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Description: Pat O’Brien Held After Man is Shot
Date: April 18 1954Newspaper published in: Hawthorne
LeRoy “Bud” Hanson, 32 year old Hawthorne bar operator, was reported today to be showing improvement at the Mineral county hospital where he was rushed Sunday night after suffering a gunshot wound.
L.W. “Pat” O’Brien is still being held in the county jail on an open charge and authorities said today they were awaiting Hanson’s recovery before determining what specific charges might be pressed. O’Brien, 49, has been managing the U.S. Hotel bar.
Although O’Brien has made no statement relative to the shooting, investigating officers said that O’Brien entered Hanson’s Silver Bar on E Street about 10 o’clock Sunday and that the two men engaged in a conversation at the far end of the bar. Moments later patrons heard a muffled report and saw Hanson slump to the floor, the officers’ report continued.
The wounded man was rushed to the hospital where his condition at that time was described critical, requiring several blood transfusions. One bullet had entered his chest above the heart and emerged through his back without striking the heart or lung, it was stated. Sheriff AJ Jensen expressed the belief that only the fact that it was a steel jacket cartridge did Hanson survive.
In the meantime city police officer, John Tarrant, was at the Silver Bar to investigate and O’Brien voluntarily went with him to the city jail where he was booked before being transferred to the county jail. Tarrant took possession of the .38 snub nose pistol and Sheriff Jenson later found the bullet in the building.
Officers expressed the belief that if there was any trouble between the two men it probably was over domestic affairs. It was about two years ago that O’Brien was divorced by his wife, Katherine, owner of the U.S. Hotel. She later married Hansen but recently had instituted divorce proceedings against Hanson, officials said. A daughter was born to the couple on April 16 of this year at the local hospital.
Since returning to Hawthorne, O’Brien had been managing the U.S. Hotel bar for his former wife, police said.

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