RIFLE EXPLOSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19069, 15 January 1924, Page 3

RIFLE EXPLOSION.

WEW TEAR’S EYE TRAGEDY A MARRIED WOMAN’S DEATH. Agnes Sunderland, the married woman, 25 years of age. who was severely wounded in the chest at Carey’s Bav, Port Chalmers on New Year’s Eve, through a rifle exploding, died in the Hospital on Sunday. Her condition improved for the first few days after admission, but subsequently complications set in which resulted in her death. It will be remembered that the accident occurred during the celebration of the New Year, when Charles Stevenson, who was at the house with a number of relations and friends of Mr and Mrs Sunderland, fired a .305 rifle which exploded, and was himself injured in the neck and chest. Mrs Sunderland, who was standing immediately behind him, was severely wounded in the chest. Stevenson is still attending the hospital as an out-patient, and is progressing favourably. An inquest was opened at the Dunedin Hospital yesterday morning, Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., sitting as coroner. Sergeant Turner represented the police. Formal evidence of identification was given by Erio M’Donald Sunderland, the husband of the deceased, and the inquiry was then adjourned til! Thursday morning.