HASTINGS YOUTH SHOT DEAD
RIFLE FIRED BY FRIEND. “A PURE ACCIDENT.” Taihape, July 6. A shooting fatality occurred in a small whare on the Te Mahunga sheep station, about 50 miles from Hastings, Peter Oliphant, aged 19, a resident of Hastings, being accidentally shot dead by one of his mates. • Deceased and two companions, Arthur George McKain and George Dewis Thow, both of Hastings, went deer shooting on Monday afternoon, returning to the whare in the evening. McKain, after cleaning his rifle, pulled the trigger, forgetting that the magazine, which had been detached during the cleaning process, contained two or three cartridges. The rifle was pointing toward Oliphant when it was discharged and he was killed instantly. Giving evidence at the inquest, McKain said that deceased was sitting on a bed when witness poured some water through the barrel of his (witness’s) rifle, the magazine, containing two or three cartridges, being detached. The rifle was pointing toward deceased. As far as witness could remember he put the magazine back into its place and then pushed the bolt home. Ho forgot there were cartridges in the magazine and he pulled the trigger with the object of putting the safety catch in position. A cartridge exploded and deceased rolled over with his head against the side of the wall. Witness said he went over and found Oliphant dead. Witness was on good terms with deceased and had known him for 12 months. Oliphant resided with his mother at Hastings. The tragedy was the result of a pure accident. Witness thought the bullet struck deceased on the temple, but ho was too horrified to make an examination.
George Lewis Thow said that Oliphant, McKain and himself were all on the best of terms. He added that when deceased was shot McKain rushed over to Oliphant crying, “Peter, Peter, have I killed you?” or words to that effect. Constable McDonnell said the rifle In question was a .303 Lee Enfield and appeared to have no defects.
The coroner, Mr W. H. Fookes, re;urned a verdict of accidental death.
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Bibliographic details
Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 174, 8 July 1932, Page 7
Word Count
344HASTINGS YOUTH SHOT DEAD Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 174, 8 July 1932, Page 7
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