SHOOTING TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1933, Page 3

SHOOTING TRAGEDY

INQUEST AND VERDICT;

I GREYMOUTH, May - 23.

An inquest into the death of James Alexander. Cowan was held yesterday afternoon, before Mi* W.' .Me[drum, Coroner.! 1 Sergeant M. Hodgins con-' ducted Hie inquiry. • , Thomas Bertie l&aty, manager of T. iB. Bajfcy and Company. Limited,.■ gave/ •evidence of identification. He stated ’■that deceased had been in his employ for ll years. He last saw deceased ,alive ’on Saturday night at 10.30 o’clock. Deceased’s hearing and eye—sight Were good. ■ ■ Frank Jacobson, ■ machinist,- 20, in the'employ of Ogilviee.-and Company, stated that he had been out shoot* tug 'Together on :seivera;lj loccaidohs. Yesterday morning, they went tcHaupiri. on a shooting expedition,- ar- • riving at 6.30 «.m. At about 10.45 .'a.m. they wore along the hank of . the river. Beth had double-barrelled shot gnus, loaded in both barrel's, iThey noticed a pair of ducks flying Inwards them. They crouched on their knees in tan attempt'to hide behind the bushes. Deceased' would be about eight feet from witness. The birds ~were coming head-oil' to them. Deceased said, “we will have a shot ;at them.” Both fired one "shift each: ' The birds veered, to. the left, away from witness. He 'kept- his gun on his knee, v-ud fired the second shot. J He did not say to deceased that lie was going to fire again. Jiidt as lie 'fired, he noticed deceased’s hat flyoff. Deceased had -stood up,' and received the full charge in tile back of the head. He never spoke aftprwards, death being "Witness immediately went for assistance. -• •Sergeant Hodgins stated , that in answer to a message received jester-:; day, bo went with Mr Bn.jjy to Hah-; ptri Ddcented had then been 'brought to the side, of the road. He exam-; ined the body,and found that the bead’ was practically blown off. Death would he instantaneous.

• 'The verdict .was that, the. deceased ijames Alexander Cowan came to. lii ; s ’’death at Haupiri, on May. 21, 1933. by the accidental discharge of a loaded si lot cun. ivhicli shattered his, head, killing him instantly.