SHOOTING FATALITY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 31, 21 September 1911, Page 4

SHOOTING FATALITY.

BOY ACCIDENTALLY SHOT BY HIS BROTHER. A shooting fatality occurred at Mangorei yesterday afternoon, says tho “News,” by which the eldest son of Mr George Herbert, a well-known settlor, lost his life. it appears that the lad, with a younger brother and a companion named Percy Burkett, reached home from school at about 4.30. They found that their father and mother were away in New Plymouth, and their sister, a girl of 10 years, in charge. The younger brother, named John, got hold of a Martini rifle belonging to his father, and began to handle it and “play at shooting” on the verandah. The elder brother took tho weapon away from him, whereupon the younger went inside, climbed up a wall, and took down a shot gun that ins’father had carefully put away, as the thought, out of harm’s way. Ho wont outside with it, levelled it at his 'brother’s head in the course of some “playing at shooting,” pulled tho trigger, and, to his horror, found it was loaded and that he had shot his brother. Tho girl was quickly on the scene, neighbours were called in, and Dr. Eookes summoned by telephone, but it was apparent from the ugly wound inflicted that the lad was past ail mortal aid, and he expired an hour iJacl a half afterwards. 'lt was a wonder that he lived one and a half minutes.