Homicide and Suicide near Hornitos: (17 Jan 1882)
A Father-in-law Fires three shots At His SON-IN-LAW and then Shoots Himself.
At the residence of Joseph SPAGNOLIA and family, at No. 9 Mine, about three miles above Hornitos, on Tuesday last , about 3 o’clock, P.M., occurred one of the most sanguinary scenes that has ever taken place in the county. Alvin BRANSON and his wife, who is sister to Mrs. SPAGNOLIA, were stopping there for the time being. Previously Mr. BRANSON had been living with his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. William SIMMONS, whose residence is near **the old Gaines mine**, some two or three miles westerly from the No. 9 mine. By means of some difficulty naturally occurring between families, BRANSON had removed to SPAGNOLIA’S, as above stated. The cause of the desperate act by the father-in-law, if any-other than insanity, are yet to be developed. At the time mentioned the two families were altogether in the house, when Wm. SIMMONS rode up on horseback, dismounted and went into the house, and immediately addressed himself to Mr. BRANSON, who, as we understand, was in a sitting position, and without giving Mr. BRANSON a moments warning, or time to gain his feet, he drew a navy six shooter, and fired, the bullet entering the body on the right side, about two inches below the nipple breaking a rib, and passing around the body and lodging in the back near the skin, and nearly opposite the point of entrance. Another report is, that the bullet entered the body near the fifth rib, passing diagonally through the body and coming out the left side of the back. Following the first shot BRANSON started to run out of the house, when the second shot was fired which took effect in BRANSONS right hand, the third shot missed him. After firing the third shot, SIMMON’s two daughters seized him and again prevented him shooting. Just at this instant Dr. CORBETT, who was at the mine visiting a patient, arrived, and immediately ran up and disarmed SIMMONS, who instantly sprang upon his horse and started full speed for home. He was called upon to stop but paid no attention to the command, whereupon the three remaining charges of the pistol were discharged at him without taking effect by one of the men, who had by this time arrived on the scene. As soon as horses could be saddled SIMMONS was pursued by J.F. THORN and John MITCHELL, but before they arrived there he had shot the top of his head off with a double barreled shotgun. They found him sitting in a chair, the toe of his boot against the trigger, and the upper portion of his head blown away. Another reporter informs us that Mrs. SIMMONS, who was at home with her two little grand children engaged in papering a room, was not aware of Mr. SIMMONS being on the place until she heard the report of the gun in an adjoining room. Upon entering to ascertain the cause, the awful scene that presented itself to Mrs. SIMMONS can scarcely be imagined. She became frantic and ran out of the house screaming so fearfully that it attracted the attention of some of her nearest neighbors. Mr. and Mrs. SIMMONS were an aged couple, having lived quietly at their home near Mount Gaines mine for a great many years. They have three children-girls-married, and near a dozen grandchildren, Alvin BRANSON, one of the victims of this sad calamity, is a young man aged about 23, was married to the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. SIMMONS about a year and a half ago, and had lived with the old folks up to within a short time preceding this homicide, when they removed to the No. 9 mine, where the terrible tragedy commenced. At last accounts, BRANSON, whose wound is supposed fatal, was still alive.
Mariposa Gazette Jan. 28, 1882:
Recovering,-Al. BRANSON, who was supposed to have been mortally wounded by his father in law some ten days ago, is recovering rapidly, and expects to be about attending to business soon. It appears that the ball took a circuitous route around the body, and never entered the cavity of the chest.
83