In the late summer of 1938, a tragic and unforeseen event cut short the life of John James Arthur Cobain, a 49-year-old White male and veteran peace officer in Grays Harbor County, Washington. On the evening of September 8th, the deputy sheriff was seated on a stool at the beer counter of a store in Markham. As he reached into his pocket, likely for a cigarette, his own automatic pistol fell from its hip pocket holster.
The firearm struck the floor and discharged a single, fatal shot.
The bullet entered Cobain's body near his hip and traveled upwards, piercing vital organs. In a strange and poignant twist, witnesses reported that Cobain, seemingly unaware he had been struck, reached for the fallen weapon and asked if anyone had been hit. He then collapsed, succumbing to his injury before medical assistance could be summoned.
The county coroner, Dr. John W. Stevenson, conducted an examination and confirmed the unfortunate series of events. He noted that the bullet did not strike any bones, which may have contributed to Cobain's initial lack of awareness that he himself was the victim. Based on the witness statements and the physical evidence, his death was ruled an accident. Consequently, there were no arrests made or suspects sought in connection with the incident, as it was determined to be a self-inflicted, accidental shooting. Authorities at the time did, however, attempt to locate his son, Kenneth, to inform him of the tragedy.
