THE PUNI FATALITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5, 7 January 1902, Page 4

THE PUNI FATALITY.

• '■ , An inquest was held at the Criteri-1 on Hotel yesterday afternoon, before Mr Gresham (Coroner) into the circumstances surrounding the death of Franich Uncovich, who was accidentally shot in West's Bush, Puni, near Pokeno. Mr R. F. Weoster, J.P., deposed to taking the dying depositions of deceased, who was in great pain, but was conscious. The deposition - read: —"Tony Ivanovich shot Franc Uncovich with a single-barrelled shotgun in the right hip. We were good friends. I am sure ne did not mean to shoot me. The rabbit he intended to shoot ran round, and he followed it round frim the gun ready." Ivan Stuler Stated that he saw "ivanovich soon after the accident. He stated that both were be-1 hind trees in the oush. a rabbit ran between them, and as Ivanovich step- i ped out to shoot it Uncovich moved | from behind his tree into the line of^ fire, receiving the charge in his hip. The jury returned a verdict of acci- ; dental death, no blame attachable to Ivanovich. ivanovich w-as then brought before Mr H. W. Brabant, | 5.M.,. and was formally charged with the wilful murder of deceased. SiibInspector Mitchell stated that at the inquest on deceased a verdict of ac« j cidental death had been returned. "He I wohld therefore' offer no evidence,! and asked that accused oe discharged. His Worship accordingly dis-1 charged Ivanovich. /. ;y