PLAYING WITH FIREARMS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 429, 10 January 1912, Page 5

PLAYING WITH FIREARMS.

YOUTH SHOT BY HIS FRIEND

An unfortunate incident, resulting in serious injuries being inflicted to a cadet cook named Robert Rowlands, aged 16, whose parents reside at Kingsland, occurred on the Northern Co.'s steamer Wakatere, while the vessel was lying at the Thames wharf, about 11.30 o'clock on Saturday morning. Rowlands went to a cadet steward named Arthur Walding, aged 18, with a request for a clothes brush, and the latter, stating that there might be one in a locker used in common by the boys on the boat, started to make a search. Instead of a brush, the first thing Walding came across was a nickle-plated revolver, and he took possession of the weapon. Meanwhile Rowlands was standing at the cabin door, and Walding, turning round, remarked, "Here's a brush for you," and simultaneously raising the revolver to the level of his companion's head in a sportive way, pulled the trigger. The weapon proved to be loaded, and a bullet entered Rowland's forehead, subsequent examination showing that it had penetrated the brain.

The revolver, which belonged to a boy named Palmer, who happened to miss the passage from Auckland, was a six-chambered weapon, and was loaded in five chambers, one cartridge having previously been discharged, and not removed. The cartridge that was fired, unlike the rest, contained a double charge, otherwise it is considered that the wound would not have been so serious.

Walding, who did not know the revolver was loaded, was seized with an access of grief, and it was deemed advisable to place him in custody.

The injured youth is a brother of Mrs D. J. Young, of Te Kuiti. At latest advices it was feared his case was hopeless.