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- 1900 Federal Census of Wellesley, Norfolk County, MA (14 Jun 1900)
Christopher M. Bassett 23 Feb 1877 M CN CN CN Lodger (1892) Blacksmith
1910 Federal Census of Wellesley, Norfolk County, MA (21 Apr 1910
Christopher M. Bassett 34 M CN CN CN Head Blacksmith Own Shop
Mary 34 F IR IR IR Wife
Robert J. 7 M MA CN IR Son
Florence E. 5 F MA CN IR Daughter
(Living on Washington Street) (Married 8 years, 2 children, 2 living)
1920 Federal Census of Wellesley, Norfolk County, MA (7 Jan 1920)
Christopher M. Bassett 44 M CN CN CN Head Clerk Grocery Store
Mary A. 45 F IR CN IR Wife
Robert J. 17 M MA CN IR Son Baggageman Railroad Station
Florence E. 15 F MA CN IR Daughter
Patrick J. Mulcahy 29 M IR IR IR BrotherL Stationary Engineer Fireman
(Living on Rice Street) Hospital Plant
Pawtucket Times, Rhode Island, Friday, October 16, 1903
Bride Shoots Wedding Guest
Christopher M. Bassett of Wellesley Hills Victim of Shot by His Sister-in-Law
Purely Accidental
She did not know the Weapon was Loaded
Bassett’s Wound May Prove Fatal
Providence, Oct. 15 – A distressing and perhaps a fatal shooting accident occurred at 30 Prairie avenue yesterday afternoon, the victim being Christopher M. Bassett of Washington street, Wellesley Hills, Mass.
Mr. and Mrs. Bassett came here Tuesday to attend the wedding of Mrs. Bassett’s sister Nellie to Neil Donahue, a blacksmith in the employ of the Rhode Island Company.
The wedding festivities were continued throughout the day and until late in the evening, the Bassetts remaining with the intention of returning home this afternoon.
Mr. Donahue had a self-cocking, 32-calibre 5-shot revolver, which he brought to his new home and showed it to his bride as it lay in a bureau drawer. Mrs. Donahue, some time later, took the revolver from the bureau to show it to her brother-in-law.
Bassett was seated and as she approached him she exclaimed “See what we’ve got, Christopher.” Mrs. Donahue did not know that the weapon was loaded, nor was she aware that her finger was upon the trigger.
Suddenly the weapon was discharged and with a groan Bassett dropped out of his chair to the floor. In the centre of his forehead was a wound from which blood was streaming. Horror stricken, the bride and her sister went to Bassett’s aid, while Donahue ran out for a doctor.
Two surgeons responded and found the injured man’s wound so serious that they ordered him sent to a private hospital. Before he was etherised he was semi-conscious and said that the shooting and been accidental.
The bullet was found to have pierced the inner table of the skull and to be pressing upon the brain. It, with several home splinters, was removed. Today the hospital surgeon said that Bassett had an even chance only of surviving his injury. Mrs. Donahue it prostrated on account of the shooting.
The police did not learn of the affair until Bassett was removed to the hospital, where they learned it was purely accidental.
Mrs. Bassett called upon Capt. Mowry and confirmed the version of the shooting as given by her sister.
Boston Herald, Thursday, October 15, 1903
The Victim A Blacksmith
Christopher M. Bassett, who is reported to have been accidentally shot yesterday in Providence, R.I., is a blacksmith and for the past two years has run a shop on Washington street, Wellesley Hills, with his brother. He is 29 years old, has a wife and one small child, and has made his home at Wellesley Hills for about six years.
Boston Journal, Monday, October 19, 1903
Smith Surviving Bullet In Brain
Case of Bassett Puzzles Doctors, Who Thought Wound Fatal
Special to The Boston Journal
Providence, R.I., Oct 19 – Christopher M. Bassett, the Wellesley Hills blacksmith, who was shot in the forehead last Wednesday by his sister-in-law, Mrs. Nellie Donahue, the day after her marriage on the 13th, will live. His case has puzzled the surgeons of the East Side Hospital from the first. When the bullet was proved for and removed, it was found that it has penetrated the skull and had lodged in the edge of the brain, making a wound that it was expected would prove fatal. Contrary to established precedents the surgeons say the patient has been gaining right along since the bullet was extracted and the wound is healing well.
Unless complications, which are not looked for now, set in he will recover fully. Bassett’s splendid physique stood him in good stead. Mrs. Donahue is in the custody of the woman probation officer pending the result of Bassett’s wound. She was arrested although everyone concerned in the case from the police down are certain that the shooting was wholly accidental.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1877 - 