TRAGEDY IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 30

TRAGEDY IN CHRISTCHURCH.

WOMAN SHOT BY HER SON.

CHRISTCHURCH, August 13. At 2.30 this a boy named Thomas Orosbery, aged about 15, fa-tally shot his mother with a pea rifle.

It appears that Mrs Crosbery had occasion to reprimand the boy for some (trivial omission of duty, and he took up a pea rifle, and pointing it at his mother, said, "I'll shoot you." The weapon went off, and the bullet entered the right cheek, worked downwards, and came out on the left side of the jaw.

Assistance was forthcoming, and Mrs Crosbery was removed to the hospital in an unconscious state. She died an hour and a half later.

The boy explained to the police that he forgot that he had inserted a cartridge in the weapon this morning for the purpose of shcoting sparrows. He had also pointed the rifle at his married sister last night, and playfully said he would shoot her.

INQUEST ADJOURNED. CHRISTCHURCH, August 14. Before Mr W. R. Haselden, coroner, this morning an inquest was held touching the death of Mrs Kathleen Crosbery, who was fatally shot by her son .yesterday afternoon. Detective Eade stated that he assisted Chief Detective Bishop to make inquiries. He went to the house of Mr Crosbery., jun., in Manchester street, and found the lad Thomas Crosbery there. In conversation, the lad said he had done the housework in the morning, prepared his father's dinner, and taken it to the Municipal Council Chamber; where his parent was working. He returned home, and had his dinner, washed up, -and then cleaned the stove. His mother then got up from her 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 ho\ise. as she expected his married orother 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 -the pea-rifle (produced) and baid, " 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 then 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 caitridge. He B»aid he had pointed 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 very much distressed, being nearly Irantic with grief.

Dr "Hay, house physician at the hospital, said the deceased was brought to the hospital at 2.45 p.m. in a "fctate of collapse. She had a wound on her right cheek, which had been bandaged up. She was given stimulants, but died about an hour later. He examined the wound, which extended downward and~ inward lor about five inches. There vas no sign of the bullet .exit., and deceased was

bleeding profusely. Death was due to hemorrhage, caused by the wound. At this stage 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 rousing the sympathy of those present.