SHOOTING FATALITY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 7 March 1913, Page 5

SHOOTING FATALITY.

INQUEST IN MASTERTON

DEATH FROM MISADVENTURE

An inquest on the body of the late Robert James Ewington was held in Masterton yesterday by Mr .J. T. Al. Hornsby, District Coroner. Evidence wa-s given by William A. Harding, John Fletcher (of Pirinoa), J. (J. Ewington and A. K. Johnston. John Fletcher, in his depositions, stated that he proceeded to the scene of the accident, which was about four miles from Sutherland's Camp, up the Turanganui river, at the request of Harding. He leached the spot at about four o'clock in tlie afternoon. When he arrived, deceased was quite conscious, and lying by the riverbank. His wounds were not bleeding. Witness found a strap tied tightly round the right leg above the knee, and this had evidently stopped the ttowof blood. Witness spoke to diseased who said, "I am done!" Witness asked how tho accident had happened, and deceased replied: "After firing at tlie pig, the animal ran a short distance, and I thought I would give it anothor shot. I put another cartridge in my rifle; but by that time the pig had rolled over. I forgot that there was a fresh cartridge m the breach of the rifle, and later 1 went to close the breech by pulling the trigger. I was holding the gun on my left shoulder with the muzzle forward. I pulled the barrel down my body, and pulled the trigger to close the breech, when the charge went off and I was shot." Witness stated t&at a number of other men came along, and they made a stretcher. They left about six o'clock to carry deceased down the river to the Camp. As darknes 6 came on, they rested about eight o'clock. Others came along with a lantern, and the journey was resumed. On tho journey, witness asked deceased if lie was warm enofigh, and he replied, "Yes." That was the last word the deceased spoke. This was about 8..15 p.m. They reached Sutherland's Camp at 10 p.m. and placed deceased in a tent,- where he died shortly before eleven o'clock. ( ' The witness Harding, who supported the statement already published concerning the accident.- stated that: Dr Robertson, of Martinborough, .who arrived shortly after midnight, had told him that, from the nature of the wounds, there was absolutely no chance of recovery from the sinrt. The Coroner returned a verdict o F "Death from Misadventure." He also commended those who had assisted in carrying the dying man to Camp and attended to nis injuries.