A FARMER’S DEATH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23320, 12 October 1937, Page 7

A FARMER’S DEATH

SHOT WOUND IN HEAD ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE OF GUN An inquest on the body of James Armitage, a farmer, of Blackstone Hill, who died last Tuesday as the result of a rifle-shot wound in the head, was held at the Maniototo Hospital before Mr Thomas Mitchell as coroner and a jury. Constable King conducted the inquest for the police. . William Armitage, a brother of the deceased, gave evidence of identification. Witness stated that the last time he saw his brother prior to his death was on Sunday;, October 3, when the deceased visited his home at Becks. He appeared then to be in his usual good state of health and spirits. Dr W. S. Eudey, medical superintendent of the Maniototo Hospital, stated that when admitted to hospital at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, October 5, the deceased was heavily unconscious. There was a bullet wound in the forehead above the right eye. He died at 8.30 p.m. In witness’s opinion death was due to a fracture of the skull and haemorrhage and laceration of the brain following a gunshot wound.

Gordon Johnstone, a miner, of Blackstone Hill, said that on the morning of the tragedy he was cutting a race on the deceased’s property. The deceased came up to him at 9.30 and had a conversation for a short time. He then appeared to be in good spirits. After leaving him the deceased continued on his way round his sheep. He was then carrying a rifle and when about 100 yards away witness saw him shoot at a rabbit. Witness did not see the deceased again.

Robert Agnew, a rabbiter, who had lived with the deceased for the last 12 months, said that while he (witness) was returning to the house at abijut 12.30 p.m. he noticed the deceased caught up in the fence. His head was face down on the ground on the south side of the fence, a leg of his trousers was caught in the top barbed wire, about six dry willow sticks were in an upright position jammed between the deceased’s left leg and the fence, and the rifle was lying across the top of the sticks. Witness said that the deceased was in the habit of carrying a rifle when going round his sheep and also was in the habit of gathering dry willow sticks.

M. H. Hanrahan, of Ranfurly, said he had had a long experience in the use of firearms of all kinds. He had inspected the rifle, a .22 Remington repeater, and had found it in perfect working order. Constable King, of St. Bathans, said he had inspected the scene of the accident and found signs corroborating Agnew’s evidence. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the doctor’s evidence, that death had occurred from injuries caused by the accidental discharge of a rifle which the deceased was carrying while in the act of crossing over a fence. The jury expressed sympathy with the relatives of the deceased.