The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1917-01-25
HAD BORROWED A REVOLVER
FROM FRIEND WITH WHICH HE
INTENDED TO SHOOT GOATS
WHICH HAD ESCAPED FROM
PLACE WHERE THEY WERE
KEPT,
ACTED QUEERLy OVER
THE LOSS OF GOATS

The community was greatly shock
ed late Monday evening by the re-
port that Harry Pierce, son of Mrs.
John Pierce of 316 Macon avenue.
had fired a bullet into his brain from
revolver at the office of the Reeves
Auto company on West Main street
and had been conveyed to Wilson's
undertaking establishment corpse.
No motive is known for his suicide
and his death cast a deep gloom over
his friends, who are unable to offer
any explanation for his rash act.
Mr.. Pierce. who has been working
for Dave Walker on the latter's
ranch in the northwestern part of
the county for the last two years
or more, came to town in wagon
with Mr. Walker and his son, Char
les, last Friday and expected to re-
turn home Monday afternoon. He
had been doing well on the ranch
and had saved his money, most of
which he had invested in cattle with
view of engaging in the cattle bust
ness on his own account as soon as
circumstances would permit.
On Saturday Mr.. Pierce, in com
pany with Charlie Walker, drove out
to Lonnie Green's place on Four
Mile and purchased four goats, which
they expected to- take back with
them 10 the ranch. on their return
to town they put the goats in Dave
Walkers barn at the corner of Fifth
street and Harrison avenue for safe
keeping until such time as they were
ready TO go back TO the ranch. On
Sunday two of the older goats climb
ed into the hay loft, jumped out and
disappeared. On discovering that the
goats were gone Mr.. Pierce immedi-
ately began a search for them, but
was at first unable to find any trace
of them. Monday morning he went
TO the Reeves livery barn, where his
horses and wagon Were being cared
for while he was in town, and tried
TO borrow revolver for the purpose
of shooting the goats if he could To-
cate them. No revolver was to be
had at the barn and he endeayored
10 secure the loan of ore from other
friends and finally succeeded in OBJ
tanning one. but without Cartridges.
He purchased the necessary shells at
local hardware store. as well as
some ammunition for 5000 rifle. and
again started out in quest OF the goats
His friends told him that a revolver
was not the right kind of a weapon
for such use as he desired it, and
recommended a rife. He insisted
that a revolver was what he needed
and that he was more expert with it
than with any other kind of fire arms.
About o'clock in the afternoon he
again presented himself at the Reeves
Auto garage and said that had found
the goats in pasture in the vicinity
of Three Mile spring, but had been
unable 10 get close enough to them
10 shoot them. He seemed despond-
ent over his failure to get them, but
there was nothing in his demeanor to
suggest that the trouble was anything
more than disappointment. altho his
friends thought that he was acting
rather queerly over the matter.
At o'clock he walked into the of.
flee of the auto company where a
number of men were sitting about the
stove talking and arier speaking to
them drew a Colts revolver of 2O-30
calibre from his pocket and pointed
the muzzle towards his forehead and
was about TO fire when Ray Reeves,
who was sitting on the edge of the
office desk, attempted TO knock the
gun from his hand and succeeded in
diverting the direction of the bullet.
which was discharged as he struck
Pierces arm and entered the wall OF
the room just over the door transom
Pierce then placed the muzzle of the
gun against his head and before any
thing could be done by his friends
TO restrain him. pulled the trigger
which sent a ball crushing into his
brain. killing him instantly. When
Pierce with his finger on the trigger
first pointed the gun towards his head
he remarked. Tell Dave Walker
but never finished the sentence. onl,
very brief interval OF time elapsed
between the time Ray Reeves strucl
Pierce's arm and caused his shot tc
go wild until he placed the muzzl'
Of the gun close up against his head
N1ust Ovar the ever. and 0red again