DAILY EVENING POST, SAN FRANCSICO, CA THURS JUL 28,1881 P4 COL D
PARICIDE IN MARIPOSA
Wednesday afternoon, at Parks Saloon, in the town of Mariposa, William Hart shot three bullets into the body of his father, David Hart. The wounds will probably prove fatal. Ill feelings had existed between the parties for years.

HART ATTACKED
Merced Express, July 30, 1881
ATTEMPTED PATRICIDE. – We learn the particulars of an attempt of William Hart to murder his father, David Hart, at Mariposa last Wednesday, from Judge Corcoran, of that place. A misunderstanding had existed between father and son for some time, when the parties met in the Comet saloon, and after a few angry words the young man drew his pistol and fired three shots one taking effect in the head, on in the neck, and one in the wrist of the old man. The son then knocked his father down and beat him over the head with the pistol, until taken away by bystanders. After the wounds were dressed the old man rode to his home, several miles distant, in a wagon. William Hart was arrested and is now in jail at Mariposa.

HART ALMOST MURDER
Merced Express, August 6, 1881
Almost a Murder.
[Mariposa Gazette, July 30.]
Last Wednesday afternoon our quiet town was thrown into fever excitement by the report that William Hart had made an attempt to kill his father. The particulars are about as follows:
For a long time there has been trouble in the family, but the nature of these troubles we are not acquainted with, nor do we wish to known, for it is nobody’s business but their own. Last Wednesday, the old gentleman brought to town a load of watermelons to sell, and William was in town on the same day on some business. The old gentleman, in company with another man and the proprietor of the "Comet" saloon, stepped in side to take a drink. William happened to be standing at the bar on the entrance of the party, and was asked by one of them to join in a sociable. He accepted the invitation and squared around to the bar. The old man demurred to this and said i n low tone, "I guess I don’t want anything." The son overheard this and said, "We had better settle this difficulty right here," (or words to that effect), and walked up to the old man and tapped him lightly on the shoulder. At this point of the trouble the old man gathered up a bottle standing on the bar and struck the young man a blow on the cheek, whereupon, William drew a pistol and commenced to fire. Mr. Jackson, who was waiting on the costumers, said to the young man, "For God’s sake don’t shoot," and got from behind the bar as quickly as possible to try to quell the disturbance, but too late, as he fired three shots in rapid succession before he could get hold of him, when the old man fell to the floor and Bill pounced upon him, when he was secured, Mr. Hart lay for a few moments on the floor, but gradually revived and rose to his feet, when he was taken to the drug store and his wounds examined by Dr. Turner, it was found that one shot struck him in the temple, the ball, a pointed slug, glancing upward and lodging in the wall of the saloon. Of the two other shots fired, one missed and one took effect in the left wrist, shattering and no doubt ruining the use of it for life. Dr. Turner extracted the ball, which was much flattened. It was a most miraculous escape from death, as the weapon was so close to his head that his face was much powder burned. This trouble is much to be regretted by all who know the parties, as Mr. Hart is an old citizen of the county, having raised a large family most of which are married and have families, and reside in this section. Bill was raised, and we believe, born in this county. Both parties reside in the Chowchilla Valley. At the time of the shooting, Sheriff Clarke and Deputies had started into the country to arrest some cattle thieves. A messenger was dispatched who overtook them at the outer edge of town, informed Mr. Clark of the disturbance, who returned placed Bill under arrest and lodged him in jail, where he awaits his trial. At last accounts the wounded man was doing well.

Died January 10, 1885 Mariposa Gazette
HART- At Cariboo, Mariposa County, January 7th, 1885, William C. HART, a native of Tennessee, aged 35 years.

HART-January 10, 1885 Mariposa Gazette: Startling Events of the Week.
This week opened with the terrible news of a fratricide occurring on the Chowchilla, some eight or ten miles east of Mariposa, on Tuesday last, between two brothers, Charles and William HART, wherein the former shot the later with a rifle, the ball passing through the left arm just below the shoulder, and entering the body and lodging in the backbone, supposed to have cut the left lung. It occurred about five o’clock in the afternoon, and the wounded man died at three o’clock the following morning. Unfortunately no medical relief could be obtained before death ensued. On receipt of this news, which was quite late at night, Sheriff MULLERY with under-sheriff HOWARD started for the scene, but no arrest was made until Thursday when officer HOWARD with a posse, came upon HART, who was concealed in the rough and almost inpenetrable bushes and rocks, a short distance from the cabin which he inhabited. When discovered he was carrying a gun, but when told to hold up his hands, he dropped it to the ground and surrendered without an offer of resistance. He was brought to town and lodged in jail on Thursday. The causes leading to this unfortunate fratricide will probably be brought out upon trial of the case, when it will be more proper time to publish the details.

Shot by younger brother, Charles. Buried Spring Hill Ranch.