ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 828, 28 May 1910, Page 7

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

FATALLY WOUNDED WHILE / . RABBITING.

,- An inquiry into tho circumstances V'oomiected with tho death of a- young man named John Russell, of Northland, who died at tho Wellington Hos- , pital on Thursday night from injuries received by tho accidental dischargo of n' shotgun whilo rabbit-shooting at Oharhi on Sunday last, was conducted by Mr. W. R, Haseldcn, SM., yesterday. Sub-Inspector Norwood appeared for tho police. Tho medical testimony of Dr. Hard- - i wicko Smith, superintendent at tho hospital, showed thnt tho deceased was ■ admitted to the institution on May 22, , suffering from a gun-shot wound and /) shock. was operated upon on May. 25, and'rallicd, but afterwards became ' weaker and sank. George Moran, shipwright, brother- , . in-law of tho deceased, said that Jas. Russell and he'went out rabbit-shoot-ing at Ohariu Valley on Sunday. Each had a-. double-barrelled breach-load-ing gun, and were shooting all day. They .wore .returning to their starting , place when deceased suggested' that they should woTk a little patch. A \ rabbit was put up, and witness turned ,round quickly to get a shot mid overbalanced,' but recovered himself. At » this moment a gun went off. At the time ho did not know which gun it was, but he discovered afterwards that i it was his. Ho was carrying tho gun across his left arm, with his right hand over tho roar of the stock, at the rear ' of tho trigger-guard. Tho next thing after the gun wont off was an exclamation .from deceased: "George, you have shot me." Ho fell down immediately.' ' Witness looked at his gun, and found ■ that the tight trigger was down and tho left was still up. Witness proceeded to cxolain what, was 3one nfter he found that Russell had 1 been shot in the right side. A doctor was sent for, and 'Dr. Holmes was quickly on tho spot. i A stntement made by deceased to Constahlo Mullooly was nut in. Rns- , sell said ho had his back to Moran, who w - as on the hill above him when a rabbit was put up. He was just about to fire when hp was shot in tho back 'from behind. Russell said ho had no doubt iri his own mind that he was shot accidentally. ' After further evidence, tho coroner found to the effect that tho deceased was accidentally shot.

ACCIDENT ON S.S. WARRIMOO. Whilst working on the steamor Warrimoo yesterday a wharf labourer named .Kvans had his leg pinned against n stanchion by a sling of timber. The leg was bruised, and a piece of timber which slipped out of the sling, broke some small bones in the man's foot. He was attended to at the hospital. ' WOMAN DROPS DEAD. (Br Te!eero.Dh.—Prosa Association.! Palmerstcn N., May 27. An elde-ly woman, Rosalia 'James,, dropped in King Street yesterday afternoon. The cause of death is unknown. Deceased had not been under medicalattention for several years, but some time ago was heard to complain of pains in the region of the heart." She v v?as : a married woman living apart from tier husband, and leaves two sous and a daughter. .. TWO DEATHS. (By TelcEranh-PrcE9 Association.! Christohurch, May 27. Edward Esserroan, aged ;SO years, was found dead in bed last night in a city boardinglnuse. Henry' Smith, engineer, Lyttolton, died'suddenly last night. ■'. "SUFFERLNG FROM DELUSIONS.'' (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Feildingj May 27. At the inquest on Robert Carswell this morning, the evidence showed that deceased was employed by the Wellington Harbour Board. ' Owing to illhealth he came herd for a rest. While in a bedroom by himself he out his throat with a razor. He had been suffering, from delusions.. A verdict of suicide while temporarily. insane was returned. came to Now- Zealand from Scotland two years ago

SUICIDE AT THAMES.

(By Teleirapli-Presß Association.! , Thames, May 27. A sensation was caused this morning Vben it became known that Horace P. Huddlestone, about forty years of age, at one time secretary of the Auckland Stock Exchange, who has been on the Thames for some time, had committed suicide. Huddlestone was' residing at M'Leay's boardinghouse. Ho did not appear at breakfast, and at about 10 o'clock a shot was heard, followed by a heavy fall. The door was locked, but ■was broken open, and Huddlestone was found lying on tho floor in his pyjamas, shot through the heart. He had apparently held tho revolver close to" his fbody, for his pyjamas were burnt. The polico were sent for, but Huddlestone was dead before they arrived. Ho had been ill, and was an inmate of Thnmos Hospital. Ho had found it difficult to obtain suitablo employment, and this, combined with worry on account Df sickness and financial matters, caused the unhappy man to take his life. He ■was well connected, and was said to ibe worth some % thousands a few years Iback. This ho lost through an unfortunate speculation. Ho leaves a widow rand one child.