FATAL ACCIDENTS.
The Superintendent of Police received word to-day that William Malcolmson, about 20 years of age, accidentally and fatally shot himself at Hakataramea Downs this morning. There were no further particulars given.
Mr McGrath also received advice that Alexander M Donald, aged 50 years, was accidentally killed at Omarama by his cart capsizing and falling upon him. -Evening Star, 17/11/1919.
Deaths
MALCOLMSON. — On November 17th 1919, accidentally killed at Hakataramea, William George, dearly beloved second son of William and Susan Malcolmson of 3 Beta street, Roslyn; aged 20 years. Deeply mourned. Private interment.
— A. S. Archer and Co., undertakers. -Evening Star, 18/11/1919.
ACCIDENTALLY SHOT.
An inquest was held yesterday at Kurow in front of Mr James Barclay, acting Coroner, and a jury of six, of whom Mr H. J. Hanner was chosen foreman, into the death of William Malcolmson, who was shot at Haka Downs on Monday.
William Malcolmson, senior, a rabbiter at Haka Downs, identified the deceased as his son, aged 19 years. He said deceased and he were rabbiting and on Sunday night were skinning rabbits outside the tent. Deceased had been using his rifle that day and had placed it beside the chimney. Witness advised him to hang it on the ridge pole, as it was not safe where it was. On Monday morning witness was first up and saw the rifle still alongside the chimney. He picked up the rifle and went towards the tent door. He worked the mechanism and the rifle went off. The son, who was in bed, called out, "Oh, dad, I am shot." Witness thought. he was only joking, but when he went into the tent he found that deceased's clothes had blood on them. He made deceased as comfortable as he could, and then rode to the station for assistance. He met a man named Robinson and told him of the accident, and arranged for the doctor to be sent for. He also met Noel Cunninghame, and asked him to hurry to the tent. The shooting was purely accidental. He had no ill will against his son. Witness had never handled a magazine rifle before. On his return from the station deceased was unconscious. He informed the people at Haka Downs that he had accidentally shot his son and arranged for the police to come to the station. His son never spoke after was shot, except, the words already reported.
Peter Noel Cunninghame, a shepherd at Haka Downs, said that on Monday he met William Malcomson who told him his son had been shot in the right side of the chest. Witness hurried down to the tent and found deceased alive but unconscious, and he died about 10 minutes later.
Constable Melville said that he went to Haka Downs on Monday. morning, arriving there about 11am. Malcolmson senior met him and told him that he had accidentally shot his son, his favorite son. Deceased was lying on a bunk in the tent with blood coming from a wound under his right armpit. The gun was lying outside where Malcolmson had dropped it. From there it was possible to see deceased lying on the bed. Witness was quite satisfied that the shooting was accidental.
A verdict was returned that deceased met his death by being accidentally shot. -Oamaru Mail, 19/11/1919.
Kurow notes
Two fatal accidents have occurred in the district, one being a very old resident of the district of Omarama, in the. person of Mr Macdonald. and the other being that of a lad just budding into manhood, that of William Malcolmson. Full particulars of both accidents have already appeared in the newspapers. The deepest sympathy is extended to the late Mr Malcolmson's relatives, he having been held in high esteem by all in the district for his lively and jovial manner. -Oamaru Mail, 27/11/1919.
No comments:
Post a Comment