BOY SHOT

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1928, Page 2

BOY SHOT

INJURY PROVES FATAL. AUCKLAND, Sept. 6. A gunshot wound, accidentally inilicted by bis cousin, resulted in the tragic death of Bruce James Garner, aged seven years, whose parents reside at Pousonby. The child was shot in the abdomen, and notwithstanding the fact that a doctor was rushed to the house, died within an hour. The afternoon was wet, and the little hoy, nis cousin, and some other children were playing in the house. Mrs Garner saw the children happily at play, and then went into the kitchen at the rear of the house. A few minutes later she heard a muffled report, but thought it was the banging of a door. There was a scream, and the agonised mother, rushing unto the playroom, saw her little son lying on the floor. He had fallen from the bed on which he had been sitting, and the rifle lay on the floor where it had been dropped iby'the terrified child who had accidentally fired it. The bullet entered above the hip and passed through the liody. The other children, wide eyed', were crying piteously. I Dr Coldicutt was immediately summoned, but his task was hopeless. Ho could only make the child’s last hour

as comfortable as possible. The father, Mr J. Garner, a contractor, received a telephone message, and rushed home in time to spend the last few minutes with his son.

The parents do not know lioiy the rifle came to he loaded. It was last

used for rabbit shooting some time ago, but Mr Garner is positive no cartridge was left in it. Tt is possible one of the children may hare taken a cartridge from the shelf on which they wore kept. The muzzle must have been close to the hoy’s body when it was fired.