Accidental Death.

Opunake Times, Volume IV, Issue 182, 31 March 1896, Page 2

Accidental Death.

News was received on Monday morning that Mr August Peters, of Ngariki Road had been shot on his farm. On Sunday, accompanied by George Collins, he was going to the back of his section to point out a survey peg and took his gun with him. In going along the track it was necessary to climb over a tawa tree, and apparently in climbing this, and trailing his gun or otherwise using it to assist himself, it went off and sent the charge into his right side. Collins who was some distance behind heard him yelling out and on coming up found him on his hands and knees surrounded by a pool of blood. The gun was' about a chain further away.

INQUEST.

An inquest was held at Rahotu on Monday March 13th before Mr G. W. Gane, J.P., acting coroner, and the following jury: H. Bailey, J- Crawford, T. Gilroy, W. Julian, G. Ellis, and E. Swinnerton. Mr Swinnerton was chosen foreman. George Collins, laborer, deposed: He.was residing on Ngariki Eoad. Had known deceased since he had been working on road. Was employed by Finlay and deceased on a contract on Ngariki. Deceased, Cunningham, and witness were living in the same camp. Deceased and witness left the camp for the purpose of patting in the top peg near the radius line. Deceased was carrying the gun. The gun (produced) was the one deceased was carrying. We travelled about a mile. Deceased was 20 or 30 chains ahead when witness heard a gun shot report, and then ho heard a man yelling out, whom he took to be the deceased. He then ran up the track and came to deceased, who was not quite dead. There was a stump deceased had to crawl under. Deceased was on his hands and knees. He was not then quite dead. Spoke to deceased but got no answer. There was blood all around him. Saw blood coming from the breast. Knew he was shot. When witness picked him up the bleeding ceased. He a few gasps and then died. Was satisfied he was dead. Then got to the camp and found L. Cunningham there. The latter and witness went to Mr Wagstaff s, got a horse, and rode to Rahotu for the purpose of sending to Constable Hickman at Pungarehu. Afterwards met Finlay and Cunningham at the bottom of Ngariki Road, and in company with them went to where deceased was, lying. The body was as witness left it. It was about mid-night when they arrived at the deceased. The accident occurred about 4.15 p.m. They stayedwith the body of deceased all night; On Monday morning witness saw the gun (produced). About a chain further up towards the mountain from the deceased the gun was lying in an oblong position. The gun was pointing New Plymouth way. It was lying across a fallen tree. The gun deceased carried was at full cock. To witnesses' knowledge the gun could not be trusted. It would go off at any time. Saw spots of blood about where the gun was found in the fern. Had lived with deceased upwards of a week, and never heard him say anything about taking his life or any one threatening him.

Stephen Piulay deposed: He and deceased held a contract from the Public Trustee on the Ngariki Road. Had bsen mates with him for three weeks. Last time he saw him alive was at dinner time on Sunday when he passed his tent and went towards the mountaiu. The gun produced belonged to deceased. It had a nail for a needle.

Constable Hickman gave formal evidence. George Alfred Harrison, medical practitioner, residing at Eltham, deposed : He made an examination of the body and found a gunshot wound in' the right axilla. The axillary artery was torn across. There was no injury to the heart and lungs, which were apparently healthy. There was a wound about three inches long at the base of the right thumb. He should imagine the wound was caused by the discharge of a gun held in the right hand with the muzzle towards the holder. He probed the wound. It was evidently a gunwound. The cause of death was rupture of the axilla. The artery being a large one he would bleed to death. He was prepared to say no other person could have shot the deceased unless his arm was up in the air. The wound was straight up. The followiug verdict was returned : That this jury finds by evidence given that deceased met his death by the accidentally going off of a gun while getting over a tawa tree, on the 29th March, 1896, on the Ngariki Koad.