This Week in Texas Prison History

July 28:

• 1875 - Great Northern Railroad Landing - A convict guard named William Clear, or Clary, on duty with the detachment of penitentiary convicts elsewhere mentioned, on yesterday afternoon accidentally shot and killed himself, while handling his gun. The accident occurred while he had his foot on the trigger. The deceased, it is said, was from Galveston. Justice McGowan went down from the city at five o'clock to hold an inquest on the body, the shooting having occurred at the Great Northern Landing, on the bayou below the city. (The Galveston Daily News, July 28, 1875)​

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• Another Account - Yesterday afternoon, a penitentiary guard named Wm Clare, of Galveston, while with a detachment of thirty convicts, at the Great Northern Landing, accidentally shot and killed himself. His head was literally blown off. (The Age, Houston, July 28, 1875)

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