SHOCKING OCCURRENCE. A YOUTH ACCIDENTALLY SHOOTS HIMSELF DEAD.

Evening Post, Volume XLIV, Issue 87, 10 October 1892, Page 2

SHOCKING OCCURRENCE. A YOUTH ACCIDENTALLY SHOOTS HIMSELF DEAD.

Settlerß in the quiet district of Makara wero thrown into a Btate of excitement yesterday in consequence of a fatal shooting accident which occurred in their midst. Early in the morning Mr. Robert Cook, railway stationmaster at Johnßonville, and his brother Arthur, a youth of 15, left the homestead of their father, Mr. John Cook, near the Makara beach, for the purpose of shooting rabbits. After spending some hours in quest of gamo they started to return to tho house for dinner, and had almost reached their father's residence when the accident occurred. Thoy crossed tho river in a boat, and Mr. Robert Cook jumped out on to tho bank. His brother at the same time picked up his own gun, which had been lying across the seat, loaded with shot, and was drawing it towards him when tho trigger caught the thwart of the boat, and the weapon went off, the charge entering his right side, and causing almost instantaneous death, llr. Robert Cook, on jumping out of the boat, warned his brother to bo careful in handling the gun, as it was loaded, and Arthur replied. "All right, I'll look out."' A moment afterward the young fellow called out to his brother, " Bob, here," and on tho lattor turning round he saw hi.« young brother lying on the trround. Mr. Robert Cook asked him if he was hurt. Arthur replied, " Yes, dead." and then expired. Tho body was carried into the father's residoneo, where an inquest will bo held by Mr. H. W. Robinson, District Coroner, to-morrow. The deceased was the youngest in tho family, and was a favourite in tho district. He was a brother of Mr. A. H. Cook, tailor, of Lambton-quay, and Mr. A. W. J. Cook, accountant in tho Manawatu Railway Company's office, and nephew of Mr. R. C. Cook, of H.M. Customs. Full particulars of the sad occurrence wore obtained by Mounted Constable Wilson, who was despatched to Makara as noon as the fact had been reported at tho Police Station.