This was the first call that Deputy Jenkins was on that had to resort to discharging a gun. Sheriff Gideon pulled the trigger because Hunt had the rifle pointed at the deputy's head not Sheriffs. This occurred in the 1950s
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Henry Hunt, of Dickens, Mo., lost his life resisting the efforts of Taney County Sheriff • Theron Gideon, to disarm and quell his berserk advances with a loaded shotgun. Hunt, 72 years of age, had once served 20 years of a 50 year sentence in the Missouri Penitentiary for the murder of a Taney County man and his son.
Hunt was shot while assaulting his mother-in-law, Mrs. Aaron Anderson of Dickens, Mo., termi nating a quarrel and beating of the woman that had lasted for R half hour or more. Mrs. Anderson's son, William, left the scene of the quarrel and called the Sheriff's office. When Sheriff Gideon and his deputy. Jenkins, arrived on the scene, Hunt refused to surrender the gun and declared that he would kill Mrs. Anderson as well as the two "law officers When he leveled the loaded shotgun at the head of Sheriff Gideon, the Sheriff fired two quick shots, one piercing Hunt's heart. He was rushed to the office of Dr. J. M. Threadgill gill in Forsyth where he was pronounced dead.
Mrs. Anderson was severely scratched and bruised from blows with the gun and was also kicked". many times by the enraged ex-convict. County Prosecutor Clay Cantwell said that Sheriff Gideon was entirely justified in the shooting as an officer of the law carrying out his duty.
Henry Hunt is survived by his wife Minnie, two small sons, and two brothers. Funeral services were held Tuesday in Taneyville and burial made in Memorial Park Cemetery in Branson.
May we deviate from the Scriptures "Judge not, least ye be judged" long--enough to quote "What so ever a man ^soweth, that he shall also reap." Law, order, justice, and respectibility must be upheld.
