ACCIDENT WITH RIFLE

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29239, 24 June 1960, Page 7

ACCIDENT WITH RIFLE

Son Fatally Wounded

Mother

(New Zealand Press Association) HAMILTON, June 23.

A verdict that Mrs Alma Cahill, aged 40, of Te Aroha, died from a bullet wound accidentally caused by her 16-year-old son was returned by the Coroner, Mr A. G. Ward, when the inquest was concluded in Hamilton today. Mrs Cahill’s son, Murray William Le Bagge, said that on March 23 his mother gave him a .303 rifle which had been owned by his late father for him to have it registered in his name He found that the ejector spring was not working When he got up about 7.15 a.m. he thought that he might have left a live bullet in the rifle He found that he had, and tried unsuccessfully to make the rifle eject it. In an effort to eject the bullet he worked the bolt several times, and the rifle discharged.

He heard a call from the kitchen, the witness said, and found that his mother, who was sitting on a stool having her breakfast, had been hit. Constable R. H. Allan, of Te Aroha, said that the ejector spring on the bolt of the rifle was broken. The bolt was open, and there was a spent cartridge in the chamber. The bullet had penetrated a mirror and two walls before striking Mrs Cahill. To the coroner, Constable Allan said the occurrence could only have been accidental.