SHOOTING ACCIDENT

Grey River Argus, 17 September 1937, Page 10

SHOOTING ACCIDENT

INQUEST AT KUTUKU On John Leslie Rowse “That Leslie John Rowse met his death by a gunshot wound caused oy a gun being discharged when he slipped on a log when crossing a creek' at Kotuku,” was the verdict returned at the inquest proceedings held yesterday afternoon at Kotuku. Mr. Noel Peat, J.P., presided as acting Coroner, and the jury comprised Messrs William Mallinson (foreman), pf Aratika, Lawrence Foster Martin, of Kotuku, Francis Richard Sullivan, of Kotuku, and John Marshall. A brother of deceased, Robert Lindsay Rowse, in evidence, said that he and deceased left home together about 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday to search for missing cattle in the bush. His brother was carrying a double barrelled shot gun fully loaded. When about half a mile in the bush, they came to a shallow creek about 7 or 8 feet wide. There were dead limbs of trees lying in the creek. Deceased preceded him and on crossing the creek, carrying the gun on his left shoulder, the barrel pointing forward, he slipped on a log and the gun fell forward on to the other logs lying in the creek being discharged. Deceased did not speak afterwards. He held his right hand over his breast, and witness saw a large wound in his side near the region of the heart. Deceased died immediately. Witness ran home at once for assistance, but before doing so he examined the gun and found that the cartridge in the left barrel had been discharged. Witness lifted deceased on to the bank. They had the gun in the hope of seeing a wild pig or hare. Herbert Henry Rowse, father of deceased, said that he last saw his son alive about 9.30 on Wednesday morning, and that deceased had, up till then, been helping him on the farm. Deceased then went to look for the missing cattle. Deceased, who had experience in tne use of firearms, was in his usual good health and was cheerful. Witness heard of the accident at Kotuku when he went to get his mail and immediately proceeded to the scene. With the help of neighbours, he had the body removed to his residence. Constable Rodgers, of Brunner, stated that he heard of the accident about 11 a.m. and immediately left for Kotuku, the scene being pointed out Io him by the father of deceased. In the creek where the accident occurred, he saw a fair amount, of blood on a log. A double-barrelled breech-loading shot, gun was lying in the creek, with the mouth of the barrel close -to the blood. The gun was loaded in the right barrel with a

large cartridge, and in the left barrel there was a blank cartridge. He produced the gun and blank cartridge. From the position of the gun and the blood they coincided with the explanation given by deceased’s brother. Before witness arrived, the body had been removed to Mr Rowse’s house. He examined the corpse and found a large wound about two and a half inches in diameter on the left side near the heart. There were gunshot pellet marks in the vicinity of the wound. He also had the body examined by Dr. E. L. Fitzgerald later in the day, and produced the statement given by him as follows: "I have this day examined the body of a young man, identified to me as Leslie John Rowse, who had a gunshot wound of the heart. The shot was fired from a very close range and death must have been instantaneous.”

Mr. Peat, Mr. Mallinson, on behalf of the Jury, and Constable Rodgers, extended sympathy to Mr. and Mrs. Rowse and their family.