SHOOTING FATALITY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 122, 27 April 1925, Page 5

SHOOTING FATALITY

CORONIAL INQUIRY. VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH. A coronial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding tho death of Thomas Hedley, a telegraph linesman at Rangiwuhia, was conducted at the Courthouse this morning before the Coroner, Mr A. J. Graham, J.P. Deceased died on April 20 following his admission to the Palmerston North Hospital for treatment for a bullet wound in the lung received oil Good Friday, when he was out shooting with a party at Rangiwahia. Sergeant Power represented the police. The evidence of Erio T. Rodgers, a post and telegraph linesman at Rangiwahia, had been taken on April 21. That witness had formally identified the body and stuted that deceased was 21 years of age and a linesman residing at Rangiwahia. He last saw deceased on Thursday, April 9, and he knew that early the following morning he was going out shooting with some other men. About 12.30 p.in. the next day Air McKee, postmaster at Rangiwahia, one of the two men with whom deceased had gone shooting, came to witness and asked that a doctor be sent for. He saw deceased at tho hotel and ho wus then quite able to converse but said nothing about the accident.

Dr. G. A. Forrest, medical superintendent at the Palmerston North hospital, stated that deceased, when admitted to the institution on Good Friday evening was in a state of collapse suffering from a gunshot wound in the chest. Two operations were performed and it was found that there were about three pints of blood in the chest, an X-ray examination revealing that a pellet had lodged near the spine. Deceased later developed septicaemia, became progressively worse, and died on April 20. The cause of death was septicaemia following a gunshot wound due to the infection introduced by tho pellet. It was at first thought that the bullet might be in the abdomen, and as an X-ray examination could not be made until the Monday owing to the absence of the radiologist, it was decided to first operate. It was found that the abdomen was not affected. After an X-ray examination had made a further operation was performed. HOW ACCIDENT OCCURRED.

John McLean, blacksmith, of Rangiwahia, said that on April 10 he had been with a rabbit diooting party which included deceased. They set out about 10 a.m., witness carrying a Winchester repeating rifle, deceased a .303 rifle, and Mi - McKee a shotgun. They shot over the country for some time and then shot at a target. When they had finished shooting witness proceeded to unload the rifle and when lie thought it was empty closed the breech, but it went off unexpectedly.

At this stage the sergeant produced a rifle to enable witness to demonstrate.

The Coroner: Are you sure that that rifle is unloaded?

The Sergeant: “Y r es,” and ho then proceeded to operate it after demonstrating that it was quite empty. Witness took the rifle on the floor of the court and showed how the accident occurred. Deceased had apparently walked over in front of the muzzle when the firearm went off. To the Coroner: ‘‘l had had about two years’ experience with the rifle.” The Coroner: Can you explain why you did not make absolutely certain that there were no more pellets left in ? Witness said that he had adopted his usual practice to ascertain that the rifle was empty though he knew that lie could have operated tho mechanism so as to make absolutely sure, but lie had never had occasion to do that before.

THE NEED TO EXERCISE CARE. Air Graham stressed the need to exercise the utmost care.

The sergeant operating the rifle said that witness must have pulled the trigger thinking that the rifle was empty. He could not see how else it could be discharged. Further questioned, witness said that deceased was standing on a rise above him when lie received the shot accidentally discharged. Witness could not account for failing to notice the third cartridge in the breech. He thought that he must have pulled the trigger thinking the gun unloaded. After the rifle exploded deceased said he was hit, turned round and sat down. Soon after he got up and said he was all right, and that the bullet must have glanced off. There was no bullet wound immediately apparent, but soon after deceased felt ill and was carried to the hotel on a litter of tree branches. Dr. Bakewell attended him and ordered his removal to tho Palmerston North hospital. Janies McKee, postmaster at Rangiwahia, gave corroborative evidence, adding that a second examination of deceased’s body after the accident revealed a wound over the right arm. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased died on the date named from septicaemia resulting from a bullet wound accidentally inflicted by John McLean near Rangiwahia, oil April 10.