FORMAL CHARGE OF MURDER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1535, 3 September 1912, Page 4

FORMAL CHARGE OF MURDER.

THE DUNEDIN TRAGEDY

(Bj Tclecraph.-Pross Association.) Dunedin, September i. Tho inquest concerning the death of Percy John Turner, who died us the result of a shot fired by his father on Saturdivy, was held this afternoon. Dr. Roberts gavo evidence that tlio bullet had passed through tho lower lobe of the left lung, causing severe haemorrhage. The bullet nl.-o su-uck the vertebral column, and was found in tho spinal cord.

itobert i'rnnklin Turner gave evidence as to hearing the report of a pin, nnd swing his brother fall. His father then had n gun in his hand. Witness also lucked up a revolver at tho stablo door where the shooting took place. His father closed the stablo door, which was ..made nfter tho stylo of a grating, and pointed the gun at witness, who then pointed the revolver at his father. Tho latter afterwards came out, and threw' the gun at witness and rushed away. Witness throw the gun back at his father, who picked it up and ran into the street. Witness had never seen the revolver or the gun before. Tho revolver was loaded in six chambers. Relations between the father and the deceased were not happy. Before lie was shot deceased was standing about the spot where tha revolver was picked up.

.Sergeant O'Conncll said that, when Turner, sen., gave himself up, lip said that ho had shot his son in self-defence, as the latter had a revolver, and had threatened to shoot him.

The coroner (Mr. C. C. Graham) returned a verdict that death was due to severe haemorrhage, caused by a gun-shot; wound, wilfully indicted by Turner, svjn. Turner was charged with the murder in the Police Court this morning, and remanded till Friday.