BULLET IN HEART

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23370, 9 December 1937, Page 6

BULLET IN HEART

DEATH OF FARM HAND RIFLE BESIDE BODY <Peb United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Dec. 8. With a bullet'wound over his heart and a pea rifle by his side, the body of John Ernest Bedford, a farm hand, 16£ years of age, was found on the floor of a separator room at the farm of his employer, Mr G. C. W. Howie, of Karaka, near Papakura, about 6 o’clock last evening.

Mr Howie made the discovery on his return from Auckland with his wife. Noticing that no work had been done, he looked for Bedford, and, entering the separator room, found him lying on his back with a rifle within reach.,.. He notified the Pukekohe police, who, with a doctor, proceeded to the farm. Chief Detective Hall and three detectives arrived at the farm about 11 o’clock and returned . to Auckland this morning.

The body was brought to the Auckland Morgue, where a • postmortem examination was held. The police stated that,, from the surrounding circumstances, there seemed to be nothing to suggest that the" deceased ,had met with foul play. He was in the habit of borrowing his employer’s pea rifle and going out shooting. He had been employed on the farm for two years, and was well liked in the district. He was of a quiet, retiring disposition. At the inquest this morning, a brother said he last saw the deceased at 10,30 on Sunday night, when he visited witness, who worked on a farm in the same district. He was 'in his usual health, but he thought his work worried him, and he spoke of leaving after Christmas, The , inquest was/adjourned.