THE DEADLY PEA-RIFLE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 8945, 20 December 1907, Page 6

THE DEADLY PEA-RIFLE.

Another pea-rifle fatality is reported —from Katoomba, in New South Wales. A youth of eigbteeu, Charles Peckmau, with au old mate, Henry Messiter, who had come home on a holiday from Sydney, took their rifles to Megaloug Valley, intending to camp out, rabbit-shooting. The youngsters were talking together, wheu Peckmau asked Messiter to baud him a pea-rifle. No soouer had he it iv his possession than it weut off, tbe bullet penetrating his body near his abdomen. When Messiter found what had happened, he tried to get Peckman to the nearest homestead, that being about two miles away, and about twelve miles from Katoomba. After he had gone some distance, Peckmau exclaimed, "Oh, Harry, I am done. Tell mother I could not help it " Messiter then ran for assistance, but could get none. It was then dark, aud, not knowing the bush, he went back to the deceased, who died about 7.30. Messiter then stayed beside his dead friend all night until daylight, when he acquainted a man named Dwyer, who rode to Katoomba and informed the parents of deceased, who, with the police and other townspeople,. rode down and brought the body to Katoomba.