MAORI INFANT SHOT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22967, 19 February 1938, Page 14

MAORI INFANT SHOT

GUN IN BROTHER'S HANDS ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE PARENTS ABSENT AT TIME . C) [BY TELEGRAI'H —OWN CORRESPONDENT] KAIKOHE, Friday An inquest was held yesterday at Rangiahua before the district coroner, Mr. A; E. Andrewes, into the death of a .Maori child, Mary Ann Toe, aged two years. The child's parents, Fred and Charlotte Toe, gave evidence of leaving the child and her younger sister, aged three months, in the care of their brother, George, aged six years, when they went out to milk. A shot-gun had been left in a corner of the room and a tin containing cartridges had been left on a shelf. The father told George not to play with the gun. An elder daughter returned to the house before her parents and found Mary dead on the floor. George Toe admitted that he had loaded the gun and that it had gone off and shot his sister. A verdict was returned that the deceased was accidentally shot. The coroner expressed sympathy with the relatives and emphasised the fact that more care was necessary when leaving firearms in places where children might reach them.