked him where he had
been hit and then saw wound in his back.
Mr.. Edelin, at that moment came up and
started after a doctor expecting to find
the man dead when l returned. The charge
consisted of Ia drains of powder and Ii
ounce of number 6 shot, and IL was fired
from the left barrel, governed by the rear
trigger. The shooting occurred between >
and 80 o'clock. About forty minutes
elapsed before we put Mr.. Bocock in the
Nv ln1i Ton
manned behind to straighten out our goods
and came to the city later by train. l am
man of large experience with firearms
and never injured any one before in my
life"
In reply to query from a juryman IL
1t would have been wiser not to have
cooked the gun until game sighted.
Mr.. Peyton replied that from the position
in which he originally lay no one could
possibly have been hurt. .
Brought Here. .
Daniel Whiting Edelin, was the only other
witness examined. He stated that he Is a
mechanical draughtsman in the patent Of
flee, and after reciting the facts regarding
the invitation extended to Mr.. Bocock and
Mr.. Peyton he continued as follows "Mr,
Bocock came down on Tuesday, but as it
rained all day he concluded to remain over
Wednesday, We had luncheon and then
start ed out to shoot Mr. Peyton did not
want to CO. but we induced him to consent,
which he did, joining us later"
Witness then described the position &C.
cupied by the trio which agreed in every
particular with the statement of Mr.. Pey
ton.
some time later" the witness went on
to say, II heard gun discharged and
Turning my head heard Mr.. Peyton ask
Mr. Bocock If he was hurt. and the reply
of the latter to the effect that he had
| been struck in the back. Mr.. Bocock fell
hac L r6 I hat ba
dying. Mr.. Peyton almost went crazy.
Some one started for Acotink, several
miles away, for doctor. Fortunately the
steamer Harry Randall came up the river
shortly afterward and we put the injured
man aboard, with the help of fisherman's
boat. l insisted that Mr.. Peyton should
While coming up Mr.. Bocock regained con-
seriousness and talked to me at intervals
requesting me several times to give his
love 10 his wife and children. He also re-
marked that his poor wife had begged him
not to go on the trip, and then said, Tell
Peyton that - when a pain struck him
and he said no more. While we were down
the river previous to the shooting Mr..
Mr.. Peyton very agreeable companion
and that he liked him very much
Mr.. Edelin, took occasion to remark that
he has been cunning with Mr.. Peyton for
a dozen years past. and he has never seen
or heard of a more careful sportsman.
Deputy Coroner GlaZebrook, who per-
formed the autopsy, said that the direction
of the shot from left to right. The
shot entered the body 3 IL inches to the
left of the spinal column, just below the
shoulder blade They passed between the
ribs, through the plural cavity, left lung
and aorta, and then to the spinal column
Mr. Bocock died from great loss of blood.
at least a gallon having flowed into the
plural cavity.
The verdict of the jury was that Mr..
Babcock came to his death through purely
.o;l Il oil.
The Dead Man.
The deceased was about forty years Of
age and was a native of Virginia. For
several years. however. he resided in Texas
and was appointed chief of the draughting
division of the patent Office, to succeed Jas
B. Marvin, from the first congressional dis
trict of Texas on November % 1898. Mr.
BOcock leaves a wife and two sons, one
about six years of age and the other two
years older, their home being at 1871 9Th
street northwest, which is within the
bounds of LIE Droit Park.
Mr.. BocoCk belonged to one of the old
families of Virginia. His uncle, Thomas s.
BocOck, was Speaker of the House of Rep
resentatives just before the war and was a
prominent leader in his state. Mrs. Bocock
was Miss Hollyday of Easton, Md, and she
also belongs to prominent family.
Richard Hollyday, her uncle, held the