A SHOCKING FATALITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 418, 17 May 1902, Page 2

A SHOCKING FATALITY.

PERCY STEPHENSON ACIDENTALLY SHOT. 1 ANOTHER WHAREKOPAE TRAGEDY. j A painful sensation was created in town yesterday morning when the sad information became known that Mr Percy Stephenson, the only son of Mr \V. F. 1 Stephenson, u! Matnwhero, hatl been , accidentally shot dead, in the vicinity of Wharekopae. Thu news was brought to the police by Mr Harry Green, who first callcd at Matawhero, and there broke the distressing tidings to the family. Ftorn the statement made by Mr Harry ' Green it appears that Messrs Harold J. Warren (eldest son of Mr J. Warren, ' County Clerk) and Percy Stephenson had been engaged in packing provisions for their winter stock. They were bringing the provisions from \\ harekepae to Mr McCutcheou’s woolshed, and had been camping with Mr Green. In the alternoon, a little after 2 o’clock, the two young ineu left the camp for the purpose of shooting a pig to provide food for the dogs. Warren had the use of Green’s gun. Later on Green hoard a shot, and after an interval heard another shot. He thought at the time that the young men had been successful in their quest, and had no apprehension of the awful accident that had occurred. He got a great shock soon afterwards when Warren came running to him in a terrible plight, and falling in a state of exhaustion exclaimed, “ Oh, Harry 1 I’ve shot- Percy !” Warren was in a paroxysm of grief, and for a time there was a grave apprehension as to his condition. There were men working in tho vicinity, and Green hailed them to his assistance, while he set off for town as early as possible to convoy tho sad news. Warren was so stricken with grief that only a disjointed account of the affair could he obtained at that stage, hut tho startling fact was outstanding that poor Percy, a grand stamp of manhood, had been fatally shot. It appears that about the sceno of the disaster, about two miles from the camp, Warren had shot a pigeon—they were at tho time returning to the camp. Stephenson had gono on in front, and was sitting on the opposite bank of the creek, awaiting his mate, his back being turned to Warren. The latter had the gun at his side, and was coming up tho bank to rejoin Stephenson. By sorno means the trigger got caught, the charge exploded at about three yards distance, and Stephenson fell, the charge having entered the back of the head. Warren was naturally horrified. He called to his mate, but the truth was too plain— Percy Stephenson was no more ! SeeiDg that nothing could he dono for Stephenson, Warren threw his coat over the body, left the faithful pig dog in charge, and then with all speed set off to obtaiu assistance. On tho way ho fell many times, and on arrival was hardly distinguishable owing to the sorry plight he was in with his wet and muddy clothes, and his exhausted,fainting condition. Mr McCutcheon and others went to where the body was lying, while Green came into town, and others tended Warren, whose grief-stricken condition had become so serious that there were fears that his reason would desert him. Messrs Warren, Stephouson, and Cruikshank were partners in a thousand-acre selection in the Wharekopae district. The two former worked on the land elear- ■ ing it, while Mr Oruikshank retained his 1 situation with Mr Eure in town, though ■ employing his holidays in assisting to fell f the forest. The young men were making I very good progress, and were steadily carving out a fine property for themselves in tho wild bush country. The trio are ’ young men well known and much re- ' spected . throughout the district, Warren 1 and Stephenson having been in it since 1 they were children. • The latter was nineteen years of age. ‘■p?he actual .information as to the shoofc- ■ itrg, it will bo noted, is based on tho slate- • ment made by Warren when he was in a t state of distraction. It was hoped that s matters might not really be ns bad as i Warren had thought in his frenzied grief, 1 but had there been life left in the body there is no doubt that a special messsage j would have been despatched to town yest terday afternoon. Mr Green himself was so f positive that on behalf of the father of the t young man he had the coffin conveyed y from Gisborne yesterday morning, and he j hoped to return to town before daylight -> to-day, with the body, so that the burial might take place at Makaraka. After receiving intimation of the fatalr ity Sorgeant Siidells made arrangements to leave for the scene of the accident. 3 Shortly after nine o’clock yesterday morning, accompanied by Mr G. Stubbs, 1 J.P., and Mr Cruikshank, one of the 1 partners in the holding, he left town in a ’ buggy, and the party hoped to reach Wharekopae early in the afternoon. It 3 was Sergeant Siddells’ intention to hold the inquest during the afternoon, but the • bad state of the roads may have prevented ■ tho party reaching the scene of the acci- ' dent before night fall, and in all probability the enquiry would bo postponed ! until this morning. Shortly after seven o’clock last evening i Dr. Fisher and Constable Doyle left Gisborne with the intention of proceeding direct to Wharekopae. Dr. Fisher’s instructions to proceed to the scene of the accident came from the Inspector of Police at Napier, who cn receipt of the news of the fatality evidently deemed it advisable that a medical officer should be sent. There is just the chance, however, that Dr. Fisher and Constable Doyle would not bo able to reach Wharekopae before tho inquest had concluded, and in that case it would probably be necessary to re-open the inquiry. Tho Inspector of Police may also have thought that there was a possibility of Stephenson being yet alive, the particulars of the accident being most meagre. Mr J. Warren, father of Mr Harold

Warren, had also arranged to leave town last evening, for the purpose of meeting his son and rendering what assistance he could. In view, however, of the fact that the inquest would in all probability not be held until this morning, and the rough journey at night, Mr Warren decided to defer making a start until early this morning.

Much sympathy is felt for the relatives of Mr Stephenson, and also for Mr H. Warren. The latter is a manly young fellow, who would take the sad affair to heart very keenly. Yesterday, the Matawhero School was closed, as a mark of respect to the memory of Mr Percy Stephenson, who was formerly a pupil of the School, and sympathy with his parents. A sister of the deceased is mistress of the School.