INQUEST.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7820, 12 June 1909, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the, Coiirthouse yesterday afternoon concerning the death of John Booth, before Mr V G. Day, S.M., Coronet*. Joseph Walter Stephens^ & f airier, residing at Ashburton, stated that on Thursday afternoon he was at Con Flynn's farm, Mitcham road, m company with the deceased. At about 4.15 the deceased, Con Flynn, and witness were shooting fowls. Witness gave a loaded gun to the deceased,', both the hammers of which, were down, at the time. He told him that it was; the last cartridge and that he had better.make sure of a fowl. He did not notice what deceased did with the gun, but he threw a stone at a fowl and immediately after there was a report, of-a gun and he fell. Witness at once went to the deceased, and found, that' lie >was shot m the right side. Witness bandaged .up the wound, and, putting: deceased m a trap, drove him straight to tlie hospital. The gun was loaded with No. 4 shot. Deceased had been'-in. the habit of handling guns for years, and was a good shot. . -.' • William Worsley, police constable, said .that he had seen the deceased m the hospital on Thursday evening. Deceased ■ had told him, m fQply \to a question, that he. 'thought'- Tip, had stood the gun by the shed to pick: up a stone to throw at a fowl, and' somehow, he .accidentally knocked th<j\ gun over;.it went off, and the charge went m his side. Ho further said that; what had occurred was an accident." William Porter said that he had known the deceased well, for he lived m. witness's house with his (the..deceased's) mother. He was at the nospitalj with Constable Worsley, and could, add nothing to. his evidence. The .Coroner adjourned the inquest for a fortnight, so that the doctor's evidence might be obtained.