DEATH OF MR. O. M'HALE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 115, 16 May 1908, Page 5

DEATH OF MR. O. M'HALE.

THE INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the Courthouse yesterday afternoon, before the Coroner (Mr T. Scott Smith, S.M.) and a jury, to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the death oi Owen McHale. The following jury were empanelled: — Messrs (*eo. Patchett (foreman), J. Bartlett, A. McAllister, E. Thomas, J. Broadley, and J. Watkins.

The first witness called was Dr Bennett, who deposed that he was a qualified medical practitioner in Blenheim. On the 18th inst, .at about 10 p.m., he received a call to E.iverlands. He saw deceased lying oi\ his back on the roadside between Blenheim and Riverlands.- A young lad was with him. Deceased was suffering from a gun-shot wound in the lower part of the right abdomen, which had perforated the bowel in several places and had fractured the pelvis. Witness had him conveyed in his motor-car until they met the ambulance, when he was removed to the hospital. He communicated Avith Drs. Walker and Nairn, and they examined the sufferer under chloroform. Witness stitched up the perforations in the bowels, and removed many pieces of broken bone. At the bottom of the wound was also found the two wads of a cartridge. The wound, after further treatment, was stitched up and drained. There was no hope of his recovery after the first examination. Deceased died from the shock of the wound at ten o'clock the next morning. He never at any time lost consciousness, except when under chloroform. He was able clearly to explain how the accident happened. He said to witness: "I was getting on my bicycle, and held the gun by the muzzle, and it went off some way, and the content^ lodged in my body. I did not know that the gun was loaded.' 3 Deceased further said that he had endeavoured to get a shot at a swan, but did not do so, and by mistake the cartridge had been left in the gun. He did not attribute blame to anyone.

In answer.to the Coroner, Dr. Bennett said that the deceased must have received- the discharge point-blank.

Frank McHale deposed that the deceased was his elder brother. Deceased,' was,24 ■~ years of age and a married man. On Wednesday afternoon the two of them were out shooting. They both carried guns and rode bicycles,; They went-down to Riverlands, sind returning about half-past ten in the evening they met together at the bridge. They stood talking for about ten minutes. Witness was extracting a cartridge from his own, gun when it accidentally went off and shot his brother in the side. He shouted for help, his brother immediately falling. The lads Thorns and Earp came up, and witness rode his, bicycle down to Mr Bell's place to telephone for a doctor. Dr. Bennett arrived soon afterwards. It was purely an-accident. By the Coroner:^Deceased was not being handed the;: gun when it went off. Deceased's statement made to the doctor was not quite . correct. Witness was taking the ■ cartridge from his own gun, when it went off. He could not say how the cartridge exploded. He was in the act of opening the breach at .the time, but had not actually opened it. Kenneth George Thorns deposed that he,was employed at Riverlands. On the 13th inst. he^was down by the .second bridge at about a quarter-past ten in the evening. Theyboy Earp was with him. He saw deceased, who was riding his bicycle. Deceased said that he was going to meet his .brother at the bridge. Shortly after they heard the report of a gun, folJowed by cries for help.. Tjhey t ii sawsome swans fly past at the same tim<eT They ran to the spot and saw Frank McHale, who said, " Owen is shot." Peceased was lying on his back by the side of the load. Frank McHale immediately rode away on his ; bicycle to Mr- Bell's. Earp put his coat over deceased Deceased was i able to speak, and asked whether the doctor was coming, but did not'explain how the accident occurred. They stayed by him until the doctor came. By the Foreman. All he heard deceased say to the doctor was to ask him if the wound was serious. This was all the evidence led, and the jury retired to consider their verdict.

On returning into Court the jury submitted the following verdict:— " That the deceased ;was accidentally shot, no blame being attachable to anyone."