Kern County Obituaries

John Higgins

Submitted by Don Stowell; 13 Feb 2008

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Daily Californian; SATURDAY EVENING APRIL 24. 1897

DOUBLE CRIME AT GOLER
One Brother Shoots Another then Kills Himself
Associated Press Dispatch to the Californian
SAN FRASCISCO. April 24 — Ben, John and William Higgins, three brothers well 
known in Kern county yesterday afternoon became involved in a quarrel at their 
claim in Nugget gulch, a ravine letting into Goler canyon where the gold 
excitement of a few years ago, originated.
Ben shot John, killing him instantly and then turning the gun upon himself, 
committed suicide.
The surviving brother immediately repaired to Garlock and reported the matter, 
but refused to tell the nature of the quarrel.
No further details can be obtained before the arrival of Coroner Helm who is 
now on his way from   Bakersfield.
The brothers were all miners.

Source Unknown; SATURDAY EVENING APRIL 26. 1897

Mojave Correspondence
I had a view of the remains of the two brothers, John and Ben Higgins, 
the one having killed his Brother with a Winchester rifle and then shooting 
himself with a revolver, causing instant death. / 
The bodies were brought here today from Garlock and it was the intention of 
William, brother of the dead men, to send the remains to Bakersfield for interment, but 
after arriving, here he found that the R. R. Company would not accept the bodies for 
shipment they having no caskets and the  men   having  been  dead too long.    So the 
bodies were buried here just as they were found. It was a sad and horrible sight and the 
living brother has the sympathy of all the people.
The men were strangers to your correspondent, but they were from Granite Station 
and must have been known by many people of Bakersfield.

Source Unknown; SATURDAY EVENING APRIL 26. 1897

The Nugget Gulch Tragedy
From facts developed at the coroner's inquest held over the bodies of Ben and John 
Higgins at Nugget Gulch, it appears that there had been a resentful feeling existing between 
the two for some years. The old fued was renewed Friday morning  by Ben but an end was 
put to the quarrel by another brother, William. In the afternoon, however, Ben appeared at 
the claim being worked by the three in conjunction, threw a pistol to John, told him to 
defend himself, but without waiting for the later to move, raised a Winchester rifle and shot 
him through the neck, killing him instantly.
William who stood near rushed over to the wounded man's side while he was trying to 
revive him, he heard another report and saw Ben fall backwards. He had picked up the 
pistol and blown his brains out. Ben was probably insane.