THE SHOOTING OF WALTER GEDSON.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8961, 29 October 1907, Page 2

THE SHOOTING OF WALTER GEDSON.

A Verdict of Accidental Death.

Yesterday afternoon at the Palmerston North Publics Hospital an inquest was held before the Coroner (Capt. llowlem) touching the death of 'Walter Gedson, stepeon of Stephen Hunt, of Palmerston Noftlh Dr G. IVilsoii, deposed that he satf deceased about 9 p.m. on Saturday in tt state of extreme collapse brought on by hemorrhage and shook. He was so weak that witness thought it better to at once communicate with the police in case his dying depositions should require to be taken. Kocovery was practically bope* less. Deceased died about 3 a.m. on Sunday. Witness held a post mortem examination on Sunday. The shot must have been fired at close quarters. Geo; Wiggins, aged 18 years, working on his father’s farm at Aoranui, said deceased had been Working on the same farm for tho past throe weeks, and they had always been on the best of tcr£n<k About 5 p.m. on Saturday witness, deceased, Fred Spooner, and Henry AA’ills. started out to shoot rabbits. Wills was slightly in front and when a few chains from tho house fired at a rabbit. W itness at once commenced to load his gun, when it went off, and deceased, who was in front,- er-.od out * I’m shot,” and at once collapsed on tho ground Cross-examined by Sergeant Stagpoole, witness said that at the time of the accident they were walking in single file, tPd deceased in front, witness about five or sisT yards behind, and Spooner (who did not carry a gun) in the rear. He could give no reason for tho gun going ofl. The barrel which discharged was the left one, which he never used, as it was out of order. He filled the left barrel so that ho could take tho cartridge cut and recharge the right barrel without loss of time. Tho rightband barrel did not go off. Directly tho accident happened Wills ran to Mayo’s house close by, and telephoned for a doctor and also to the police. Dr McAlum responded to tho call, and immediately on his arrival ordered a stretcher to bo procured, and had deceased taken to the house, whore he dressed his wound, and at onc6 ordered his removal to the Hosdital. H. Wills, blacksmith, living with Mr Wiggins, his fathor-iu-law, corroborated tho previous witness as fb their sotting out to shoot rabbits. Witness was some way ahead of tho others, and when he fired at a rabbit, a few .seconds later bo heard the report of a- gun and a cry of pain, and looking round saw- Gedson full. Witness ran to the spot and found deceased lying on the ground moaning. Witness asked him what was wrong, and ho said, 11 I’m done.” AVitness looked at tho wound, and then at once communicated with tho police and a doctor. Cross-examined, witness said that during the three weeks the deceased had lived with them he had always been the best of friends with all the family. Fred AV. Spooner,aged 15, corroborated tho evidence of tho previous witness. Stephen Hunt, carrier, Palmerston,-step-father of tho deceased, said that deceased bad been in his employ up till tho 14th of September last. Since then bo had been working for Mr J. AYiggins at Aorangi. Martin Douglas Stagpoole, Sergeant of Police, gave evidence as to having received a communication from the Hospital. Ho in company with Mr Thomson, S.M., and Detective (juirke at once went n» to take the depositions. They found deceased in a very weak state, and on bis saying that tho affair was a pure accident, decided that it would not bo advisable to put any more questions to him. The jury returned a verdict that deceased died from a gunshot wound accidentally inflicted by Geo. AA'iggius, no blame being attachable to anyone.