PEA RIFLE ACCIDENTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2924, 30 March 1910, Page 59

PEA RIFLE ACCIDENTS.

A BOY'S DEATH. AN OLD MAN INJURED. The boy Geoffrey Duncan Fisher, aged 14 years, who was shot in the groin on the 17tb inst. by a bullet from a pea rifle, died in the Ouhedih Hospital on .Monday morning. Mr H. Y. Widdowson (coroner), at 7 o'clock in the evening, opened an nquiryj into the circumstances surrounding the cause of death, when evidence was given by the father of the deceased and pr Falconer. Geoffrey Fisher, . butcher, Middlehiareh',stated that on the date named his "son, after coming home from school, went out with another'- schoolmate named Arohibaldl M'Corkindale, aged 13 years. The two boys were met by .another boy, Robert M'Bartney, aged' 11 years, who had a pea rifle, which he lent to witness's son, who loaded it with a cartridge. After loading- the rifle deceased placed it on the ground, and fixed! up a target, a rabbit's head, about 20 yards off, and just when ho had finished thie young M'Oorkindale picked up the .-ifle off the ground, and while lifting it the 'hammer- slipped,.and the rifle went off. the bullet lodging in <teceasod'e left groin. The boys, immediately made the matter known, and D.r Irwin came promptly on the scene and ordered deceased's removal to the Hospital, j. :

Dr Falconer gave evidence as to the.admission of deceased to the institution, a'ncf the nature of the. in jury, and at this stage the inquest - was adjourned until 7 o'clock on Wednesday evening- at the Dunedini Police Station, when the evidence of the boys M'Bartney and M'Corkindale will be taken.

In connection with the fatality the two boys, M'Corkindale and M'Bartney, were brought before justices at Middlemarch, and charged with being in possession of firearms when they were under the ago of 16 years. The- boys, who were severely admonished by the Bench, were ordered.to pay the cost of prosecution, and the firearm was confiscated. Aii adult, who gave'the rifle to the boy-M'Bartney about 12 months ago, would also have been proceeded against had not the time limit in regard to laying an information—namely, six months—prevented it* FARMER ACCIDENTALLY SHOT. r A farmer named Joseph Hewson, aged 60 years, was accidentally shot in the back by a bullet from a pea rifle at Tahatika on Good Friday afternoon. From particulars available, it seems that Hewson'a son was loading the _ifle when it went off, and the bullet lodged in the father's back. /The injured m«u was' brought to the Dunedin Hospital on Monday, where an effort will be made- to locate the bullet.