DEERSTALKER SHOT

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 November 1943, Page 2

DEERSTALKER SHOT

EVIDENCE - AT INQUEST [OUR OWN correspondent:]

REEFTON, November 19The need for having some control of deer-stalking was emphasised by the Coroner (Mr. W. B. Auld, J.P.) at the inquest into the death of Bernard M. Alborn, a miner, of Reefton, who was accidentally shot on October 16 while on a shooting trip. Mr. Auld said he felt that the time was long overdue when some steps should be taken to control deer shooting. Mr. Auld found that Alborn met his death in the bush near Watson’s farm as the result of a bullet wound through the heart, the bullet being fired from a rifle by Lawrence R. Galway. He said that this accident showed that there was lack of control, and Barties were out in all directions, ince the accident he had received a letter from the Reefton Deer Stalkers’ Association asking him to recommend to the authorities that legislation should be brought down to control deer stalking. He would be pleased to pass the recommendation on to the proper authorities. He felt that inexperienced lads should not be allowed to go out deer shooting unaccompanied by an experienced person. If control measures could save even one life and stop such occurrences as this accident then they would be well worth while. Dr. J. L. Wicken said that about 8 p.m. on October 16, he was advised by telephone from the Reef ton Police that there had been a shooting accident above Crushington. Witness went to the scene and _ there found the body of Bernard M.' Alborn; examination showed that life was extinct. There was a large performating wound in the chest wall, and a perforating wound in the right lower forearm. Witness considered a bullet entered the right side, and emerged on the left side. From its situation it passed through the heart. Death would be instantaneous.

William H. King, truck driver, of Reefton, said that he was a member of Reefton Home Guard. He held a .300 rifle on issue from the authorities. He had some 20 years of experience of deer stalking. About 6 p.m. on October 16 in company with Bernard Alborn, witness went deer stalking above Crushington. On arrival at Rainy Creek, witness left the car to shoot in that area. Alborn went on to the left hand branch bridge, a mile further on the road. They intended to get home to Reef ton by 8 p.m. About dusk witness came on to the road, and commenced to walk in the direction in which Alborn would have been shooting. .He met Ben Ivy of Blackspoint after walking some distance. Ivy’’informed witness that one of the Alborns had been shot. Witness went to the scene of the accident and helped to convey the body to the roadside. About 7 p.m. witness heard a shot, which' killed Alborn. It was light at the time. Alborn was wearing a brown pullover, much like a deer in colour; there was a good deal of bracken in the locality and this was a similar colour, to the pullover that Alborn was wearing. Alborn was an experienced- deer-stalker and for eight years witness had often accompanied Alborn on shooting trips. Franklin J. Hudson, student of Black’s Point said he attained the age of 16 on June 28 last. He was a member of the Reefton Home Guard, and held on issue from the authorities a .300 rifle. He bought 25 rounds of ammunition from a relative. These were bought under license to destroy deer. About 3.45 p.m. on October 16 witness and Lawrence Galway went from Black’s Point on a shooting trip to the hills near Watson’s farm. After travelling some 1| miles, Galway shot a deer. “We skinned this. We saw another deer make off in the opposite direction, and we made off after the animal. After travelling some 200 yards he came to a rise. Galway was in front, and he said to me, ‘There’s one!’ ” COLOUR OF DEER SKIN Witness added that he slipped and fell at this moment. He was carrying a bag of venison and this made him fall. Galway said “Yes it’s one” and then fired. Witness did not see the target that Galway was firing at, but the next minute witness heard some one call out. He did not know where the voice came from. “We both then ran to the place, where Galway had fired at the target, and a man was found lying on his back. We propped him up, and went for help to Watson’s farm. We told Mr. Len Watson. Mrs. Watson went to the next farm to get them to go to Reefton for help. Mr. Len Watson went with us to the scene of the accident.” Witness went for Mr. T. Lister who also went with them. Witness knew the man who had been shot was named Alborn and Alborn was wearing a pullover in a brown shade, which was a near approach to the colour of a deer skin, and the fern was also much the same colour.

Lawrence R. Galway, postal messenger at Reefton, said he would attain the age of 17 on November 18, 1943. He was a member ol the Reefton Home Guard and had been issued with a Sprinficld Hudson .300 calibre. On October 16 in company with Franklin Hudson witness went deerstalking. About 5.30 p.m. they saw two deer. Witness shot one. Hudson did not get a shot during the afternoon. About sunset witness saw what he thought was a deer running through the fern. He said to Hudson “There’s one.” At that moment Hudson had fallen into a hole and did not see what witness was looking at. He took a pot shot about 100 yards away, and immediately after firing heard a groan. They both ran to see what had happened and saw that he had shot a man. The man was wearing a brown jersey and was running at the time witness fired. This looked like a deer moving in the fern. Witness accompanied Hudson to Watson’s Farm for help. Witness had been deer shooting on several occasions, and mostly on his own account. Witness did not see any other deer-shooters about during the afternoon, and did not hear any other shots fired except the two fired by himself.

Constable G. Murphy of Reefton, said he was advised of the accident by Sergeant Ebbett and went with Dr. WickenTo ihe scene of the accident. The day after the accident witness inspected the locality. There was much bracken fern there and many logs and boulders.. Witness considered that the principal cause of the fatality was the fact that deceased was wearing a brown coloured cardigan, which closely resembled the colour of a deer. Deceased was moving through bracken, which partly concealed him, when the fatal shot was tired.