ACCIDENTALLY SHOT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 81, 3 April 1908, Page 6

ACCIDENTALLY SHOT.

INQUEST AT-REMUERA.

CONFLICTING EVIDENCE.

An inquiry was held before the Coroner (Mr. T. Gresham), yesterday afternoo_,into the death of the boy Thomas Humphries, an inmate of the Children's -Home, who shot dead at Remuera on Wednesday last, while gathering quinces in an orchard owned by Air. A. _>avney. Louis Williams, aged 11, who was present at the time of the accident, said that he saw the boy Gentils go into a st-able and pick up a gun, which was a breech-loader, and was loaded and copped. The deceased said to Gentils, " jjon't" fiddle with the gun." Gentils continued to handle the gun, saying, " it is a good gun; it is worth &6." While Gentils was putting the gun down, it suddenly went off. One of the shot hit witness, but Humphries jaceived the lull force of the charge. Gentils did not point the gun at anyone, or threaten to shoot anyone. As far as witness knew, Gentils put the gun down .gently.

In answer to Sergeant Griffiths, witness .isaid he told Gentils the gun was loaded. Gentils was waving the gun about before it went off. There was no talk of -shooting at a lemonade bottle. ■ Charles Monaghan, another boy who was present at the time of the accident, said he heard the gun go off, and on ■looking round to see what had happened, saw Humphries falling to the ground. Arnold Gentils, aged 12, another inmate of the' Remuera Children's Home, said that when he found the gun it was ■ cocked. He picked it up and examined it, saying. " This is a good gun, it weighs 61b. or 71b." Humphries also handled it, saying it was a good weight, and then gave it back to witness, who placed it against the stable door post. Witness then went off to gather quinces. Humphries remained behind. A few minutes afterwards witness returned. As he came round the corner of the shed he iheard the grm go off, and saw Humphries iall. He at. once ran to the deceased's assistance. Fully ten minutes elapsed between the time witness put the gun down and the time it went off.

Cross-examined, witness said he could not understand the evidence given by iWiliiams. His own statement was the truth.

In reply to Sergeant Griffiths, witness said that after the accident the boys-had said he shot Humphries, but this he denied.

Cyril Johnston, a young man, tne owner of the gun, stated in evidence that after using the gun he always placed it in the buggy inside the stable, so that there would be no possibility of children, getting hold of it. His reason for leaving the gun loadei was that it'being a cauzzle-loader, he could not withdraw the ebarge.

Dr. Dudley stated that he was sumaioned to the scene of the accident, where _c saw the boy lying dead. He was lying en a door out in a field, close to She shed where the accident took jSaee. The main wound was at the extreme back of the head, and the base of the skull was blown away. In witness's «__iion the gun must, have been fired at | distance of not more than six yards Erom the deceased. In answer to a juryman the doctor expressed the opinion that the gun must have been m a slanting position when fired. Questioned by Sergeant Griffiths witness said it would have been impossible xor the gun to have gone off on the ground and inflicted such a wound The weight of the gun was such that witness did not think it possible for a boy of eleven to hold it up and take deliberate aim. It was also e_tr__ety" improbable that Humphries could have himself dropped the gun, and thus caused it to I explode and inflict such a. wound. ! The Coroner, in reading over the depos£tr7ns, commented o_ the conflicting natref?- of the evidence. ThgArayxefc—rned a verdict of accidental death, and added that ao blame wis tttt&_3——-e i<y anyone. - 6 -*-1