Dawley, Ashley T. Jr. c1877 – 1897

DAWLEY

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 12/15/2020 at 10:24:48

Source: Decorah Republican Sept. 30, 1897 P 4 C 1

INSTANT DEATH.
Ashley T. Dawley, Jr., Killed by the Accidental Discharge of a Gun Monday afternoon, on the Reed Farm.
Ashley T. Dawley, Jr., fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Dawley, of West Decorah, was accidentally killed, Monday afternoon, by the discharge of an old muzzle-loading shot gun, in a cabin on the David E. Reed farm two miles north of town.
Dennis and Ashley Dawley, Jr., were engaged in cleaning up a piece of land on Mr. Reed’s farm, and their father was hauling wood from there. Ashley had been in the cabin where the boys slept until about two o’clock, when Dennis went over and urged his brother to go to work. Ashley replied that he wanted to kill a squirrel first, accompanying his remark by reaching for his gun which rested in a corner formed by a cupboard nailed to the side of the cabin. Dennis was turning away as Ashley did this, and he had scarcely turned his back when the gun was discharged and the boy fell. Dennis called his father, who was about ten rods away loading his wagon. Mr. Dawley came as quickly as possible and found his son lying on his back on the floor, an ugly wound in his face close to the mouth from which the blood was flowing and the neck band of his shirt on fire. Mr. Dawley extinguished the flame with his hand and then sent Dennis to notify Coroner R. F, Gibson.
The coroner visited the scene of the accident and after impanelling a jury which viewed the remains returned to the family home in West Decorah where the inquest was held, and the facts as above related were brought out. The verdict of the jury was in accord with the facts.
From an examination of the cabin it would seem that when Ashley took the gun from the corner where it rested, the trigger caught on a perpendicular cleat nailed to the side of the cupboard; and the boy’s face was so close to the muzzle of the gun that the shot had no opportunity to scatter, hence entered the head in a solid body and caused instant death. As the body lay on the floor, the head in a pool of blood and the wound in the face, it produced a horrible sight.
The body was brought to West Decorah Monday afternoon and the funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at three o’clock, Rev. Geo. Houghton officiating.
Ashley was a young man twenty years old and his sudden death was a terrible shock to the family.