ACCIDENTALLY SHOT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17140, 21 April 1919, Page 6

ACCIDENTALLY SHOT.

**■ m ' THE WELLINGTON FATALITY.

PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES.

1 COMMENTS BY CORONER. (BY TELEQB4PH. —OWN CORUESrONDBN?.) WELLINGTON. Saturday. The inquctit into the death of Hezeklah Walter James Turner, who was found shot dead at the back of tho Midland Billiard Saloon, Maimers Street, on April 10, was resumed before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., at tho Magistrate's Court on Thursday, and was concludcd to-day. Dr. W. Kington Fyffe said he examined deceased and found five fairly recent bruises on the right arm and Under the right eye. The bullet had entered the right cheek, missed the eye, and entered the brain. Death resulted from the bullet wound. James Edward May, single man, residing in Abel Smith Street, said that on April 10 he left his homo in company with the deceased, and proceeded to Cuba Street, where they met Robert John Mar tin, Leonard Russell, and Joseph Tereilco Maher. Witness, Martin and deceased then proceeded to the Midland Billiard Saloon and bad a game of billiards while they waited lor the polling results. Martin and deceased proposed, a game of billiards, and witness said that he would wait, but before they Btartcd Martin and deceased proposed a drink. The throe men then proceeded to the lavatory, where they were to have a drink Witness produced a flask of whisky, but they did not have a drink from his flask. Turner asked Martin to let him have a look at his (Martin's) gun. Martin produced a firearm from his pocket. Witness could not say with which tiand Martin held the weapon. Turner asked for the gun— said ho would frighten someone with it. Martin Bald i " Oh, don't come at that 1" Turner made a grab and caught the gun. Then thero was a bang. The revolver had gone off. Turner fell against the door without a word. Martin cried: "Oh, ho's shot!" and putting his hands up to his head rushed out. Witness followed Martin and told him to come back, but Martin said: "I can't. I can't." Two men named Maher and Russell came along while witness was speaking with Martin. They refused to believe that Turner had been shot. Witness took Maher to the billiard saloon, and showed him the deceased. Witness, like the deceased and the other man who was present when the tragedy occurred, had had a few drinks, but wa9 certainly not drunk. Whisky Flask and Revolver. Robert John Martin gave corroborative evidence. When in the lavatory he went to pull oat a flask of whisky, and pulled the revolver out with it. Both the flask Mid the revolver were in tho right-hand hip pocket. When he pulled the flask of whisky and with it the revolver out of his hip pocket Turner wanted to see it. He made a grab at it, grasping the muzzle, and saying he would have' some fun with it. Witness endeavoured to pull it away from the deceased, when the Revolver went off and Turner collapsed. Witness did not examine the deceasea, as lie left the room imme diately after Turner collapsed. He went to the police on the following morning and made a statement (produced) as to what had occurred. " What was the reason for your carrying a revolver!" asked Sergeant Cruachshank "I found it that afternoon," answered the witness. Martin afterwards recalled said that after tho revolver was discharged he held it in his hand for a few moments, and then dropped it, as far as he could remember, in the passage. An Architect's Discovery. Frederick Mitchell, architect, said he found the revolver produced on his grounds at 25, Abel Smith Street early on the morning of April 11. His house was almost opposite Turner's, and the revolver was about 48ft back from the road. I A verdict was returned that the deceased died from a bullet wound in the head. The bullet which killed tho deceased was discharged from a revolver then in the possession of Robert John Martin, and at the time of the discharge deceased was endeavouring to obtain possession of tho revolver. The coroner added that he would not at the present time make a more definite finding, partly by reason of the fact that the men concerned were under the influence of liquor and partly on account of the fact that owing to excitement and confusion they wero unable to give a more precise account of what had occurred. It was not quite clear how Martin obtained tho revolvor, or why he did not know whether it was loaded or not: But that' may have been accounted for by tho fact that the men were somewhat under the influence of liquor. Ho would also liko to know how the weapon camo to bo found at 25, Abel Smith Street, when Martin stated that he had dropped it in tho billiard sdloon. It was only fair to say that the men were en friendly terms. In vio'w of the peculiar naturo of certain circumstances, be thought it would be as well to make a finding that left thoso points in doubt. j I