TRAGIC EVENT IN CITY BANK.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1752, 17 May 1913, Page 6

TRAGIC EVENT IN CITY BANK.

YOUNG MAN SHOT. MISADVENTURE PRESUMED. Before business commenced in tho Bank of New South Wales yesterday morning the servants of the bank on duty were made painfully aware that a tragic and fatal affair had taken place on tho premises, lioy Desmond Coker (a young man of twenty-two years, who had been eighteen months in the service of tho bank) being found shot. The staff hail scarcely assembled for duty when a shot was heard. Investigation followed, and Coker was discovered fatally wounded. Dr. Henry was telephoned for, and, when he arrived, ho stated that life was extinct. It is the custom to bring tho gold up every morning from the vaults before tho business of tlio day begins, and tho tellers' revolvers aro brought up at thosaino time. Coker. who was a territorial, was supposed to bo a good deal interested In revolvers, and it is thought that he was inspecting the weapon when it went off accidentally. The chambers wero fully loaded, anil tho bullet struck him in tho forehead. Mr. Coker, who was a promising bank officer, was a son of the late Mr. Walter Coker (formerly proprietor of a piano business in New Plymouth), who died six years aio, and was a nephew of Mr. and Mrs. Tims.' Bush, of Wellington Terrace, where Mrs. Coker (a sister of Mrs. Bush) was staying preparatory to securing a permanent homo of lier own in Wellington. Messrs. George Bush, of Nelson, and Mr. E. Perie Bush (a member of tho "Get-Rich-Quiclc Wnllingford" Comedy Company) aro cousins of deceased. Mr. Coker was popular with everyone who knew him. He spent the whole of Thursday evening up till 10.30 p.m. with his mother and Mr. and Mrs. Bush, at tho lalter's home, and in the opinion of his relatives there is not tho slightest doubt that tho fatality was an accident.