ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2738, 27 May 1924, Page 3

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

SHOOTING FATALITY. Wanganui. Last Night. An inquest was held this afternoon mi the body of Astley Watts Williseroft, aged sixteen, who was found dead on a farm at Aim Aim, on Friday. Evidence showed that deceased was out pig-hunting and did not return home. A search revealed his body, badly burned, lying near a stump, with a gun alongside. The body was burned from the ankles to the neck. The carbine deceased was using had a strap tied round the front of the trigger and through the guard. The strap evidently caught something when deceased was climbing the tree stump and discharged the rifle, though no wound was found on the body. A verdict of death from shock, due to the premature discharge of ihe rifle and burning was returned.

MOTOR FATALITY. Waipawa, May 26. Gordon Esam, orckadist, of Hastings, aged 39, was killed by a motor accident on Saturday. The deceased pulled up on the side of the road to adjust some fruit eases on the lorry wlieu a taxi car, driven bv George Elford, knocked him down and he died soon after the doctor anived. It is alleged that the dazzling lights of a car approaching from the opposite direction prevented Elford seeing anything on ihe road. The deceased leaves a widow and four children.