RAYMOND, John S., Beeville Bee, Friday, 5 Jul 1901

A Deplorable Accident.
John S. RAYMOND is dead and his bride of three weeks is a widow.
In a few words this expresses one of the saddest tragedies that ever occurred in Beeville. The young 
man had been a resident of the city several years, was sober and industrious. By his many bearing 
he had won many friends and by conserving his earnings he had accumulated enough capital to go 
into business for himself.

Four months ago he opened a saddle shop on Washington street, and as an attest of his popularity, as 
a man and his efficiency as a workman, he had in this short space of time, built up a good trade.

On June the 12, 1901, he was married to Miss Anna FAHR, a most estimable young lady and they went 
on a bridal trip to Evansville, Indiana, returning last Friday.  He had purchased a cozy little home on East 
Corpus Christi Street and they had gone to housekeeping under the most felicitous circumstances.

On Tuesday morning R. J. TURNER, of Skidmore left a pistol with Mr. Raymond with an order for a scabbard 
for it. The work was not finished by noon, and the young man hastened from his dinner to complete it.

About half past 12 o'clock a shot was heard in Mr. Raymond's place of business. Several of the neighboring 
businessmen heard it and were attracted on the spot. The young saddler was found on the floor by his 
workbench bleeding from a bullet hole through the heart, and on the bench was the deadly weapon of 
destruction, partly in the incomplete scabbard. The latter had a hole through the end through which the bullet 
had passed and the freshly made seams were torn at the end by the concussion of the explosion. In fitting the 
pistol to the scabbard. He had overlooked the fact the weapon was loaded or that it was a matter of safety to 
take out the cartridges. In forcing the pistol into the scabbard, somehow, a cartridge had been exploded with 
the more direful results. The news of the accident soon spread and quickly a crowd collected, Justice Jack 
came soon after, took evidence and had returned a verdict in accordance with the facts. 

The young widow was informed of her bereavement and her sorrow was not less touching than the untimely 
taking off of the young husband who had so shortly left their home in happiness and health. Another touching 
feature of the affair was that the father of the young man was to pay him a visit Wednesday. Instead he came to 
attend his funeral which took place Wednesday morning at 11 o'clock. Religious services were conducted 
by Rev. J. M. Alexander, and the funeral was conducted by the Society of Sons of Herman of which the deceased 
was a member.

The deceased was in his 27th year, born December 31, 1874 and a native of the town of Bohrbach in the province 
of Baden, Germany. He came with his parents to San Antonio when quite young, and several years ago came to 
Beeville where he had been employed by a local saddler until going into business for himself four months ago. He 
was industrious and unobtrusive and had gained many friends. With characteristic conservation he leaves a good 
estate for a man of his years. Besides his business he had several insurance policies amounting to $4000.