THE PEA-RIFLE NUISANCE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 60, 12 March 1906, Page 2

THE PEA-RIFLE NUISANCE.

£500 DAMAGES

AUCKLAND, March 9. Judgment was given to-day in the Te Puke pea-rifle shooting case. The claim was one in which a native named Kawana Karaka sued Timothy Kenealy for £500 damages through injury caused by a pea-rifle fired Ijy defendant's son. His Honor said in the statement of claim the cause of action alleged was that on July 18th, 1903, at Te Puke, plaintiff, while playing or about to play football, was struck by a bullet from a pea-rifle discharged by Donald Kenealy, son of defendant, whereby plaintiff was dangerously wounded; that defendant had been warned by certain of his neighbors of danger in permitting his son to have control of a pea-rifle; that defendant was aware that a bullet fired from the weapon .by his son had passed through a window of a shop, to the danger of the inmates; and, further, that uefendant's son, at the time of shooting, was using a pea-rifle with the knowledge and' sanction of defendant, and by reason of defendant's negligence; The defence was a denial of the material allegations in the statement or .claim. A verdict was returned by the jury for £500 damages. After reviewing the. evidence very exhaus--tively, His. Honor upheld the full claim for £500, with costs according to scale. , 6