Sydney George Glover, (1895-13/12/1912). "gradually sank and died"

DEATHS

GLOVER. — At Invercargill, on Friday, 13th December. 1912 (the result of an accident), Sydney George, dearly beloved son of William George and Agnes Glover, of “Taramoa,” aged 17 years. 

The funeral will leave the parents’ residence on Sunday, 15th inst., at 1 p.m., for the Wallacetown Cemetery. Friends please accept this (the only) intimation. J. FRASER & CO„ Undertakers.  -Southland Times, 14/12/1912.

INQUESTS

TWO ENQUIRIES AT HOSPITAL, A PEA RIFLE CASE. 

Two inquests were hold by the District Coroner, Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M., in the hospital yesterday afternoon. Sergeant Bingham conducted the cases for the police. 

In the case of Sydney George Glover, a youth who died in the hospital from the effects of a wound in the abdomen, evidence was given by William George Glover, farmer at Taramoa, and father of the deceased, deposed that his son would have been 18 years old in January. For some time he had had a pea rifle. On the day in question the deceased was working with the engine cutting wood, and during the afternoon; while the witness was in the house he saw the deceased coming towards the house without some buckets which he had told him to bring. On enquiry the deceased told the witness that he had a bullet in him. When asked how it happened, and he said that his hat got in the road. The witness did not ask any more questions, but took him to the hospital at once. 

Dr. Barclay, Medical Superintendent at the Southland Hospital, deposed that on examining the deceased at the hospital he found a bullet wound in front of the abdomen. The deceased was collapsed, and was in great pain. An operation was decided upon and carried out at 6.30 p.m. It was found that the bullet had passed into the substance of the liver. It was impossible to find or remove the bullet from the liver. The prospects of recovery were recognised as very slight, and septic peritonitis developed very rapidly. The patient gradually sank and died on December 3 3th.

Sergeant Bingham gave evidence to the effect that the deceased told him that on December 6th he and some others had been using a 22 Winchester rifle. The rifle was put away, and after some time the deceased took it out again to shoot sparrows. He was, he said, resting the rifle against the barn doorpost when his hat obstructed his view, and he then let go of the rifle with his right hand to push his hat back, and as he did so the butt of the rifle dropped to the floor. The shock of the butt striking the floor and the cartridge exploded, the bullet entering his body. The deceased was alone at the time. Witness had tested the rifle, and found that it would go off in the manner described by the deceased. The Coroner brought in a verdict that the deceased was accidentally shot.  -Southland Times, 18/12/1912.

Wallacetown Cemetery.