Charles Olds, (1877-21/3/1890). "playing in the yard"

A sad fatal accident occurred at Oamaru yesterday. A young man named E. B. Olds was handling a gun, which he did not know was loaded, when it went off, killing a child named Charles Lewis, aged three years. The shot struck the child in the throat and lower part of the face. Death was instantaneous.  -Auckland Star, 22/3/1890.

An inquest was held at the house of Mr Olds, on the North Road, on Saturday, before Mr Stratford, and a jury (Mr George Robertson being foreman), regarding the death of Charles Lewis, aged three years. Ellen Jane Lewis said she was the mother of the child, which on Friday afternoon, about 2.30, was playing in the backyard. She ran out on hearing a gun fired. Edwin Thomas Olds, her brother, had the child in his arms, and witness took it from him, and saw that it was shot in the chin, but did not think it was dead. Mrs Harrison, a neighbour, came, and taking the child, said it was dead. Her brother had gone for a doctor. She did not see a gun, although she heard the shot fired. A gun, which she did not know was loaded, had been standing in the corner of the wash house for several weeks. It belonged to one of her brother's workmen. Her brother Tom was very fond of the child, and she was sure he would not hurt him. She was sure it was an accident. Dr Garland said he was called to attend in a hurry, and at his surgery door found the lad Olds lying exhausted. He said he had shot a child, and asked witness to come immediately, which he did. On reaching the house, he found the child dead. There was an extensive wound on the chin, and immediately below it, and from the position of the wound he concluded that a portion of the charge had entered the base of the brain, and caused instantaneous death. Edwin Thomas Olds said Charlie Lews was his nephew. At about 2.30 on Friday  Charlie was playing in the yard, and witness was examining the gun produced, not knowing it to be loaded, when it went off. He did not know how, as he had no recollection of touching the trigger. The distance separating them was about seven feet. When the gun went off Charlie did not scream, nor groan, nor did he speak. The gun had been in the dairy about three months. He picked the child up and placed him in his mothers arms, and ran for the doctor. He did not notice that the nipple was capped. The affair was purely an accident. The jury were unanimously of the opinion that no blame was attachable to Edwin Thomas Olds, but there had been carelessness on the part of the person who left the loaded gun in such a place.  -North Otago Times, 24/3/1890.

Oamaru Cemetery.