SHOOTING ACCIDENT.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12936, 16 October 1907, Page 7

SHOOTING ACCIDENT.

YODNG MAN SHOT IN THE HEAD

A fihootinf- accident occurred in Manchestor etreet yesterday, just beforo noon. It appears that William Knowles, a barber, whoso shop in situated next to Parsons's monumental works, was cleaning out a cupboard in his shop, when lie discovered a sixch am be red revolver. He opened a window, which overlooked Parsons's yard, and informed a stonemason named Frank Leslie Berry of his discovery, at the same time producing the weapon to show him. Berry was approaching tho window in order to examine tho revolver when it suddenly went off, and tho bullet lodged above Berry's left eye. Knowles immediately attended him, and succeeded in stopping tho bleeding to a largo extent. Tho wounded man was later taken to tho hospitil His injuries are- not considered serious.

Knowlce had been in occupation ot the shop for sonro three months, and up to ycsteiday ho did not know that there was a revolver on his premises. It had apparently been left there by the previous owner of the business. It vas loaded only in on© chamber, and the cartridge had worked round in a line with the barrel, which concealed it from view. Beeing all the other chambers omptjj Knowles oame to the- conclusion that the revolver was unloaded, and in his statement to the police he said ho could not understand how it went off. The. powder in the cartridge, must have greatly deteriorated in strength, or, it is said, Berry would have been killed instantly. On inquiry at tho Hospital last night v was cecerteinod that Berry hod settled down comfortably, but that the bullet had not, up to that time, been located.