Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-08-02
H.,.LSEY'S DEATH
WAS ACCIDENTAL
INQUEST HELD OVER BODY OF
PRESIDENT or OSHKOSH NOR
NAL SCHOOL.
DETAILS OF The SHOOTING
Revolver Being Cleaned by Mr. Halsey's
Sons Was Discharged by
Accident

President Richard II. Hal8cy of the
Oshkosh (Wis.) normal school, was held
today \ verdict of accidental death
was returned. The body was then taken
to Oshkosh on the Northwestern road
and viii arrive there at 4:30 Saturday
afternoon.
Shooting Was Accidental.
The evidence given at the inquest
shows that Mr.. Halsey was killed by a
bullet discharged from Il revolver in the
hands Of his son. Richard, at their fish
ing camp on Lake Gogebc, seven miles
from this place.
Mir. HaIscy an1 Ills two boys have
been camping AT the lake for two weeks.
Thursday afternoon the three were shoot
ing at target On their return TO
camp Richard, while cleaning the wea-
pom, which was Of 3-caliber, acciden-
tally discharged it and the father, who
was standing near was struck by the
bullet which entered his left cheek and
lodged in the brain. He sank to the
ground and died while the sons fran
tlcally sought to aid the wounded man
and to find medical aid.
Far From Medical Aid
Far from any medical assistance, the
two sons, Harry and Richard, did what
they could to stop the flow of blood
while Mr.. iialsey rapidly lost strength
and consciousness. Richard Halsey then
rowed to the camp Of l.. l.. Wright, who
is i'll charge of a crew at work on the
lake front, and asked for assistance. Mr..
Wright aud others Immediately left in
a gasoline launch on the twelve mile
trip by lake to Bergland TO secure a
physician. In the meantime others
rushed to the Gogebic hotel where they
obtained bandagcs hot water and other
necessities for the injured man. When
they returned to the tent they found Mr..
Halsey in dying condition.
The launch carrying DIR. Foote Of Berg
land to the injured mans side en-
cOuntGrcd a severe storm on the return
trip and the high wind and heavy seas
made it impossible for the party to
reach the camp until 5 o'clock. When
they arrived at Mr.. Halsey's tent they
found him dead. DIR. Foote asccrtained
iongata and that the victim had been
dead for at least two hours at the time
he arrived.
Sons Are Frustrated
The two sons of the Oshkosh educator
were Frustrated with grief and were
taken to the hotel. Thomas Plush of
Bargland, Mr.. Robinson of Bessemer and
two men from the hotel remained with
the body in the forest until morning.
Friday morning it was thought best to
remove the body to the hotel and an
affidavit of prejudice, necessary under
the Michigan law, was sworn to by DR..
Foote. Mr.. Robinson Thomas Plush,
Harry Camp, l. M. Wright, Ray Dick
and Mr.. Van Piper. The body was
then placed on a cot and carried to a row
boat. being later placed in the assembly
hall of the hotel.
Relatives Of the Halsey boys reached
here at 1880 o'clock this morning and
the coroner viewed the body this after
noon.
Could Not Have Lived.
The tragedy of Mr. Halsey's death
and the prostratiOn of the two sons has
made a deep impression on the hundreds
of campers and resorters throughout
large area and every one has done every
thing possible for the two sons. Harry,
following the shooting yesterday, worked
over his father for more than an hour,
In the meantime doing what he could to
alleviate the grief of his brother, Rich
ard. who was nearly frantic with re-
morse.
Or. Foote said today that he was sat
isfied that even had Mr.. Halsey re
ceived earlier medical assistance, his
life could not have been saved.
Funeral Takes Place Monday.
OSHKOSH, Wis, July I'll Special
The funeral of the late II. Ii. Halsey
VIII ne Hclu Monday afternoon at Z.0U
o'clock from the First Congregational
church in this city. The teachers in the
normal school and the city teachers will |
attend in body. The remains will ar
rive in the city this afternoon at 4:40
o'clock.
Il Halsey Boys Give Details.
II. Roland Halsey and Richard G. Hal !
Sey sons of President HaJSey, returned !
home this morning from the scene of the
tragic death of their father, at GOgeblc,
and the details of the fatality were deS- !
cribed by IL. Roland halsey.
He stated that the accident occurred
about noon Thursday, while his father
and brother were all sitting in the cent |
on the shore of Lake Gogeblc About 10
o'clock in the morning. they had been in
dulginC in target practice in front of the |
tent shooting at target, distance of |
fifteen PAGES. They had two revolvers, |
both of the Smith & Wesson make and
of 80 caliber. Richards revolver was OF !
the military style.
After the target practice they had !
cleaned their revolverS and were all sit |
ting il the tent. Richard was reloading
his weapon after cleaning it. His father
came in from out of doors and laid down
on a bed of pine boughs in the corner of
the tent, propping himself up on his
right elbow; Richard was about feet
from his father. He was apparently ad
Susting the cylinder when the ex-
plosion occurred. As he held the
revolver 1T the time it was
pointing toward the ground, and
whether the shot was detected and
struck in Mr.. HaIsey's direction, could
not be stated by H. Roland Halsey.
He believes that it kicked and the bullet
lew higher than it vas pointed.
As soon as the shot was heard, Rich
ard jumped to his feet eXclaimilg that
he had shot his father, and Roland went
to his fathers side and discovered that
blood was coming out of his mouth
Ind that he was unconscious.
Could Do Nothing
Richard started for help, rowing across
the lake to the Wright camp and from
there a physician was sent for. In the
meanwhile every effort was made to care
for the wounded man, but he showed no
signs of consciousness and was dead be-
fore the physician arrived. The bullet
entered the cheek and lodged in the base
of the brain, where it was stopped by
the skull.
He was dead about one and one-haIf
hours before the physician arrived, and
he said it would have been impossible
to save Mr.. Halsey's life, even with
prompt medical aid.