A PAINFUL GUN ACCIDENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2026, 22 December 1892, Page 25

A PAINFUL GUN ACCIDENT.

SERIOUS RESULTS FROM CARELESSLY

HANDLING ARMS.

An unfortunate gun accident occurred at South Dunedin about 1 o'clock on Sunday, the result of which is that a young girl named Cecilia Keating is in some danger of losing her life. At the time mentioned Miss Keating, who is about 17 years of age, and tho daughter of Mr Edward Keating, an employe at tho corporation gasworks, was standing in the scullery of her father's house, Sydney street, South Dunedin, washing up the dishes after dinner. The door was open, and the place where the girl stood was on a level with the scullery of the adjoining house, where a young man named Robert Hagen stood. He had a double-barrelled gun in his hand, and when ifc was pointing in her direction he .exploded two caps that he had previously placed on the triggers. The left barrel was charged with shot, and when the cap was fired the girl received the charge about the eyes. She immediately cried out, "Father, father," and Mr Keating, who had been standing near by, rushed up and caught her. She was removed inside, and Dr Coughtrey, having arrived on receipt of a telephone message, had the girl removed to the hospital. There an operation was found necessary, and Dr Stenhouse, ophthalmic eurgeon. at the hospital, removed the right eye. Until it is ascertained whether any of tho pellets have entered the brain it is impossible to say whether the girl will live, and it is jcb doubtful if she does live whether she will ever have the use of the remaining eye. Hagen, gives the following as tho circumstances of the affair : — " I was out shooting or* Saturday near Cargill's, and was wibh' another young fellow named Robert Dunne, who lives at Mornington, and to whom the gun belongs. We came back in the tram, and Dunne told me to take the gun home to clean ifc. On Sunday, after dinner, I took the gun out. I understood both barrels had been discharged before wo came home. We were both usiDg the gun, and Dunne had it last. I put on two caps to slear the nipples flrsb. I did not raise the gun to my shoulder. The girl was just opposite me, and her father Btanding near by. I was talking to the girl, and I put out the gun in front of me and pulled the right trigger. The cap exploded. I then pulled the left trigger and tho barrel discharged."

Mr Keating states that he does not for a moment think that Hagen knew there was a charge in one of the barrels, but blames him for not ascertaining whether there was before he took the gun out to clean. He says further that Hagen lifted the gun up in the attitude of a man about to shoot, and, pointing it at his daughter, pulled both triggers.

Alexander Scott has been committed for trial on the charge of the murder of William Thompson, the Waikomiti settler whoso mysterious death by poisoning has 'been the subject of a lengthy investigation in the Polico Court.^