SAD SHOOTING FATALITY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8901, 22 August 1907, Page 2

SAD SHOOTING FATALITY.

Yesterday morning while Mr and Mrs Carson, of g.Rang it ike i Line, were at breakfast about 7.30 a report, was heard from the bedroom in which their son Sydney Carson wad dressing, and on reaching the room the parents wore horriii'al io find the boylyiiig'soviouily wounded by n pistol wound'in the forehead. No one else was in the room and it is therefore impossible to tell bow the accident happened. The boy was about 12 years of ago and had recently become possessed of a pistol which he had purchased from another bav. Hi:. father having become acquainted with this fact had told his son just before tho accident too!; place that tho pistol must be given up, ami had.then left the room and gone U> breakfast, expecting tho boy to follow in a minute or two. Medical aid was summoned as soon as the discovery was made and tho boy wns removed to Mrs Freeman's hospital in'an unconscious state. We regrcl to learn that- he only survived till last" evening, death taking place at 7 o'clock. Mr and Mrs Carson and family wiil have tin! deep and heartfelt sympathy of all in their sail misfortune.

Chatting to one of tho members of an old-established ironmongery firm in I'ahuorston yesterday our representative was informed tint hardly :i week passed without young lads attempting to purchase pea rdles or pistols. The Palo of firearms to boys under 10 years ot ago would render the firm liable to prosecution for a breach of tho Arms and Ammunition Act. A. recent ease hi Timaru was mentioned, in which a well-known ironmongery linn ia that town wero lined Xo and costs for selling a pea rifle to a boy. " Whenever a boy of doubtful age." said tho part nor in the Pahaerston linn, " comes to us with such an object in view we always toil him to ask Ids father to come in and make the purchase. Many applications are also received from boys for -22 horo cartridges." In those tho bullet is about a quarter of an inch long, in half an inch ot copper. The pea pistol, it is generally considered, will kill at a distance of 30yds. —Maniuvatu Times.