Fatal Accident At Toledo
Toledo, Oct. 14. - Wm. Caldwell, 56 was mortally wounded Saturday night about 10 o'clock, when a gun held by R. Fluckiger, was accidentally discharged, the bullet severing the femoral artery in the right thigh just below the groin. Caldwell was rushed to Dr. L. J. Coberly's office, but had lost so much blood that he died upon the operating table about 30 minutes afterward. The accident happened at the Sanitary market. Mr. Fluckiger and O. M. Layton were all ready to start on a deer hunt in Stevens county. Caldwell was invited to accompany them, but said he had no gun. Mr. Fluckiger stepped to his cash register, took from it a .38 Colt's police special and handed it to Caldwell asking him if it would do. Cladwell examined the gun, decided it would, and then handed it back to Fluckiger when the weapon was discharged. The bullet in its course cut off the tip of Caldwell's right thumb and severed the artery.
Those present were excited and sought to get Caldwell to a doctor at once. Outside the door he fainted, but soon revived and was at once taken to Dr. L. J. Coberly's office, where it was necessary to wait until the arrival of Dr. Coberly, who had retired for the night, and who had to dress. Dr. Coberly stopped the flow of blood and prepared Caldwell for the trip to the hospital. However the wounded man had lost too much blood and he died in a few minutes, remaining conscious almost to the end.
County Coroner W. R. Scott was called and empaneled a jury composed of Mrs. H. F. Klein, Ray Winters, Mrs. Ray Winters, John Bickford, M. E. Croop and R. H. Munden. The verdict was that the cause of death was accidental, thus exonerating Mr. Fluckiger. The body was removed to the Cattermole undertaking establishment at Winlock.
Source: The Chehalis Bee-Nugget, 16 October 1931, page 15. Microfilm available at Washington State Library, 6880 Capitol Boulevard South, Tumwater, WA. 98512
Transcribed by Kathryn Lester. She has no further information on this individual.
[Editor's Note: According to the Washington State Death Index, William Thomas Caldwell died at Toledo on 10 Oct 1931. He was the son of George and Helen (Crosby) Caldwell.]