WIFE SHOT

Southland Times, Issue 21604, 16 January 1932, Page 6

WIFE SHOT

DISTRESSING FATALITY. (Per United Tress Association.) Palmerston North, January 15. At the inquest concerning the death of Mrs Gladys Rita Getlson, aged 22, who died in hospital from a bullet wound in the stomach, Stephen Thomas Gedson, husband of the deceased, gave evidence that she accompanied him to shoot rabbits, using an old Winchester rifle, the stock of which had been broken and was bound round with string. He had had two or three unsuccessful shots, when noticing the string binding had come undone he remarked to his wife, who was a short distance away that the rifle was no good. He was holding the rifle in front with both hands and was approaching his wife to show what was wrong with it. When within three yards of her the weapon suddenly exploded though his finger was not near the trigger. His wife was struck by the bullet and he had no idea what made it go off. The police demonstrated how the looseness of the barrel permitting it to move would cause the rifle to discharge. Gedson stated the weapon was a borrowed one though it had been registered.

The police said had the weapon been seen at the Arms Office in a damaged state it would have been impounded and registration refused. The Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death and an order wad made for the destruction of, the rifle.