ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES. THE DEADLY PEA RIFLE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 73, 29 March 1910, Page 2

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES. THE DEADLY PEA RIFLE.

[BY TELEGRAPH — PBES3 ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, 28th March. At the inqucf-t on Geoffrey Fisher, aged foui teen, who was shot in the groin by n pea rifle some days ago, the father of the deceased taid deceased and two boys named M'CorkindAle and M'Bantney were in company when the accident happened. Deceased loaded the rifle, und shortly afterwards M'Corkindale picked it up. As he lifted it the hammer slipped and tho rifle went off, the bullet lodging in deceased's groin. The inquest was adjourned til' Wednesday evening. The boys M'Corkindale and M'Bantney have been brought beforo the court at Middlemarch on a churge of being in possession of firearms while under tho ago of sixteen years. The boys were severely admoniened and ordered to pay costs. The firearm w«.s confiecated. An adult who gave the rifle to M'Bantney about a- year ago would also have been prosecuted but for the fact' that the time-limit for laying an information haß expired. A farmer named Joseph Hewson, aged sixty years, was accidentally shot in the back at Tahitita on Friday. His eon was loading a pea rifle, which went off, the bullet lodging in Hewson's back. Tho injured man was brought to the hospital to-night, and an effort will be made to locate the bullet. NARROW ESCAPE. A RESOURCEFUL WOMAN. [BY TEI.SOEAPH— PBESS ASSOCIATION.] WAIROA, This Day. On Sunday afternoon a party of four half castes with a buggy and pair met with a serious accident. While proceeding from Kihitu over a papa roadway at the foot of "Uhi Hill, Wairoa River, the b u Bgy skidded off into deep water. Mrs. Walker jumped as the horse fell, and pulled out one girl. Her husband wa3 entangled in the reins, and was nearly drowned, but she tore up her dress, made a rope, and saved him. The other occupants were saved. The two horses, valued at £50, were lost. TRAM ACCIDENT. About 8 o'clock last evening a doubledecked car, No. 12, driven by Motorman Shearer, collided with an express driven by William Frank Bignell (carrier, of 82, Constable-street), in Kent-ter-race. Bignell, who is in the employ of John Collie, Ellice-avenue, was seriously injured. He had his skull fractured, and suffered several minor injuries. After being attended to by Dr. Elliott, he was removed to tho hospital, where he now lies in a critical state. At the time of the accident there were in the express a lady and her young daughter, and the former sustained some cuts on her face, and was badly shaken. The daughter escaped with a shaking. The express was being used as a holiday conveyance, and was fitted up with side seats. The two passengers were being driven home when the accident happened. Tho glass front of the car was damaged. There were some unusual circumstances attending the accident to Mr. Edward Rosenberg, who is lyin^ in a rather serious condition in a private hospital. It appears that on Good Friday he was riding along the Hutt-road, near Trentham, in a light trailer, drawn by a motor cycle. It is stated that the machine was travelling at a rate of about sixteen miles an hour, when the connecting rod broke. The front 'of the trailer struck tlie road, bringing it to an abrupt standstill. Mr. Rosenberg was precipitated on to the road, and received some severe injmies. The motor cyclist, a Mr. White, continued on his journey for some little distance before he discovered that his friend was left behind. It was ropwted to-day that Mr. Rosenberg was piogressing as well as possible.