16

A Social Dance and an Unsocial
Row–Patrick Buckley Receives
a Bullet in the Hip

A few minutes before 1 o'clock this morning the echoes of Gold Hill and also many of the sleepers were awakened by the loud report of a pistol on Main Street. A social dance given by Yellow Jacket Hose Company was progressing in Garfield Hall. Frank Brown and Patrick Buckley, both young men about twenty-one years of age, were in attendance, and both had been about town drinking more or less, therefore were under the influence of liquor. Town Marshal Kennedy took occasion to speak to Brown once or twice, reproving him for not behaving himself properly in the hall.

At the time of the shooting the parties named, together with others, were out in front of the hall, and Kennedy was again speaking to Brown relative to his behavior. Warm words resulted, and brown attempted to draw a self-cocking English revolver. Kennedy sprang against him and reached around behind Brown, grasping the pistol as he drew it. In the struggle the pistol was discharged, the bullet taking effect in the right hip of Buckley, who stood near by, with his back toward them. Other parties interfered and secured the pistol before another shot could be fired. Officer Sheehand arrested Brown, took him to the station-house and afterward to the County Jail.

Buckley was taken to the Fashion Saloon, opposite the NEWS office,and subsequently to a bed in the Comstock lodging-house. Dr. Hall examined the wound, which is a very bad one, the ball having passed directly through the upper part of the hip bone, about two inches to the right of the spine, lodging internally. Indications today go to show that the ball passed through a kidney and perhaps injured the bladder. The wound is not necessarily fatal, but certainly is a dangerous one. Buckley was taken to his home near the Baltic Switch this forenoon.

The shooting of Buckley is presumed to have been accidental, although there are conflicting stories regarding it. Brown certainly deserves severe punishment for his reckless conduct, and for carrying the weapon. He is a Gold Hill boy, like Buckley, and years ago was well known as "Little Browney."