SHARE-MILKER'S DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21164, 22 April 1932, Page 12

SHARE-MILKER'S DEATH.

FATALITY AT WAITOA. EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. [FROM OUR own COIUIESrOXDENT.] TE AROHA, Thursday. Tho inquest Into the death of Robert Poole, aged 33 years, a share-milker, of Waitoa, who was accidentally shot at his home on April 14, was held before Mr. Wyvcrn Wilson, S.M.. to-day. Wallace Raymond McLeod, aged 13 years, said he and his brother were at the house of tie Poolo brothers. Witness found a£ un there. He picked it up and noticec. that the hammer was cocked. He asked to whom the gun belonged, but received no answer. He then asked if it was loaded, and still received no reply.

Witness then pulled the trigger, pointing the weapor out the back door. He had not seen Robert Poole, who was standing near the back door. As soon as the gun went off ho dropped it and ran to a neighbour's place. Ho did not know until hali'-an-hour later that Robert Poole had beer hit. Witness had never handled a gun before. Matthew Poole, a share-milker, said he heard a ropoit from the porch. He discovered his brother in tho porch and saw him staggnr out into tho yard. JJis brother said, ' Fin done for. Witness said tho gun was his own and the last one ' o use it had been his brother, who had shot with it the night before. , ~ . The magistrate adjourned the case to Hamilton to enable evidence taken in the hospital to be heard.