FARM TRAGEDY.

Wairarapa Age, 6 September 1937, Page 4

FARM TRAGEDY.

SHEPHERD FOUND CRITICALLY WOUNDED.

DIES WITHOUT REGAINING CONSCIOUSNESS.

Robert Morrison. McKenzie, a shepherd, aged 25, was found yesterday afternoon, lying, “critically wounded in his whare on the Janies McKenzie Estate, Maungahina, Bideford. A recently discharged .22 calibre rifle was alongside the unconscious man, who had a grave bullet wound extending from the lower part of his face up through the top of his head. He died, without regaining consciousness, in the Masterton. Hospital at 11.20 o’clock last night. The late Mr. McKenzie, who was a son of Mr. and Mrs R. D. McKenzie, Kopuaranga, had tea with the manager of the sTafion, Mr. H. Brisco, on Saturday night. When last seen at about 6.45 p.m., he indicated that he would be going away for the week-end. For that reason no anxiety was felt at his iron-appearance yesterday. About 4.15 p.m., however, Mr. Brisco noticed Mr. McKenzie’s car in the garage and as it was obvious from its appearance that it had not been out of the shed during the day or the previous night, he went across to Mr. McKenzie’s whare and found him lying unconscious on the floor.

Dr. Archer Hosking was summoned and the injured man was taken to the Masterton Hospital in a extremely dangerous condition. He died, as stated, without regaining consciousness. It is thought that the late Mr. McKenzie, who appeared to be in his usual good health and spirits on Saturday, lay wounded in the whare from Saturday night. An inquest will be held.