SHOT IN ABDOMEN

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 104, 26 January 1935, Page 22

SHOT IN ABDOMEN

Inquest on Tuakau Man’s Death SELF-INFLICTED WOUND By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland. Jaiiiiui-y 25. "Altliongli 1 have some doubt as to how the first of the abdominal wounds was inflicted, the evidence being consistent with accidental wounding, tiie evidence points to Hie final bead wound having been inflicted by the deceased under great mental and physical stress.” said tiie coroner, Mr. F. 11. Levien. S.M., at tiie conclusion to-day of Hie inquest on Charles Raymond Finch, aged 26. who left his home at Tuakau on December 16 to go rabbit shooting and was found dead in a gully with a wound in bis head and two wounds in the abdomen. Dr. W. Gilmour, pathologist at the Auckland Public Hospital, su’d that tiie bullet in the brain would cause unconsciousness and stertorous breathing, which was no doubt tiie smind heard by tiie witnesses who eventually found Finch dead. Death was due |o laceration of tiie brain. Professor F. P. Worley, of Hie chair of chemistry at Auckland University College, said that the bullet in the head was compatible witii having been fired from the deceased’s rifle. “No Suicidal Tendencies.” The coroner found that death was due to laceration of the brain due to a gunshot wound. Counsel for the relatives emphasised that there was no indication whatever of the deceased having suicidal tendencies. Nothing had beeii found concerning him that was not eulogistic. He submitted that the suggestion of premeditated suicide was not warrantable. The coroner remarked that whether

it was premeditated or not -uieide was still suicide. Counsel said that presuming the deceased had suffered an accidental abdominal wound agonising pain would follow and he might have Income mentally unbalanced. The coroner said it appeared to him that there might have been some accident. Deceased would suffer very severely and probably became exceedingly alarmed at his helpless situation. A wound in the abdomen was consistent with his having tripped in a rabbit burrow. There was no evidence that anyone but the deceased was implicated in his death.