MAN FATALLY SHOT.
INVERCARGILL, This Day.
Mr Benjamin Albert Dickson, aged 36, was fatally shot at Strathvale yesterday. He was leaving a car to have a shot at some rabbits, and when lifting the gun the weapon went off, the contents lodging in his head. -Ashburton Guardian, 20/8/1934.
SHOOTING FATALITY
A DEFECTIVE GUN
evidence at inquest.
(From Our Correspondent.)
An inquest into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Benjamin Albert Dickson, who was found shot on the Waikouro road on Sunday was held at Otautau on Monday before Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., coroner.
Francis Mary Kane, in evidence, stated that she went for a bicycle ride on Sunday and when some distance along the Waikouro road she saw a motor car pulled up on the side of the road. It was facing towards Waikouro. On nearing the car she saw a man lying on his back with his feet towards the car and also noticed blood on the road and a shotgun lying across his left arm. She went back and informed Mr Cowan.
Ronald James Bradley gave corroborative evidence.
Robert Liggett Dickson, in evidence, stated that he was a farmer residing at Scotts Gap, and he identified the body of deceased as his brother, Benjamin Albert Dickson, who was 36 years of age and a farmer by occupation. He last saw his brother alive on August 11 when he paid a visit to his place, and he was then in his usual health. As far as witness knew he had no worries. He was a single man. At about 1 p.m. on Sunday he saw his brother’s car go along the road in the direction of Otautau, and somewhere about 4 p.m. witness was informed by his brother-in-law that Benjamin had been shot. He went to Waikouro road, where he saw his brother lying dead, and he assisted to remove the body to his house.
To the Coroner: His brother never worried and he was not in financial difficulties. He could not think there was any reason for deceased taking his life, and he was pretty sure it was an accident. His brother was experienced in firearms and had been using the gun previously.
David Dickson stated that he had resided with deceased at Scotts Gap. Witness left home about 12.15 p.m. on Sunday to go round the stock, and his brother was then at the house. He spoke of going to his sister’s place, Mrs Clothier’s, at Otautau, and mentioned that he would take the gun and shoot some rabbits for the dogs but witness did not see him leave. Witness heard his brother say that one of the triggers was weak in the gun. About a week ago he saw deceased out with the gun when it went off. Deceased mentioned that it had gone off on its own again. He always had a piece of rubber tied round the trigger guard of the gun so as to protect his finger. Herbert Clothier informed him on Sunday that his brother had been found shot. Deceased had never at any time spoken of taking his life and as far as witness knew he had no reason to do so.
To the Coroner: His brother always left the hammer down and it was the practice to carry the gun loaded. He thought it best to have the gun destroyed.
Robert George Cowan, in evidence, stated that at 2.15 p.m. on Sunday the girl Kane called at his house and stated that there was a man shot down the road at Waikouro. He sent the girl to Mrs Swap’s to ring the police and the doctor, not knowing that the telephone was off on Sunday. Witness went straight along the Waikouro road and there found a car pulled up on the left hand side of the road. He could see the skid marks at the rear of the car where the wheels had skidded when the car stopped. There was a man lying dead on the road, the top of his head having been blown away. He had a double-barrelled shotgun which was lying on deceased’s left-hand side, the barrel of which was pointing towards deceased’s head. He had his hand around the gun somewhere close to the grip. He was not sure at the time who the man was owing to the severe wounds in the head. Witness went to Mr Crane’s for assistance and stayed until the police arrived. He had previously seen deceased shooting along this road.
Constable A. C. White, of Otautau, stated that on Sunday he was informed that a man had been found shot on the Waikouro road. Proceeding to the scene of the accident he found deceased lying on the ground on his back. The left hand of deceased was around the barrel of a shotgun which was pointing towards his head. The breech of the gun contained two cartridges, the one in the left having been discharged. Both hammers of the gun were down. From the position in which deceased was lying it would appear that he had got out of the car and was facing towards it on the driver’s side. He was probably taking the gun from the car by the barrel when the gun went off. The skin of deceased’s head was badly blackened from the powder being fired at close range. He examined the car, but could not find where anything had been fastened from the car to the gun, and found that although only one cartridge had been discharged both barrels were dirty, but from the appearance he did not think the right hand one had been discharged that day. The pull of the lefthand trigger was much weaker than the right trigger, and if the hammer was up it would take a very light pull to put it off. He knew the Waikouro road where deceased was found, and said there were a fair number of rabbits to be seen there. He had made a further examination of the gun, and found that if the left hammer was down and it became caught in anything when being pulled out of the car it would go off without pulling the trigger. Deceased had four cartridges in his belt besides the one in the gun. It would not go off with a jar, but the slightest touch of the trigger would set it off. They had no experienced gunsmith in Otautau, but he had had considerable experience in shooting during the last 30 years and knew the gun was defective.
The Coroner returned the following verdict: “That on August 19 at Waikouro Benjamin Albert Dickson died from the result of a gunshot wound in the head, and that while the shooting appeared to have been accidental there is no evidence as to how the said wound came to be inflicted.”
The Coroner gave the necessary order for the destruction of the gun. -Southland Times, 22/8/1934.
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