Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1924-03-20
OM WATSON
. SHOT DEAD
\ HIS CABIN
.cidental Discharge Of Au-
[tomatic Pistol Snuffs Out
life of Idaho Frontiersman
ladv to Start Tor Sheep
Camp as Tragedy Occurs;
burial to Be at Grangeville

rom Watson, 81, pioneer OF the Yves.
a for twenty Ave years resident .,
oorntv. was accidentally shot
,,,led at his home on Joseph
a,ns early Monday morning, as ne
Is preparing to leave the place with
pack outfit. .
~ Watson and Jefferson S. Busick
= Tho outfit ready for departure for
wbitebird country, where they
ere to purchase sheep.
Whom the last hitch had peeh
nn Mr.. Watson remarked to MS
,mnonion that he had forgotten his
oo,;ber automatic pistol, ana
az Mr. Busick went into watson 5
Rbin for the gum
Smoking His Pipe
Mr. Watson, who was in his usua,
ood snirits. had lighted his pipe, ana
hem picked up the gun. While Deh u,
no over in order to place the gun ia
he kit the pistol was accidently aus
Iborced and the bullet penetrated
{is chest. lust above the heart. MI
Watson fell. gasped for moment ano'
kithout uttering word, expired.
4 There was no telephone at the house
| nd leaving the dead man IN the caDin'
m BusicK proceeded q mile 10 u
hoighhor's. where he told OF the IRA
redy and telegraphed Mr.. Watson's
children.
Carry Body for Mile
The body was carried by men Ior
mile from the cabin, and then was
b,aced on a sled, on which 1t was
bauTed for several miles over oeep
Enow At the snow line, it was trans
Ferred to a wagon, and taken 10 Oot-
Fonwood. The body arrived In COT
fonwood Tuesday night, and coroner
8. Hancock was summoned from
[,rangeyille. Mr.. Hancock, after tax
Inc with Mr.. Busick, decided the
Heath was purely accidental, ana ne
held that an inquest was unnecessary
T. H. Watson and Mr.. ana Mrs'
Tipton. of Lewiston, left immediate
" and riding all night reached Boies
pt 80 Tuesday morning. where they
met the body and proceeded Win II
to Cottonwood, where they were met
by a daughter Mrs. w. Virgil smith
All members of the family and sister,
Mrs. O. E. Gorsline of Joseph, Ore.'
will be present at the funeral.
Tom Watson was one of the best
known residents of the Joseph plains
and his mountaineering ex-
tended throughout Idaho county. he
was a frequent visitor in Grangeville'
and will long be remembered because
Of his jOvial disposition.
Lived on the Frontier
He was born in Albany, Ore, and
forty-two years of his life was spent
in his native state. He was the type
Of man who sought the frontier com-
try, where he chose to make his home
at the outskirts of civilization. Twen-
ty-five years ago, he came to Idaho
county, and had since resided here.
Surviving him are his widow, Mrs.
Louisa Watson; one son, T. HI. Wat
son, of Lewiston, and four daughters,
Mrs. W. Virgil Smith, Seattle; Mrs. ii.
R. Knoda, LaGrande, Ore; Mrs. G.
L. Upton, Lewiston, and Miss Essie
Watson, who is attending school in
Seattle. A son Clarence Watson, died
while in the army during the world
war. His death was a terrible shock
10 his father.
The body was brought to Grange
Vile Wednesday. Funeral services
will be held Friday afternoon at 3
from the Hancock Parlors. Burial will
be beside the body of his son, in
Prairie View cemetery.