ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 227, 23 March 1912, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

MYSTERIOUS SHOOTING CASE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Palmerston N., Friday. Various sensational and. contradictory rumors are current about the telegraphed accident to Clarence Healey, but -all are wide of the mark. Statements made by the man himself are to the effect .that he was at a hotel yesterday morning and had some drink. He went out to the back of the premises, and was toying with a small revolver, when one of the charges exploded, and the bullet lodged in his forehead. Although it did not penetrate the brain, the shock caused him to, drop the weapon, and he walked inside again. Someone noticing a little blood on Healey's forehead asked what was the matter. He replied, "I have been in a scrap." He left ;the hotel shortly afterwards. A little later in the day his employer, having no one to take Healey's usual round on the butcher's cart, went out to look for him, and having found him noticed blood on the man's forehead, and asked what was the matter, receiving rather an indefinite reply. About noon Heley decided to go to a doctor, and was sent to the hospital, where he was. examined and the bullet extracted last evening. Had the revolver been a larger one it is probable instant death would have resulted. As it was, however, the bullet merely embedded itself in his forehead, causing a slight fracture, but' did not penetrate the brain. He is making satisfactory progress. A BOY'S MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. Auckland, Last Night. A ten-year-old schoolboy, when returning to Paerata by the 12.50 train from Pukekohe, met with a serious accident. It appears that this train only stops at Paerata when the guard is notified. When he saw that he was being carried past his station, the boy jumped off the train, which was travelling very fast, with the result that he fell on his head, his sca'lp being fearfully torn about. The injured lad, who had* a miraculous escape, was picked up by a lady residing alongside the line, and after receiving medical attention was conveyed to his home, where he is doing as well as can be expected.