WOMAN DOCTOR SHOT

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 August 1929, Page 3

WOMAN DOCTOR SHOT

A TRAGIC MISTAKE. LONDON, June 14. A tragic mistake, which cost Dr. Barbana Morris, of the Lodge, Potten End, near Berkhamsted, her life, was vividly told at a Kernel Hempstead inquest yesterday. Miss Morris, who was 33, was the daughter of Mr E. W. Morris, House Governor of London Hospital. She was accidentally shot while deer-stalk-ing with Captain Lindsay Smith, on his Potten End estate on Monday. At the inquest was Viscount Knutsford, a friend of the Morris family, and Lady Polson, Captain Smith’s mother. Mr Morris said his daughter had been convalescent at- Bingham Park, Lady Polson’s house. She had broken down through overwork, and had an operation. His daughter had hoped to practise this summer. Several times Captain Smith broke down, and was soothed by My Morris. When the hearing was over, ,Mr Morris put out his hand to Captain Smith, who shook it warmly. Dr. Gilroy, of Hemel Hempstead, said that he was called to the wood by Captain. Smith. Miss Morris was shot in the head. He telephoned for an ambulance and another doctor and a surgeon. An operation was at once performed, but Miss Morris died. < Miss Morris, added the doctor, had an affection of the eyes, heart and nerves, for which she had been treated for some years. “This trouble,’’ he said, “rendered the patient' exceedirigly nervous and excitable. I mention that about the nervous condition as likely to have some bearing on the fact that she probably lost her head in the excitement of tracing this deer.’’ Captain Smith said he was listening to the wireless when Dr. Morris ran up to the open window and said, “Come out quickly ; there is something in Hollybush W00d..” | ‘ ‘I weht out to her, and on the way

to the wood she said, ‘I think it is a deer.’ I walked with Miss Morris to a spot called Hurdle Fencjie, and saw a large deer. . , “I went back to Mrs Thompson’s (Captain Smith’s housekeeper) cottage. Her window was open, and ! asked her if she would give me my rifle. 'i “When I got back with the rifle Miss Morris was still there. When I fired she was standing at my left side. The deer made off in the direction of the wood. I then unloaded the spent cartridge. This jammed in the, breach, and I then had to go and get my ramming rod. “I got the rod from Mrs Thompson and cleared the gun,”, added Captain Smith. “Then I went back, and Miss Morris was no longer 'there. I went off with the rifle, ‘and I followed the path between the meadow and the hedge, keeping a look out for Miss Morris. « “At the edge of the wood, behind a bank I saw something moving which I took to be a large rabbit. I very cautiously lay down and fired at this object. I went forward and I saw a body lying on the ground, and recognised it as that of Miss Morris. I called to Miss Morris and she did not reply. I realised I had shot her in the head. I went to Mrs Thompson straightaway, and told her ydiat had happened. Miss Morris was sitting with her back towards me. The top of her head showed above the band. If she had been anywhere else she would not have been hit.” The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, and expressed sympathy with Miss Morris’s relatives and with Captain Lindsay Smith.