James Douglas McKenzie, (1907-17/2/1932). "climbing through a fence"

 SHOT THROUGH HEART.

AN UNEMPLOYED CARPENTER 

CLIMBING THROUGH FENCE. 

(By Telegraph. — Press Association.) OAMARU, this day. 

Having declared his intention of shooting rabbits, James Douglas McKenzie, single, aged 24, an unemployed carpenter, left home with a pea rifle yesterday afternoon, and had not returned at dark. A search was instituted, and the body was found near a wire fence. 

McKenzie had been shot through the heart at short range, the rifle having presumably discharged while he was climbing through a fence.  -Auckland Star, 18/2/1932.

INQUEST 

The inquest touching the death of James Douglas McKenzie, aged 24 years, of South Oamaru, who was found dead on Mr Grant’s property at Awamoa on February 17 with a buffet wound through his heart, was resumed at the police station yesterday afternoon before the coroner. Sir W. H. Frith. Dr R. K. Orbell said that he received a call from the police on February 17 and proceeded to a paddock in Mr Grants property at Awamoa. On arrival he found the dead body of deceased lying near a fence. He examined the body and came to the conclusion that the deceased had been dead about seven hours. There was a gunshot wound about half an inch internal on the left breast. He was of the opinion that the cause of death was due to a gunshot wound in the left breast, accidentally caused by the discharge of a pea rifle which was lying about 12 feet from the body. 

James McLachlan Robertson, licensed dealer, stated that he had had 26 years experience with rifles, and on making an examination of a .22 Stevens "Favourite” rifle at the police station, he found the pull of the rifle to be 41b. A further examination proved that the lever actuating the breach lock was somewhat worn and loose, but that itself would not be a contributing factor to the actual discharge of the rifle, the muzzle of the gun was blocked with earth which showed that the point of the muzzle had been dropped end on on the ground. On the right-hand side of the stock were scratches and marks, proving that the butt had been dragged over something. He made several tests of the possibility of the gun exploding on being dropped on the butt, but these had proved unsuccessful. There was a chance of the gun discharging the cartridge on being jarred at the hammer, either from half cock or with the hammer down, but on examinations being carried out there was no explosion in either case. Witness considered that deceased was accidentally shot through the trigger being caught on the wire while climbing over the fence and discharging the rifle. 

Constable Waring detailed the position of the body, and said that at the rear of where deceased was lying was a wire netting fence with a metal pipe on the lop of the wire. He presumed that while the deceased was getting over the fence the trigger of the rifle caught in some projection and so discharged the rifle. The flesh near the wound was blackened by powder from an exploded cartridge. There were no marks on the ground. The gun was a registered one.

Charles Edward Doran stated that on being advised that deceased was missing he set out and found the body on the property mentioned. 

The coroner said that it was quite feasible that in climbing over the fence the deceased pulled the rifle after him and the trigger caught in some projection on the wire and the rifle was discharged. A slight defection had been found in the rifle, and it would he handed over to the police. There was no doubt that the deceased was accidentally shot through the rifle exploding as shown in the evidence.  -Otago Daily Times, 25/2/1932.

Oamaru Cemetery.