MISTAKEN FOR STAG

Taranaki Daily News, 29 April 1931, Page 7

MISTAKEN FOR STAG

STALKER FATALLY SHOT. ACCIDENT IN THE BUSH. An inquest was held, at Reef ton last week regarding the death of Horace Talbot, who met his death on April 19 while deer-atalking in the vicinity of Rahu Saddle, near Reefton. _ Talbot, who was accompanied by two friends, Norman and Roy Bolitho, was returning home through some dense bush was very thick, and suddenly the bush was very theik, and suddenly the pa,rty saw what appeared to be a stag. Shortly afterwards Norman Bolitho fired at what he thought was the stag moving through the bush. He went to see it he had killed the animal, and found that he had shot Talbot. He had thought that Talbot was following behind him, but evidently Talbot had got ahead. As .they were unable to carry the body through the bush Roy Bolitho went on to Reef ton for assistance, Dr. W. A. Conlon said that he had examined the body and found a wound penetrating the lower .part of the breast bone. Death was due to a'perforating wound of the heart, and must have been almost instantaneous. Norman Leslie Bolitho, motor-lorry driver, said that on the day in question he led the way, his brother coming second, apd Talbot last. They continued in single file down a hill, and came across several deer tracks. When near the bottom of the hill he saw the bushes shaking, and saw what the thought to be an antler. He did not get a shot, but later caught another glimpse of what he thought was an antler. He fired, and heard a cry. He rushed over and found Horace Talbot. He was dead.

Bolitho saifl that he had had a good deal of experience at stalking, but Talbot had not had much experience in the mountains. He did not know how Talbot had got ahead of the party. _ Roy Bolitho corroborated his brother’s evidence.

Constable Houston said, that the country was very steep and rough and covered with heavy bush and scrub. The coroner returned a verdict that Talbot met his death as the result of a wound caused by a bullet fired from a rifle by Norman Bolitho while deerstalking.