Joseph Ledgerwood, (1910-26/2/1925). "a pea rifle"

 FATAL SHOOTING ACCIDENT

Press Association Dunedin, Feb 27 A fatality occurred at Deborah Bay. A boy named Joseph Hugh Ledgerwood, aged 14, was fatally shot with a pea rifle. The unfortunate lad and his brother, aged 18, were playing with a rifle which they did not know was loaded, when it accidentally exploded and the bullet entered the young boy’s stomach.  -Bay Of Plenty Times, 27/2/1925.

PEA RIFLE VICTIM. 

INQUEST ON BOY LEDGERWOOD. 

At the Hospital yesterday Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., coroner, hold an inquest concerning the death of Joseph Hugh Ledgerwood, aged 14 years, who died as the result of a pea rifle accident which occurred the previous day at Deborah Bay. 

Sergeant McCarthy represented the police. 

William Henry Ledgerwood identified the body as that of his son. 

Dr C. D. Reid, house surgeon at the Dunedin Hospital, deposed to the deceased being admitted to the institution at 3 p.m. An examination showed that the deceased had extensive laceration of the liver and also two perforations of the stomach. An operation was performed about 5 p.m., but deceased showed signs of collapse and ultimately collapsed completely and succumbed. In witness’s opinion death was due to heart failure brought on by extensive haemorrhage and shock. 

Richard John Seddon Ledgerwood, fisherman, 18 years of age, said the deceased brought out a rifle to the back yard and asked if it was firing straight. Witness and deceased both had a shot at a tin, and witness then went into the house. He came out some three minutes later and saw the rifle lying propped against the house. Picking it up he pulled the trigger, the deceased being three yards away. The rifle went off, the shot entering the deceased’s stomach. Witness did not know the rifle was loaded, nor did he take any steps to ascertain if it was. The deceased called out that he was shot, and witness immediately rang up for a doctor, who after temporarily dressing the wound ordered the deceased’s removal to the Dunedin Hospital. He was conscious when being conveyed by launch to the hospital. His brother and he had always been on friendly terms. He intended to clean the rifle when he picked it up.

The Coroner: There is no suggestion of pointing the rifle at the deceased in play? 

Witness: No. 

The Coroner said he would adjourn the inquest sine die to permit the police to make further inquiries if they thought fit. He remarked that for anyone of 18 years of age to pick up a rifle to clean it without making sure it was not loaded was a foolish act. That accounted for many shooting accidents.  -Otago Daily Times, 28/2/1925.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.