FARM LABOURER'S DEATH

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 88, 30 April 1937, Page 6

FARM LABOURER'S DEATH

Shot While Carrying Revolrer In Pocket CORONER'S CAUTION An inquest into the death of Clafcnc© Kennedy Thomson, otherwise known ag Edward Thomson, aged 18 years, who ' died on Tuesday last at Onga Onga, aa a result of a bullet wound, was held at Waipawa last evening by the District Coroner, Mr. W. E. Yates. - Edward William Coles, farmer. Springhill, Onga Onga, said that he ieft home at 10 a.m. on Tuesday last for "Waipukurau. He left Thomson iix charge of the place. Witness returned home at about 6.45 p.m. Going up tha drive he saw deeeased lying near tho ' , house and groaning. Thomson seemed •■o be unconscious. Witness found that Thomson had a small wound oa tha right thigh. His clothes were sa^irat- * ed with blood. Witness called hl« fcrother, who lived about 300 yarda ' away, to help him carry Thomson into the house. They washed him, put him to bed and telephoned for Dr. Raymond, Thomson died about three-quaTters of an hour after witness found him and just a few minutes before the doctor arrived. Witness found a seven-chan* bered revolver on the kitchen tablo. It was loaded in six chambers, and there was an empty shell in tlxe other chamber. Thomson had the revolver is. his possession when he first went to work for witness and witness had frequently warned him to be careful with it. He said he always took it to piecek when he carried it. Thomson, said witness, was of a cheerful disposition and did not appear to have any' worrios. He had never intimated that he istended to take his life. Norman Craig, farm labourer, em* ployed^ by W. E. Coles, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness. Dr. C. Raymond said that when &• . arrived at the scene the victim wa# dead. There was a bullet wound is • the right thigh Just below the grois, and a wound of exit in the lower part of the back of the thigh. There was also a hole, apparently made by tha bullet, in the right trousers pocket, but. no hole in the trousers themselvai, Witness cam to the conclnsion that Thomson met Ma death from haemorrhage and shoek. Cons table A. Bu3ton, Onga Osga, . " said that when he arrived he fonnd tha' body of Thomson on the bed. Witneaa confirmed the evidence as to the injttfies to the deeeased. The coroner returned a verdict ,ip accordance with the . medical avidesaa, that Thomson died from haemorrhmga and shock due _ to being shot thrqngK * . the right thigh with a revolver bv)U^ there being no evidence 'to show 'jMNr " the discharge was caiised. The coroaar . . then went on to stress the need^lf-> - caution when handling firearms. ' «