SAD SHOOTING FATALITY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 82, 2 December 1912, Page 5

SAD SHOOTING FATALITY.

A MOCK CIRCUS AND A DUEL. News was received in town on Saturday evening that.there had been a shooting accident at Toko, and on Sunday the news was confirmed. Arthur Fred Lawrence and his brother, the former aged about 18 years, had gone in from the Gordon Road to Toko to sec a circus, which, however, did not turn up. They were met by George Corbett, a lad about Lawrence’s age, the two being close “pals.” Corbett proposed t/iut they should have a circus of their own, and the boys adjourned to a house close by, one of the rooms of which the youths had been accustomed to use as a gymnasium. Corbett produced a gun, which lie had previously used and left loaded in both chambers. He did not know it was loaded, and afterwards pointed it at Lawrence,who also had a gun,'and was going through a mock duel. Corbett pulled the trigger, and the gun went off, the charge, at twelve paces distant, inflicting terrible injuries to Lawrence’s throat and chin. Dr Steven was immediately summoned, and ordered his removal to the hospital, but tho lad expired before being put to bed at the institution.

THE INQUEST. VERDICT “ACCIDENTAL DEATH.” This morning an inquest was held at the Magistrate’s Court, when Mr. C. J). Sole, J.P., acting-coroner, presided, and tho following jury was empanelled —Frank Edward Dobson (foreman!, Sydney George Rimmington, Harry H. Edgecombe, Campbell Jackson, and Albert James Davey. Tho Acting-Coroner, in addressing the jury, said it would be seen from the evidence that this was one of those regrettable calamities, arising from that habit, unfortunately only too prevalent, of picking up and pointing a gun without waiting to see if it was loaded.

George Herbert Corbett, aged 17 years, apprentice blacksmith, living at Toko, deposed that lie was the owner of the gun produced, a double-bar-relled shot-gun. He last used it on Friday to shoot a hare on his way home from Tututawa. When lie got home it was fully loaded, but lie did not remove cartridges before putting it away. He never thought to remove them; ho was wet and cold, but had never before put the gun away without unloading it. The gun was left in the corner-of a room in his mother's house, On Saturday morning ho removed it to an adjoining house, and hung it up. This room was used as a kind of gymnasium. On Saturday night ho had several visitors to the room—Leslie Davis, Charlie Lawrence, Arthur Lawrence, the deceased, Jim Heal, Ernest Heal, and Archie Steer. They were boxing, and an accordeon was being played. After they had been there some time, he went into an adjoining room and got his gun. his reason for so doing being that they were going to have A Meek Circus.

This idea was put into his head because there was to have been a real circus at Toko that evening, but for some reason it did not turn up. He marched round the room with the gun at “shoulder arms.” To the Coroner: I am in the Senior Cadets.

Witness continued, that he did not look to see if the gun was loaded There were two guns in his room, and deceased got the other one, but he could not remember suggesting that Lawrence should get it. Deceased marched round the room after witness with the gun in his hands, taking part in the “circus.” After the marching, they took up positions, one at each end of the room, and near the walls, about twelve feet apart. In taking up these positions they had not arranged upon anything. He raised his gun towards the deceased, did not aim at all, but just pulled the trigger. “I Did Not Know it was Loadsd.” Sergeant McNeely: Did you purposely pull the trigger? Witness: Yes; I did not know it was loaded.

Sergeajnt McNeely: Did deceased level his gun at you. Witness: I don’t remember. Sergeant McNeely: Did you hear him say anything before he fired? Witness: No. The gun went off, and lie fell on the floor.

Proceeding, witness said the time was about 9 p.m. He immediately ran over next door to his mother, who ran across and bathed the wound. Lawrence was not then dead. He had known the deceased for the last eignt years, and was a particular “mate” of his. They had had no row or disturbance that evening. The Coroner; Have you ever had any lessons from the Territorial officers on the dangers of pointing arms? • Witness: No.

Charles Edward Lawrence, a brother of the deceased, aged 16 years, living with his parents on the Gordon Road, Toko, stated in his evidence that his brother was 18 years of age. He went with his brother to Toko on Saturday, intending to go to the circus, hut no circus was held. He saw the previous witness at Toko that night, and was invited along with his brother to go with Corbett to the latter’s house. There were several other hoys there in the room, and they were boxing. He saw George Corbett go into his bedroom and bring out a gun, and afterwards marching round with it at “shoulder arms.” Then his brother went into the bedroom, and returned with another gun. He heard his brother “clicking” the triggers, as he walked about. He saw the hoys on either side of the room facing each other, and he’thought each was pointing the gun at the other. They had been laughing and joking all the time. His brother remarked in a joking tone “A Duel Between Corbett and Lawrence.”

The next thing ho heard was a shot, and he saw Ill's brother fall. At the time lie did not think his brother was shot; ho thought it was only a blank cartridge. But when he saw the blood running from the throat, fie knew the worst. One of the hoys immediately rang Pp Dr. Steven. His brother and Corbett, for as long ns ho could remember, had been on the best of terms and “wore particular mates.” Leslie Davis depos'd that Corbet' and Lawrence were always the host nl friends. He saw the whole of the accident. There was a fhv.li. rf flame from Corbett’s gun, and Lawrence fell. Corbett exclaimed: “I did not know it was loaded.” Dr. Steven gave evidence to the ef foot that ho received a call fro n Toko on Saturday evening, and on arrival found deceased lying in n house adjoining Mrs. Corbett’s, with a gunshot wound in the left side of his neck and face. The wound extended backwards and inwards, and was about throe inches across. He dressed the wound and did everything that was

possible for the boy’s welfare, supervising his transfer to a motor car. Decease”! was then alive, lint only partially conscious. He supervised the lad’s removal from the car at -the Stratford Hospital, but deceased died before being put in bed. The actual cause of death was a gunshot wound. A Dangerous Practice.

Summing up, the evidence, the Acting Coroner said it was perfectly dear- that death was the result of a pure accident, and tJie almost criminal neglect of leaving a gun loaded. He understood it was the duty of Territorial officers to instruct above everything cdse the absolute clanger in pointing a gun in this manner, it was such a simple thing to leave a cartridge in a gun, such a simple thing to oreak the weapon open and examine the chambers. It might just as cas]y have been Corbett, and not Lawrence, who was killed. Lawrence was a fine stamp of a boy—as fine a young specimen of manhood as he had ever seen. Corbett had received Jiis punishment—a punishment that would last to the end of his days—but it could not bo impressed too fully upon parents and boys the great dangers of pointing guns.

“Accidental Death.” A verdict of “Accidental Death” was returned.