SHOOTING FATALITY
BOY'S SAD END.
A shooting fatality occurred on Wednesday at Castle Hill, near Springfield, the victim being Richard Tui Clarkson Ballantyne, the fourteen-year-old son of Mr Richard Ballantyne, of Riccarton. The deceased was out rabbit shooting with his cousin Trevor Clarkson, aged fourteen years, the son of Mr William B. Clarkson, of Riccarton, and the rifle was accidentally discharged while being carried by young Clarkson, the victim being shot in the side.
An inquest was held yesterday at the Courthouse, before Mr J. E. McCarthy, Coroner.
Trevor Cargill Clarkson stated that on Wednesday he went shooting at Castle Hill, accompanied by the deceased. Witness was carrying a rifle got from a Mr Lynn Blackley, an employee at the Castle Hill station. Witness and deceased left the station at 2.30 p.m. Both did some shooting. While walking across a paddock, both skylarking and teasing each other, witness had the gun either in his hand or under his arm, the muzzle pointing behind. The gun, which was cocked, and not half-cocked as witness thought, discharged, and the contents struck the deceased, who was on witness's left side. Witness thought the trigger must have caught in his coat while skylarking. Deceased received the contents in his right side. The deceased walked about or 30 yards, and then stopped from weakness. Witness called out for help, and some shearers came to their assistance. The deceased was then brought into town. Witness had fired the rifle off just before the deceased was shot. He must have forgotten having reloaded it again.
Dr. James C. Pairman said that he met the deceased about 3 miles outside Christchurch. Witness examined the deceased to see if he could stand the journey to Christchurch. Deceased was taken to the Lyndhurst private hospital to have on immediate operation performed. Witness consulted Dr. Sandston, who agreed that an operation was necessary. With witness's assistance, Dr. Sandston performed the operation. They found that the bullet had entered the wall of the chest obliquely from right to left. There was a large vent in the liver, about two inches long; which bled freely. The liver was stitched to stop the haemorrhage. The patient rallied some hours afterwards, but never fully recovered from the stock. The cause of death was shock from the wound, the length of the journey, and the operation. The wound inflicted was consistent with a wound that would be caused in the circumstances described by the last witness. The deceased died at about 2 a.m. yesterday.
A verdict was returned to the effect that the deceased died from a rifle shot accidentally inflicted whilst shooting at Castle Hill, Springfield, on December 39th. "I would direct attention." said Mr McCarthy, "to the frequency of accidents arising from carelessness in the use of firearms. No one should be entrusted with firearms unless he or se is well acquainted with the attendant dangers." -Press, 1/1/1921.
FUNERAL NOTICES
THE Funeral of the late Richard Tui Clarkson Ballantyne will leave his parents' residence, 9 Carlton's road, Riccarton, on Saturday, January 1st, at 9.15.a.m., for the Riccarton Churchyard.
J. LAMB and SON. -Press, 1/1/1921.
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