SHOT BY HIS SON-Wm. Travis 1893

TRAVIS, TREDWAY

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 2/4/2017 at 13:06:54

Dubuque Daily Telegraph – September 24, 1893

SHOT BY HIS SON
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Wm. Travis Seriously Wounded
Last Night
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THE SON DEFENDS HIS MOTHER
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What Was Nearly a Case of Patricide
Enacted Last Night on West Locust
Street – The Son, Ed Travis Says He
Shot to Defend His Mother
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Wm Travis, aged 57 years, an old resident of Dubuque, lies wounded at his residence, 90 West Locust Street. His son, Edward Travis, aged 21 years, who shot him with a 22 caliber revolver, is in the county jail.

The facts in the case are these:
The father, who for some time past has been a periodical drinker, went home last night for the first time in several weeks, and as on previous occasions he began to abuse and beat his wife. The son and two daughters, on of the latter a young lady and the other about 12 years old, were with the parents in the dining room when the father began his abuse of their mother. Exactly how matter progressed cannot be learned, but the supposition is that the son, after warning his father to desist, took the revolver from the pocket of a coat which hung on the wall and fired. It is likely there was a struggle between the father and the son before the revolver was discharged. The family has endeavored to conceal the particulars as much as possible.

After the shooting the son hastened downtown for a doctor. He gave it out then that the shooting was accidental. The doctor who was summoned called two other for assistance.

Their examination disclosed that the ball entered the left side between fourth and fifth ribs, a little below the heart. It ranged downward, and the fact that the wounded man expectorated a little blood indicated it had entered the stomach. The wound is not considered fatal, but its exact nature cannot be told as yet.

The doctors after bandaging the wound administrated hypodermic injections and soporifics and left the suffered sleeping. While they were at work on him he appeared to be in great pain, and between his groans said he would be dead in the morning.

Mrs. Travis is a kindly faced old lady with grey hair was prostrated by the shooting. She lay on a lounge in the parlor while the doctors were in the room.

Soon after the shooting the police took Edward Travis into custody. He is a mild-mannered young man and bears an excellent reputation. He is employed in the Edward Tredway Hardware Company’s establishment and is said to be the chief support of his mother. A Herald reporter called at the jail to see him and asked for the particulars of the affair. At first he said the shooting was purely accidental. He said he had the revolver in his hands fixing it when it was discharged in a scuffle in which he engaged with his father to prevent the latter abusing the mother. He was then asked by the reporter about his father’s treatment of his mother and it was suggested that a young man like him wouldn’t see her abused even if he had to shot to defend her.

“Yes, that’s about it,” was the tenor of his reply, and when it was suggested that it was rather remarkable that he should happen to be handling the revolver at that particular moment. He admitted that when his father attempted to strike his mother he took the revolver from his coat and used it. Having said this much the young man declined to talk further.

Wm. Travis ordinarily a good man but it is said when he takes to liquor he is completely changed. The shooting a deplorable affair, as the family is well thought of in the neighborhood

The young man was hasty in using the revolver as he was well able to handle his father without it, but all the circumstances may not have been brought out. In any event is to be hoped that the wound will not result fatally.