ACCIDENTALLY SHOT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1390, 16 March 1912, Page 5

ACCIDENTALLY SHOT.

SAD,FATALITy.,.AT,.jpHNSONVILLE. The police received information yesterday'that Charles Reeves, a clerk at tho State coal depot, was found shot at Paparangi, Johnsonville, where ho resided. Reeves went out before- 7 a.m. and took a single-barrelled gun with him, saying he was going to shoot weasels which had been working mischief among his fowls. He did not return and about 7.20 a.m. he was found dead. Tho gun was beside him, and he had been shot in the head. An inquest was held yesterday afternoon by. Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.JI. There was no evidence at the (inquiry from anyone witnessing the occurrence, and there was an entire absence of any evidence tending to show that it was other than an accident. Deceased was 48 years of age, and.he lived happily at home with his wife, and children. He had no business, domestic, or financial worries. Ho was in robust health, and he was of a cheerful temperament. He was recovering from a sprained ankle, and yesterday morning when he wont out to look for weasels, he was wearing house shoes. Tho grass was wet, and as he was found lying on a fairly steep slope, it is supposed that he slipped, hurt his ankle, and fell, and that tne gun went off accidentally. It was stated at the inquest that the gun was unsnfo, and that it had been.known to fire spontaneously on other occasions. ' I The verdict was that deceased met his death by a gunshot wound, accidentally received.