DEATH FROM A REVOLVER SHOT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 123, 18 February 1920, Page 3

DEATH FROM A REVOLVER SHOT

« INQUEST ON FRANK FENBY. Mr. W. G. Eiddell, S.M., held an inquest yesterday afternoon into tho circumstances causing tlio death of Prank . Fenby, who was admitted to the hospital early in the morning of February 7 suffering from a gunshot wound in tho head, and who died in tho institution on Monday afternoon. Dr. Strang, house surgeon at tho hospital, in his evidence stated that tho bullet had evidently passed up through tho nose, .penetrated the brain, and came out through the top of tho skull. Two or three davs after admission to the hospital Fenby showed signs of meningitis, and died on Monday. Death was duo to laceration of the train, followed by meningitis. Hannah Fenby, widow of the deceased, stated that her husband was 48 years old. and was a cabinetmaker by trade. Ho was born in Newcastle-on-Tyne, and had been in Noif Zealand for six years. Witness married Fenby twenty-five years aw in England, and there were six children. He'was a temperate man, and in constant employment. He had suffered from influenza on two occasions. He was fond of shooting, and had made arrangements for a shooting trip on Saturday. Her husband had no financial worries. Ten minutes before ho shot himself he appeared to be perfectly normal. She heard him going downstairs, and followed him, but at that time had no idea that lie had been shot. He went into the yard, asked for a. drink of water and a wet towel, which were given him. Witness thought' her husband had broken a blood-vessel, and immediately sent for a doctor. Witness could not account in any way for the act. He was fond of handling firearms, and had owned the revolver for many years. Mr. C'. A. L. Treadwoll, who appeared for the widow, said the presumption was that while preparing the revolver for pig-shooting deceased had probably blown down tiie barrel to remove any dirt that mav havt: lodged there, and accidentally discharged the weapon. Counsel suggested that the shooting was a pure accident. Tho Coroner was of opinion that there was not sufficient evidence to find that the shooting was accidental, and found that death was due to a. bullet wound in the head self-inflicted, but the evidence was not sufficient to show whether it was accidentally received or intentionally inflicted by the deceased.