THE WHAREKOPAE TRAGEDY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 419, 19 May 1902, Page 1

THE WHAREKOPAE TRAGEDY.

THE INQUEST. Tho inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of the young man Percy Stephenson, who was accidentally shot at Wharekopae on Thursday afternoon last, was held on Friday afternoon, before Mr G. Stubbs, Acting Coroner, and the following jury:—Messrs Cruikshank (foreman), Charles Haydn, Thomas Baty, Peter Keenan, and John Arnold. Sergt Siddells represented the police. Harold Warren, who was the first witness called, madothe following statement: —I reside at Tahora, and am acquainted with deceased. I own a section in Tabora, with deceased and; Mr Cruikshank. I was living on the section with ■deceased. Since last Monday deceased and I were staying at 0. McCutcheon’s house. I know Green and Collins, who were at the same place. We had dinner together yesterday. After dinner deceased and I went out to catch a wild pig, taking Green’s double-barrel breeclr-I'oadiug gun. We went along the bank of Makaretu cieek for about half amilo, ajid caught a pig. A little further on I shot two pigeons, then another, and picked it up and handed it to him. Ho also had the other

two pigeons. The gun was in my right hand. We were amongst manuka trees, and deceased was sitting down. The gun was still loaded in one barrel with No. 2 shot. When I threw the pigeon down to him he picked it up. The loaded barrel was at full-coek, and as I turned round

from him my fingers must have touched the trigger. I do not know how else it could have gone off. When it went off he fell on his right side, and did not utter a sound. I was in front of him, about

three or four feet off, but a little below him. I did not see him struck. When I saw what had happened I covered his face with my coat and ran to C. McCutcheon’s. There was no one there, and I went on to James McCutcheon’s. There was no one there either, and I went up the Wharekopae creek and saw Green, knowing that Collins and Green were working up there. I told Green what had happened, and ho brought Messrs Janies McCutcheon and Collins and then left for

town. I went back to the body with McCutcheon and Collins. I had no quarrel with deceased. Wo were very good friends. I helped to bring the body to where it now lies. I have known deceased about ton years. 'When we left McCutcheon’s we were both in the best of

spirits, and had arranged tc carry on a lot of work and were packing in stores. My hand was on the trigger guard, and I am not conscious of having pulled the

trigger.” Harry Green deposed that he was a laborer working at Mr C. McCuteheon’s. He was there the previous day, and had lunch with deceased and Warren. Deceased and Warren went out pig hunting in the afternoon. AVarren had a gun belonging to witness. The pair wont up Makaretu Creek. Witness hoard two shots, and about half an hour afterwards he saw AVarren on the opposite side of the AVharekopae. AVarren threw up his hands and said, “ I have shot Percy, what shall Ido ?” AVarren fell to the ground, and Btarted to cry. He said that he had shot a pigeon, and was handing it to Stephenson. AVitness did not understand whether he meant that he handed the pigeon or the gun to deceased. AVarren told witness that he must have had his hand on the trigger, and it went off. ■ Ho further stated that ho thought Stopheusonwas dead, and had taken off his-coat and placed it over deceased’s head. AVitness jiad known AVarren and deceased for several years. There were on good terms and jolfy together at lunch. AVitness at once carried the information to Gisborne. When AVarren came to witness he was much destressed. ' AVitness had no doubt that it was a pure accident. Other shots may have been fired without his hearing them, but witness only heard two. Michael Collins deposed that he was a laborer working at Mr MeCuteheon’s, and knew AVarren, Green, and deceased. AVarren and deceased were on the best of terms. They were mates, and had been working together for some time. After lunch they went away together, AVarren carrying a gun. They said that they were going to shoot pigs and game. Later in the afternoon Green came running and informed witness of what had occurred. AVitness went to AVarren, who was at Mr McCutcheon’s wool-shed, greatly destressed. He told him that he had shot a pigeon, and had handed it to deceased. •The gun went off whilst he was turning round, and he had shot deceased. Witness- went with Messrs McCutcheon and Warren up Makaretu Creek, and about two miles up fohnd tho body of ’ deceased, which was just cold. AVarren’s coat was over the head of the body, and the brains were scattered over the ground. Deceased was lying on his right side, with his face to the ground. His right arm was outstretched, and a pigeon was just b,y his fingers. A bag containing two pigeons was lying on the ground on the other side of the body. AAhtness saw a wound in the back of the head over the right ear. The body was left all night, covered with a tent. AVitness had assisted that morning to convey it to where it now lay. The jury returned a verdict of ‘ Death by misadventure, and there was no blame attachable to Warren." They also wished to extend their sympathy to Mr AVarren. Dr. Fisher and Constable Doyle arrived at AVharekopae at midnight on Friday, and on the following morning Dr, Fisher examined the body. The evidence having closed the previous evening it was not reopened, Dr Fisher being quite satisfied that the evidence given at the inquest had put the mutter fairly before the jury. THE FUNERAL. The funeral of the late Mr Percy Stephenson took place at Makarakayesterday afternoon, the cortege being one of the lnrgest seen in the district for a long time. Settlors from a distance attended in large numbers,'and mpch sympathy was expressed for the sorrowing parents and family of deceased, as well as for Mr H. AVarren. The coffin was literally hidden with wreaths and other floral tributes. The service at the grave was conducted by the Rev. Gardiner, the Revs. Rothwell and Ready being also present. Six of deceased’s school-mates, Messrs B. and G. Steggall, A. and B. Aislabie, H. Laing, and AV. Hall, acted as pall-bearers. The children of the Matawhero school, under the headmaster, Mr Marshall, attended the funeral;