SAD FATALITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10427, 27 April 1897, Page 5

SAD FATALITY.

A YOUNG MAN SHOT DEAD. a «ad accident, which unfortunately had a fataltermination, occurred yesterday mornJ* t Glenalvon boardinphouee, SymondsZefc occupied by lire. Scherff-a boarder, /Sawder Roger McKellar, shooting him. Jjf From the statements made by ' m ] residents at Glenaivon ib appears that Mr McKellar had for eome time been innoyed by the noise made daring the eats by cats, and on several occasions he Hi expressed his intention of shooting ,om« Of them. Yesterday morning he !Zk a pea rifle, and to the housemaid (Annie M'Kenzie) and others he said he nteniled " having a ehot at the cats.' . About 7.45 a.m. a report was heard and f few minutes later James Wilson, emnloved at Glenalvon, saw a body lying on ne of tne »BP nalt wallw wnicn e ' cirt tDe building. He called to the gardener, Charles Shroeder, and together they went to where the body was lying. Mr. M'Kellnr was then found on his back, the major portion of liie body being on the footpath, while the head hung over the footoath partly resting on the grassy slope fanning from the walk. Blood was welljog out of a wound in the centre of the forebead, while a second wound on the back of the head, from which blood was also flowing, (bowed that the bull had passed right through the head. Death must have been instantaneous, for the unfortunate gentleman neither moved nor spoke after being found. Medical assistance was sent for, but life was extinct. The deceased was a single man of 32 yenrfl of age, coming from St. Andrew, Scotland, where he attended college with lome of Mrs. Sherffe relations. He had been a tea merchant in Ceylon, but lately bad followed no occupation, being of independent means. He came to New Zealand about seven years ago, and for the last three years resided at Glenalvon. He was in splendid spirits on Sunday evening, and spoke cheerily to Mrs. Scherff of her contemplated trip to Okoroire. About two months back he suffered from a (light indisposition, but had completely recovered. The supposition is that the deceased was either using the rifle in the game manner as a walking stick or was bending over the muzzle when the rifle vent off, with the unfortunate results described above. Deceased has a brother engaged in teaplanting in Ceylon, but both hie parents are dead. The inquest will be held thie morning at 10 o'clock.