THE SHOOTING TRAGEDY

Northern Advocate, 17 December 1928, Page 4

THE SHOOTING TRAGEDY

DEATH OF THE VICTIM.

A DEPLORABLE ACCIDENT,

The young man, Henry Samuel Kedgley, who. was the victim of a shooting accident at the Bank of New South Wales on Friday, passed away at the Public Hospital at 2 o’clock on Sunday morning. It was realised from the start that the ease was practically hopeless.

THE INQUEST.

VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH

An inquest opened at the Whangarei Public Hospital yesterday, and was adjourned after identification of the body, and medical evidence had been given..

The inquest was resumed at the Whar.garei ’Courthouse this morning before Mr J. H. fluxford, Coroner.

William G- Grove said he had been a junior clerk at the Bank of New South Wales, Whangarei, for two and a-half years. Deceased had been working in the same bank for six months, having come from Kaikohc. All the staff were on friendly terms with him. On December 14 witness stopped work at 12 o’clock and followed deceased into the sleeping quarters of Mr Potter, the resident officer, in the back room. Potter was already in the room. Witness asked for another look at s. Mexican hat, which was standing on top of a wardrobe. Deceased was the first to have,the hat, handing it to witness who put it on his head. At that time witness .was in the middle of the room. Potter was standing near the wardrobe, and deceased was directly in front of witness, between the mirror and the back door. Potter remarked on witness’ appearance and then said “Now, all you need is a gun to make you a real bandit.” With that he placed a revolver in witness’ right hand. Potter also said something about “Put it to your hip.” Witness did so,, holding it in his hand. The gun was pointing directly in front of Kedgley. Witness was exactly in front of the mirror. He remembered pressing the trigger. He did not realise at that moment that the l revolver was loaded, although he ought to have known. The revolver exploded, and witness said that Kedgley,’ who was standing directly in front, two feet away, had fallen against the wall. Immediately he realised the revolver had been fired, be cast it from him and rushed away to ring up a doctor, Dr Buckley arrived soon after. By this time Mr Evans, the manager, and Mr Campbell, accountant, had entered the room. The , only experience witness had of revolvers had been once in a military camp. He had never previously discharged a revolver . from the hip. In answer to the magistrate', witness admitted that he had volunteered and given his blood for the, purpose of blood transfusion.

Lionel Frank Potter, who was pro* sent when the accident happened, said he lived on the bank premises. There was a sitting room between the main office and his roSm. Kedgley, 'Grove and witness were on the very best of terms. As resident officer in the bank, he was in possession of a five-chamber 45 calibre revolver, which was always fully loaded. On Friday he went into his room to change his coat, being followed by Kedgley and Grove. One of them asked to be allowed to try on a Mexican hat which was his property. Kedgley and then Grove tried it on, and witness remarked to Grove “All you need is a revolver to make you look like a real bandit,” Witness was standing a little behind Grove, and Kedgley directly in front. Witness then.took the revolver up from whqre | it was lying on the dressing table and handed it to Grove, who turned to look in the mirror. The next thing witness knew was that a shot was fired. He turned round and caught Kedgley as he fell. Kedgley exclaimed “God, I’m shot. ’’ Grove immediately dropped the revolver and rushed'' to the ’phone. Really, the cowboy spirit for the moment prevailed among them. The revolver was always loaded*, and had no Safety catch. Witness examined the revolver about every two months, took out the ammunition, oiled the chamber, and replaced the shells. To the Coroner, witness said he was 21 years of age. The only practice he had had with revolvers was at mill' tary camps. When he became resident officer at the bank, the revolver was simply given to him without expert instruction regarding care and hand ling. Lachlan Campbell, accountant at (the Bapk of Now South Wales, stated that there had never been, any friction bet,weep Kedgley,, Grove and Potter, who were close friends. The bank rule was that revolvers were always to be kept clean and fully loaded. On the day in question he was alarmed; by a report in the back room, and passed Grove rushing to the telephone to ring up a doctor. Witness then wept to the back room where Potter was holding Kedgley in his arms. Kedgley was lowered gently, and placed on a ■stretcher before removal to the hospital in. the ambulance. The revolver was lying at the foot of the bed. There was no reservation as to where the revolver should be kept, except that' it should be as close as possible to the resident officer’s bod. The boys had been laughing and joking together during the morning. Recalled on his former oath, Mr Evans, manager of the Bank of Now South Wales, reiterated what had already been said about Kedgley, Potter and Grovp being on friendly terms. On December 14. Potter and Grove had

ceased work for,lunch and Kedgley accompanied them to the hack room. After the report witness hurraed ■to the room K where he saw Kedgley being attended to. Not noticing any weapon, he asked how Kedgley had shot himself. Kedgley said he. had not shot himself, and some one behind said that Grove had fired the shot. Dr Buckley arrived and deceased was sent to hospital. The officer in whose charge the revolver was, had. absolute jurisdiction ovdr it. It was the custom throughout the associated banks.to supply their resident officers with firearms. Really, no, one had right of access to the resident officer ’s room.

Senior-Sergeant O’Grady stated that on the date in question inf ormation had been received that an officer had ‘been wounded at the Bank of New South 'Wales. He arrived, shortly after, and a search of the room revealed a fivechambered revolver lying * under the bed. It contained four live shells, and one which bore evidence of having been recently discharged. In .a subsequent statement Kedgley,.. said -that Grove and ho had alway&.becn on. the very best of terms. Potter bad picked up the revolver, handing to Grove. He ' (Kedgley) had-been standing-in front of the mirror, facing the others He did not see what happened,-, but .saw blue smoke issuing from the barrel of the revolver. Potter often invited them into his /voom, and the whole occurrence , was a pure accident.

The Coroner found that- H. S. Kedgley had died at the Whangarei Hospital on December 16, the, cause being shock following, the onset of peritonitis, , The shock was the direct cause of a bullet fired from a revolver, haying penetrated the abdomen. Mr Luxford wished to addino rider to the .verdict except that the oviouee disclosed conclusively that: the whole affair was a pure accident, which had most tragic results. , . -