A SON’S DEED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 468, 17 August 1909, Page 3

A SON’S DEED.

CHRISTCHURCH TRAGEDY.

HEART-BREAKING CASE

DOMESTICATED BOY AND A NAGGING MOTHER. Christchurch, August 14.

Before Mr W. R. Haseldeu, coroner, this morning, an inquest was held touching the death of Mrs Kathleen Crosbery, who was shot by her young son Thomas yesterday afternoon. Detective Eade stated that in conversation the lad said he had done housework in the morning, prepared his father’s dinner, and taken P to him. He returned home and had bis dinner, made his bed up and cleaned the stove. His mother then got up from bed, the time being between 1 and 2 o’clock in the afternoon. She sat on a chair in front of the kitchen fire and growled at him for not cleaning the house, as she expected his married brother and his wife on Sunday. She was also growling about his father having lost the deeds of his property. The lad said it was her usual manner to go on like that, and he did not take any notice of her. He went on cleaning the house, and when in the bedroom adjoining the kitchen he picked up a pea-rifle (produced) and said, “Mother, I’ll shoot you!” He put the rifle to his shoulder and pulled the trigger, the gun discharging and the bullet lodging in his mother’s cheek. She said Tom, you've shot me !” and fell on the floor. He went for assistance. He explained that in the morning he had loaded the rifle for the purpose of shooting some sparrows in the back yard. The sparrows flew away, and he stood the rifle just inside the bedroom door, quite forgetting to extract the cartridge. He said he had pointed the gun at his mother by way of a joke, and had quite forgotten it was loaded. He had said he was not at all angry. The boy was vary much distressed, being nearly frantic with grief. The inquest was adjourned, on the application of Chief Detective Bishop, until Wednesday. Throughout the proceedings the lad, who was present, sobbed inconsolably, and appeared to be absolutely heartbroken, his pitiable plight arousing the sympathy of those presentt