MISHAP WITH GUN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 85, 11 April 1933, Page 10

MISHAP WITH GUN.

FATALITY NEAR MATAMATA.

MAN'S ACCIDENTAL DEATH.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

MATAMATA, this day.

An inquest on John Morley Fitness, stock agent, who met his death through gunshot wounds at Matamata on Sunday afternoon, was held yesterday afternoon before Mr. A. J. Tong, coroner. Dr. J. T. Laurenson, who was called to the scene of the accident, eaid he found deceased lying in a swamp about a mile.from Buckland Road. Nearby was a shotgun with a spent cartridge case and a live cartridge in the other barrel. A rifle which had apparently been carried by deceased had the magazine full. There was a gunshot wound about lin in diameter over the centre of the spine. Death must have been instantaneous. Mrs. Fitness was beside the body when witness arrived. Zeita May Grover, sister-in-law of deceased, who had been living with deceased and her sister for the past two years, said a party of four left home at Matamata at about 7 a.m. on a deerstalking expedition. The two men had rifles ajid Mrs. Fitness had a shotgun. After lunch it commenced to rain and they decided to give up stalking. They took a short-cut to the car across a swamp which, was covered with flax, teatree and blackberry. Mr. Fitness made a track and' told her sister and herself to follow him. They had not gone far When the dogs put up some birds and witness turned to draw her sister's attention to them. The gun which witness was then carrying must have come up or got caught in some scrub, or she must have slipped. The gun went off. To the police. witness stated that she was just learning to shoot; she had only had three shots before. She knew the gun was loaded, but did not know it was ready for shooting. Constable Connor stated that the widow was too ill to give evidence. He was quite satisfied that the fatality was accidental. Bertie Albert, the fourth member of the party, said he had tfone ahead before the accident. They had been on several similar expeditions and were a happy party. % A verdict of accidental death was returned.