MAORI BOY’S DEATH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 17 November 1937, Page 9

MAORI BOY’S DEATH

evidence at inquest IHy TnloKrapb —l'rws AesociationJ WiIAKATANE, Kith November. The death of a Maori boy near Tuneatua tin's morning led to an inquest at Whakalane. It was shown Unit the lad, Teddy August Pcipci, aged Hi, shot himself and that there was no apparent reason for the act. The evidence showed that the boy was in good health up to the time of his death and had not been scolded or punished in any way recently. A cousin of the deceased child, aged 10, said that at 0 o’clock this morning Teddy told him he was going to shoot himself. Witness took it as a joke and went into a neighbour’s house. The neighbour, Pat Karcpe, said he heard a noise in the front room and then two shots. He rushed out and found the boy's body. A gun and cartridges were kept in the room. The police said there were no suspicious eircufnstances. The boy’s home and surroundings were all they should be. A verdict that the boy died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound was returned.