DEATH OF A GIRL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 37, 23 November 1937, Page 6

DEATH OF A GIRL

TRAGEDY AT MAYFIELD. AFTER A REPRIMANDING. EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. A verdict that Cora Lyall Berry, aged years ; came by her death through laceration of the brain as the lesult of ■a bullet wound self-inflicted while in a state of nervous tension after having been reprimanded by her mother, Maud •Elizabeth Berry, on account of her extended absence from home during the afternoon of November 3, was returned by the District Coroner (Mr E. C. Bathurst) at the adjourned inquest tins afternoon. The girl was found shot at her home at Mayfield on the night of November 3. Frederick Berry, father of the girl, stated, that the afternoon of her death the girl spent on a visit to Mrs Mably, of Mayfield. She returned _at 7.30 .p.m. and witness heard liis wife growling at her for not coming home so mc r. Deceased assisted, to wash the dishes. At 7.45 p.m deceased asked if the time by the clock was right. Fifteen minutes later he heard the report of a rifle in his son’s bedroom, opposite the kitchen. He rushed in and struck a match, but could not see deceased. He went to another room and then heard his daughter Lorna call out, “Cora has shot herself.” He then returned and saw deceased on the flcor. The barrel of a rifle was in her left hand. There was a wound in the forehead. Deceased was very impulsive and when growled at would fly into a temper. She was of a highly strung disposition. Lorna Maud Berry,, sister of deceased. gave evidence on similar lines. She “S. saw deceased go into the bedroom and shut the door. She did not hear any sounds till the rifle exploded five minutes later. , “I growled at my daughter, but not to any extent,’’ said the mother, Maud Elizabeth Berry in her evidence. Her daughter had never indicated that she would shoot herself. She was very quick-tempered and impulsive, but would never brood, over anything very long. Deceased had on previous occasions resented witness speaking to her on account of her faults. Evidence regarding the rifle used by deceased was given by the owner, Sefton Trevor Berry, who said his sister had fired out of the rifle previously. The bullets were kept in his overcoat pocket* Dr. A. J. Mason (Medical Superintendent of the Public Hospital) detailed the injuries received by deceased a.nd gave his opinion that death (which took place at 12.30 a.m on November 4) was due to laceration of the brain. Evidence was given by Constable J. E. It. Myers as to the finding of a packet of cartridges on the bed, near where there was an impression where someone had sat down.