SHOOTING FATALITY.

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 108, 3 November 1926, Page 3

SHOOTING FATALITY.

TERRITORIAL KILLED ON RANGE

MILITARY COURT OF INQUIRY*,

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)'

MASTERTON, 3rd November.

An official military court of inquiry; into the death at Te Ore Ore rifle range on Friday of Private Morris, of Greytown, was concluded to-day, and the evidence will be submitted to general headquarters, who will decide whethef the case is to go to a court-martial. The Court of Inquiry comprised, Lieutenant* Colonel J. H. Whyte (chairman), Major F. A. Wood, and Captain .A. Campbell*

It was stated in evidence that whiles a team of territorials were firing a teams match, a .non-commissioned officer, Sage, who w.as sitting on the ground behind the firing mound, turn* ed round and accidentally placed his" hand on a rifle (not his own) lying be* side him. The weapon, which was loaded, discharged, and the bullet struck deceased, who was sitting on the slope above Sage. The latter immediately; I summoned the officer in charge of the firing point, and informed him that he (Sage) had shot Morris and that he warf not aware that the rifle was loaded. Morris expired a few minutes later, while first aid was being rendered.. .':' An immediate inspection was made of all rifles lying in the vicinity, but every rifle was empty and the dis» charged shell could not be found.- -_- It was also stated in evidence by-of' fleers, non-commissioned officers, .. and trainees, that the regulations regarding the inspection of rifles after each squad had fired.had been rigidly carried out; that amtcifhition was supplied to men. only when they were ready on the mound; and that all unexpended cartridges had been collected immediately a trainee had fired. Captain Sugden, who was in charge of the musketry meeting, stated that he was satisfied that the officers in charge of the mound where the acei* dent happened were acquainted with the duties of a range officer, and woflH see that they were properly carried out in respect to the inspection of arms be) fore trainees left the firing point. " ~ No evidence was adduced as to hoW the rifle, lying in what proved to be a dangerous position, came to he loaded. Captain Sinclair, who was in charge of the mound behind which the accident occurred, declared that there was * 'no horseplay or any attempt at horseplay; on the range anywhere near the scent of the accident. The Coroner's inquest will be restinj ed to-morrow.