CASUALTIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10419, 23 July 1895, Page 2

CASUALTIES.

SHOOTING FATALITY.

An accident attended by fatal restdts occurred at Portobello oii Sunday afternoon, the vibtitn being a girl nSmed Mary Ann Clesrtjatsjvaged \ 11 years, who was accidentally. shot, by her brother' John WiUiatß, aged 14- years; It appears the deceased andi her brother George were in the kitchen .at 3 p.m.,\ when Jchn William brought a single-barrelled fowling-piece, which'he was not aware was iosde.l;,from the back bedroom to show to hia brother George, sad as he entered the kitchen door by some mijans the gun w^nt off. The shot entered* tlie girl's cb«ek and came out over the right .ear ,ttom which blood flowed'profuseiy and the brain also protruded. The boy Joha Wiih'aiai states fcfsat the only, way' in which ho can account ,'for the. accident is that, the hammer ;of the gun caught in. his coat : sleeve. 'On receipt of inforiaatiou of the accident DrCnnainghsine and Sergeant Geeriri proceeded to' Pdrfcobello, and nftsr examination Dr Canninghanaa was of opinion that ttie full charge of shot ipassed through deceased's brain from left to right, and that death in all probability was instantaneous. At the time of the nccident Mia Clearwater was in the garden fend Mr Clearwater absent from home. On his return he stated to Sergaant Geerin tHat he last used the gun for rabbit . shooting on the 18th inst., when he placed it loaded on a box ■.in," the bask bedrocm. Great sympathy is felt for Mr and Mrs Clearwater, who are very old and respected residents at Portobeito An inqoe»t will be held at JE'ortobello this afternoon before Mr Coroner' Carew.