PUBLICAN SHOT

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 December 1945, Page 6

PUBLICAN SHOT

FATALITY AT BEALEY. The proprietor of the Bealey Hotel, Reginald George Ferguson, aged about 36 years, was shot dead yesterday, when a rifle was accidentally discharged while he and his wife were out shooting. Ferguson, who was born at Springfield, where his father now resides, was well known to West Coast motorists, his hotel about 30 miles east of Arthur’s Pass being on the motor route from Greymouth to Christchurch. He had been proprietor of the hotel for the past seven years. Prior to that he was a musterer in the Canterbury district, and fond of deer stalking. He was also noted for his interest in farm dogs. He is survived by an infant son, John, and his wife. Ferguson was shot through the head and his body will be brought by rail from Arthur’s Pass to Greymouth, where an inquest will be opened. Detective-Sergeant C. H. Davis and Detective B. Constable, of Greymouth, left last night for the scene of the. shooting, details of which were not available this afternoon.