BULLET IN HEAD

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11403, 2 January 1931, Page 2

BULLET IN HEAD

; -MAN ALLEGEDLY, SHOT BY ' SISTER’S SON.:!.. . r .

ACCUSED DECLARES SHOOTING UNINTENTIONAL!.

<U P.A. by Elec. Tei. Conyrlsht) : LONDON, Dec. 30. While , Charles Stephon, of Ringwood; A retired, civil' servant, was peacefully J attempting to splve ; a crossword puzzle, John. Hill, 29, a poultry farmer,, an; adopted! soil of Stephen’s l sister; who had hequeathed 'lum her; property after. Stephen’s death, entered the room. Stephen asked Hill if he could finish the puzzle. Hilj, after writing down words leading to the impression that lie was drunk, dropped tho crossword jnizzle and went to a desk. An explosion followed, and Stephen fell to liis knees with a pistol bullet in his head;' but he was not seriously wounded. lie rose up and ran out of the house shouting for help.

Hill, exclaiming that it was an accident, followed, brought a constable to the cottage, and submitted to 'arrest. """ Hill,' who declared' 'that he shot Stephen unintentionally, after loading ‘the pistol to; kill rats in a fowlhouse, was committed for trial on a charge of maliciously; wounding, possessing a firearm without a certifiiate, and stealing and forging Stephen’s cheques, to .the. a mount, of £9O.