Peter1469 (10-03-2020)
Or the force of the bullet led to a blow out fracture of the orbital socket. The facial bones are very delicate there.
Either way it would likely be fatal, even today.
They did attempt to probe the wound while he was still living, iirc.
Here is the pistol used, a .44 caliber derringer percussion lock.
Depending on the distance when fired, expanding gasses could have also been forced into the cranium.
Peter1469 (10-09-2020)