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New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XVII, Issue 1724, 8 February 1862, Page 3

A considerable gloom hasbeen cast over the neighbourhood of Masterton by the melancholy death of young Mr. Gilbertson, df Te Ore Ore, from the effect of a pistol shot in the abdomen on Saturday last, the Ist inst. Medical aid, which was immediately procured, proved of no avail, and Mr. Gilbertson died oil Sundayevening. It appears that the deceased and Mr. Collins were out on Saturday evening endeavouring to shoot a fowl with revolver”pistols, and that after they had bee.n firing about half-an-hour, Mr.,Collins’pistol, which had previously hung fire, suddenly.went off, and deceased exclaimed “Ohl” at the. same time holding his hand to his left side, although Mr. Collins was at the time standing on his right; thus leading to the conclusion that the ball must have struck some object and hit the deceased as it rebounded; Before his death Mr. Gilbertsbn repeatedly stated in the hearing of hrs attendants that no blame whatever was attached to Mr. Collins, and that it was entirely an accident. The deceased was anephew of Mrs. Collins. In the absence of a regularly appointed coroner, an inquest upon the body was held before V. Smith, Esq.. J.P., and a respectable jury, Mr. Donald being foreman. After a full inquiry, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of “accidental death.”