Powell's revolver

[Wesley Harris]

(06-19-2013 07:00 AM)MaddieM Wrote:  

(06-18-2013 04:01 PM)Wesley Harris Wrote:  I can't determine if the sound Fred heard -- "the click of the lock" -- was Powell cocking the pistol to prepare it to fire or actually pulling the trigger resulting in a misfire. It's essentially the same sound either way. Powell could have attempted to shoot him or he may have merely cocked the gun as a threat but then the fight was on.

That's interesting. But if he had cocked the gun and fired, surely there would be been two clicks.

that's correct, Maddie. That's why I can't say for sure there's was a misfire which is the conventional assumption. We've all seen Westerns where the gunman cocks his gun menacingly to scare someone. That may be what Powell did. Or he could have pulled the trigger to shoot Frederick. We will never know.