ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

Southland Times, Issue 20014, 30 October 1926, Page 8

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

FOUND SHOT. (Per United Press Association.) Taumarunui, October 29. At an inquest on William John Baer, aged 19, who was found dead at Mokauiti with a rifle alongside the body, a verdict was returned that deceased met his death through a gunshot wound in the right chest. The Coroner told Peter Baer, father of deceased, who had not reported his son’s disappearance, that it was his duty to have instituted a search for the missing boy. He did not think he had acted rightly in not reporting the matter to the police. The father said his son had gone away on previous occasions and returned. FATALITY ON RIFLE RANGE. Masterton, October 29. A territorial named Athol Henry Braggins Morris, aged 17 years, was fatally shot on the Te Ore Ore rifle range near Masterton this afternoon when the annual musketery course was being held. It appears that a number of lads were lying on the ground watching the shooting when someone accidentally kicked or touched a rifle supposed to be empty lying nearby and the charge exploded. The bullet entered Morris’s abdomen and he died shortly afterwards. He resided in Greytown with his mother. A full explanation is not available, but a military inquiry and inquest is to be held. FOUND DEAD. Christchurch, October 29. Henry Bilbrough, aged 68, a farmer of Dunsandel, was found dead yesterday at Dunsandel with a gunshot wound in his head.