Shocking Accident.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3838, 22 June 1891, Page 2

Shocking Accident.

A. shocking gun acoident happened at Kaniapella (Victoria) on Thursday last, when Charles Smith, a farmer, and an old resident of the district, met-with a tragic death, Very little is-known of the actual circumstances, the deceased being at horn" by himself,

F-Vy- l - Mrs Smith waa;irr Eohnoa,- and - tbe discovery -was ; first made by lier daughter. Omrefcurning home from school she was horrified te find her father sitting in a chair with a double-barrelled ,gun between his , knees, the muzzle, of which was directed to his face. Smith wa<? then quitejfead, the upper portion of the <- left sHe of his head being completely blown m*j.< The "child ran - tfway to a~neighbor, Mr Olliver, who after seeing the state of affairs came -to - Echiea <-* and reported the "" occurrence to_the police. Sergeant i James went ou\ locality, and found Smith the position des- < cribecL On the Sergeant taking the gun up, and opening the breech to withdraw'Jtßelcarlriages, the second , barrel exploded, the, shot going *" through the roof. It was then found that the Jocks of" the-gun were defective, and it is supposed that the occurrence was accidental. Smith had fpjyiously announced his intention of shooting some parrots *> which were destroying trees in the garden, and he is supposed to have taken up tbe gun for that purpose when he met with his tragic death.