DEATH OF BOY

Evening Star, Issue 25895, 12 September 1946, Page 4

DEATH OF BOY

ANCIENT REVOLVER EXPLOSION (P.A.) NEW PLYAIOUTH, Sept. 11. A five-barrelled muzzleloading revolver of ancient vintage which was stated to have been loaded in some of the chambers for perhaps 50 to 75 years,, was an important exhibit in 'the Coroner’s Court in New Plymouth today when an inquest was held into the death of Ernest Gerald Benyon Adams, aged 15, who was found shot at his home in New Plymouth on July 25. Tlie fact that .the, weapon had been loaded for many years was proved by an examination at Wellington by police department arms experts, and the coroner, Air W. H. Woodward, made the comment* that but for the very, thorough investigation into the circumstances by Senior-detective E. C. Jarrold, New Plymouth, and the police arms officer in Wellington, Senior-ser-geant G.C. Kelly,..the suspicion might have remained that the boy had committed suicide. Thie evidence of his classmate had been that Adams was a quiet, studious boy, and was concerned that his mother and sisters had left home to live in the South Island. The coroner found that death had resulted from an accidental explosion of the weapon and the boy was probably not aware that it was loaded.