SHOOTING FATALITY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 163, 22 May 1940, Page 5

SHOOTING FATALITY

INQUEST ON NATIVE 2* INJURIES SELF-INFLICTED 1 A verdict of death from shock ami haemorrhage from gunshot injuries self-inflicted, was brought in by the coroner, Mr C. T. MacFarlane, at the adjourned inquest held on Hauwhen 11 i Whareaitu, aged 20. of Ohinepanea, who was admitted to the Tauranga Public Hospital in the 1 early hours of Monday, May 6, suffering' from severe gun-shot wounds to the head. He died 15 hours after; [admission. Evidence as to the nature of the injuries was given by Dr B. W. Nixon, resident medical officer at the Hospital. He said that the dii'eetion of the wound would be quite in accordance with being self-inflicted. Roy Spencer Bailey, a sharemilker of Ohinepanea testified that the deceased, a Maori, had' been employed by him for over two years. He was a good worker, and was far from melancholy, enjoying life to the full. It was stated that the deceased had left on the Sunday, May 5, .on a shooting trip, returning to the farm between 2 p.m. and 2.30 p.rrr., later going to the cow shed to carry on with his work. At 6 pun. after tea„ Whareaitu left the house to spend the evening out and the witness stated that from that time 1 until 11 p.m;,. when he was disturbed by the deceased,, and found him in tlie distressed condition, he could not testify as to his; movements.

Matter Reported.. > It was stated that the matter had been reported to the jdollcc at Te Puke by Dr Randell,. but no one had come out to make an investigation. The police were again notified next day and tlie constable asked if the gun and'note could be taken into Te Puke as he was too Busy to go out. When the gun and note book* were lodged at the police station the constable told him that he did not think it necessary to go out.. Evidence was also given by the wife of the previous witness and by Mereana assistant teacher at the Pukehina Native School', who stated that she had known deceased for about three years: On the night in question lie liad' visited her between 8 and 9 o'clock. On the Thursday- previous deceased had' proposed marriage to her and' shelliard r accepted. Police Evidence. Constable G. Roberts, of Te Puke, stated tliat he had received 1 a telephone call from Dr Randell at 12.45 p.m. on Monday, May 7th, informing him that a native had' been injured* apparently with a shot-gun. The con stable stated further that later in., the same day he hacT a conversation with Bailey; who informed him that lie found a gun and' a note. Because of other Court business,. Constable Roberts stated he had in--formed Bailey that he could not go cnut to' the- farm,, and requested Bailey to bring his findings to the.Police Station. Had there been any» sense of suspicion the constable said,, he would have immediately gone out to make full investigations, but did' not think this course necessary. He stated that he had asked Bailey if" there was any suspicion of fout play. In bringing in the verdict, the Coroner stated that he regretted having to do so in view of the boy's, good character and pleasant outlook, on life.