DEFOREST, Jasper J.

Prescott (AZ) Courier Saturday, November 7, 1931, p 1 Prescott Man Dies of Wound Jasper DeForest Succumbs to Accidental Shot from Fred O. Cox's Gun in Hunt Accident. Jasper J. DeForest, 34, employed at the new federal building and resident of 1025 Butte street, died in the Post hospital, Whipple, around 9 o'clock this morning of shock and internal hemorrhage as the result of being shot on a deer hunt by Fred G. Cox, 58, same address, DeForest's landlord and hunting companion. While Judge Gordon Clark, local coroner, investigated the shooting today, County Attorney F. E. Flynn has not ordered an inquest. The accident occurred eight miles from Prescott in the Groom creek district about two hours before the man's death. Dr. J. E. Shearer, Post hospital surgeon, said the rifle bullet entered DeForest's back on the left side of the sacrum, or near the small of the back and penetrated the abdominal cavity. "An x-ray showed that the bullet went right through the back and scattered everywhere," said Dr Shearer. "From the effects produced it was considered to have been an explosive bullet. DeForest lived but a short time after entering the hospital, despite quick and thorough attention and everything that was done." Cox said in the haze of the early morning he saw a bush move and, thinking it was a deer or maybe a coyote, fired. He then approached the object he had hit and to his dismay, he said, discovered it was his hunting companion. Mrs. Eugenia DeForest, widow of the federal building workman, had gone out with the two hunters, but remained in the car while they tried their luck. She looked at her watch and noticed it was around 7 o'clock and said she thought to herself: "It's about time they were getting back," because DeForest had intended to work today. In fact his bucket lunch was on the kitchen table, ready to be grabbed after dropping Mrs DeForest and hurrying down to work. Very soon after looking at her watch Cox came up to the car and told Mrs. DeForest her husband had hurt his leg and they'd better get help, perhaps phone for a doctor. "Why we can get to town with him as quick as a doctor could come out here," she replied to the suggestion. She had not heard the shot. So together they hurried to him and carried the wounded man to the car. Then they rushed him to the post hospital, arriving about 8 o'clock. Mr. and Mrs. DeForest having been living in Prescott for about a year. During that time he had been employed as a laborer at the federal building, according to C R Olson, McKee superintendent of construction, adding "and he was a mighty good workman." Before coming here the DeForests lived in San Diego, Calif., which they regarded as their home. DeForest was a native of Toledo, Ohio, and enlisted on February 27, 1918, in the Unitesd States army. During the remainder of his enlistment, after assignment, he was a corporal in battery A, fourth field artillery. There are no children in the DeForest family. Mrs DeForest today telegraphed his mother, Mrs May Green, Powderville, Mich., and is awaiting a reply from her before making decision relative to disposition of the body. --------------------- Wickenburg (AZ) Graphic Friday, February 5, 1932, p 1 c 4 Yavapai Judge Sentences Two [1st paragraph irrelevant] Fred G Cox, 61 years old, was given a three-year suspended sentence for manslaughter for the death of Jasper J. DeForrest, last November, in a hunting accident. Cox must not hunt or use fire arms during the period. ----------------------- Death certificate at www.genealogy.az.gov