A SAD ACCIDENT

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 115, 25 May 1901, Page 1

A SAD ACCIDENT

THE DEATH OF A LAD. , An inquest was hold at Wairakaia on Thursday afternoon before Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., and the following jury : Messrs A. F. Kennedy (foreman), A. Dewing, W. Hackett, R. Dasent, Thomas Williams, and Joseph Askew, to enquire into the circumstances surrounding the death of the lad Cyril Miles White. The evidence showed that the fatality was the result of an accident. The following evidence was taken :

Marion Hollister deposed : I am related to Mr Cyril White, father of deceased, and live at his homestead, and was there yesterday morning (Wednesday). I saw the deceased and his brother Herbert at their home. They left there to go shooting at about a quarter past ten a.m. They* were then both in good health. I next saw Miles (the deceased) when his body was brought home at about 1 p.m. Herbert White deposed : I am a son of Mr Cyril White and brother of deceased. Yesterday morning at about a quarter past 10,1, in company with deceased, left home to go shooting. We each had a gun. We went to a place called, the “ Little Gate,” and from there to Maraetaha, I there fired one shot at some birds, and my brother (the deceased) then chased the birds down the hill. We then returned to the 11 Little Gate,” and seeing no clucks there we started to come home. We got a little past the Maraetaha bridge, and we were both walking along the side of the road, I being in front of deceased. I had my gun over my shoulder. My brother (deceased) then caught hold of the muzzlo of the gun, and swung round to ..the right with it, hold--ing it iii' his left hand. He said he would pull me down before he would go any further, and tried to pull me' off the side of the road. I held on to the gun, and ho got the s best of it. The hammer of the gun tMn‘ caught in my coat, which pulled iyfrtok a little. The hammer ‘then slipped off my coat, and the gun went off and killed my brother. I pulled him on to the side of the road, and went over to Mrs Morgan, who lives close by, and asked her to come over and help me. Mrs Morgan, seeing Mr Dacent, of Maractaha, called out to him to. come, and the three of us went over to where my brother was.

To the Coroner : We were playing when my brother seized the gun. My brother was twelve years old; lam fourteen. By the Foreman: I started to use a gun last shooting season. My father had taught me to be very careful in using the gun. I cannot remember ever going out shooting with my brother alone before. My father was away from home at the time we went out. Deceased pulled the gun off my shoulder to my side, the muzzle being then in front of him. We had not quarrelled at all. Deceasod pulled the gun off my shoulder in play. Elizabeth Morgan deposed : I am a married woman, living at Maraetaha. I knew the deceased well, and I know the last witness. At about 11 o’clock yesterday morning, he came to me in great distress, saying that there had been a gun accident, and that his brother Miles was shot, and was quite dead. I went with him to the spot, .and found the body of deceased lying by the road side. I observed a wound beneath the left arm. I obtained assistance and had the body conveyed to his parents' home. I heard a shot fired, “* and within five minute's of hearing it, witness, Herbert White, was with me. The following verdict was returned : “ That the deceased was killed by the accidental explosion of a gun, no blame being attachable to anyone.”