MARLBOROUGH.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 204, 9 December 1864, Page 2

MARLBOROUGH.

Sekkious Accident at Picton. —lt is our most unpleasant duty to record a very serious accident which occurred yesterday afternoon, and which, we regret to state, may yet prove fatal. The circumstances are as follows: —Mr. Blundell, the cashier of the Picton Branch of the New Zealand Bank, had been out on the previous evening practising with a pistol. On the following morning, (yesterday) Mr. Parkinson, in whose company Mr. Blundell had been, called at the Bank and had some conversation respecting the previous evening’s proceedings. The pistol was brought out and laid on the Bank counter, when Mr. Parkinson, under the impression that the charges had all been tired off, presented the pistol at Mr. Blundell and pulled the trigger. The weapon, which unhappily for the unfortunate man was loaded, went off, and a bullet lodged in his neck. Assistance was at once sent for, when Drs. Tripe and Kilgour arrived within a few minutes after being summoned. On making a careful examination of the wound it was ascertained that the bullet had lodged in some portion of the throat, but the probe failed to show the exact part. Mr Blundell at a late hour was suffering greatly, and for the next few hours it was impossible to pronounce the termination of this unhappy affair. The injury was purely accidental, but caused by thoughtlessness, and has certainly injured a young gentleman for a lengthened period ; will cause deep grief to his family, and for a time has cast a gloom over the town. —Marlborough Press, Nov. 26.