YOUTH FATALLY SHOT

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 180, 28 April 1931, Page 10

YOUTH FATALLY SHOT

Found Hanging on Fence RETURNING FROM HUNTING When returning from a day’s shooting on the AVainui-o-mata Hill yesterday afternoon William Ernest Childs, aged 21 years, who lived with his aunt, Mrs. Chesterman, of Puriri Street, Lower Hutt, was accidentally shot. He died in hospital. Deceased and a friend, Horatio Robert Pritchard, of Lower Hutt, left at 8.30 o’clock in the morning to go shooting on the Wainui-o-mata hills. They were returning about 1.30 o’clock in the afternoon. Pritchard, who was in the lead, had just got through a fence when he heard t’he sound of a gun. He turned and saw Childs hanging on to the fence. He went back and spoke to him, but received no reply. Pritchard then took the injured man from the fence and noticed that a shot from a 22-calibre rifle which he (Childs) was carrying had entered the cornet of the right eye. Two men who were passing, Messrs. J. Morrison and Collins.' went to Pritchard’s assistance, and they were joined by the police. Childs was immediately removed to Knight’s Road Hospital, but he died, shortly after admittance. Deceased’s parents reside at Collins Street. Petone. An inquest will be held.