William Sidney "Cap" Light - Light Shot in The Head

Light Shot in The Head

William Light returned to Temple, Texas, where in June 1892, he applied for a position as a detective for the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railroad. He was turned down. It appears that he believed that the railroad's chief detective, T. J. Coggins, was responsible for his job denial. One day, while drinking, he approached Coggins and struck him repeatedly with his fists and his pistol barrel. He was arrested for the assault, and when asked why he attacked Coggins, he blamed Coggins for "causing good men to lose their jobs."

Light was arraigned on the charge of assault. At the hearing, Coggins rose from his seat and pointed his .44 revolver at Light's head and fired several shots. One bullet entered near his right ear, and another into his neck, just below the jaw. Light's wounds were pronounced fatal, but he eventually fully recovered. Coggins was arrested for attempted murder but never faced trial.

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