Mr. Blackburn (British Assessor) and (Magistrate Loh held an inquest at the public mortuary on Monday into the circum. stances attending the death of a yange coolie employed by the Municipal Council, who was accidentally shot during the progress of a competition on the Rifle Range on Saturday.
Pte. W. Smith, of "A" Ca. British, described what took place, saying that there was a Moock-out competition in which sections advanced from 300 to 150 yards. Witness was the winning man in his section, and when the cease fire was sounded he hurried off the range to make way for the next section, putting on the safety cate) of his rifle as he came from the mound. He went back with the man whom he had "Fmocked out," talking over the competition, and laid his rifle on the range truck, where the coolies were at work. He then noticed that his trigger was cocked, and at once put forward the safety catch and was on the point of opening the bolt when the rifle went off. He did not touch the trigger. The next thing he saw was the deceased lying on his back, and he immediately ran off to the police station to get an ambulance. Witness added that he did not Know the vite was loaded.
Mr. Blackburn—In the ordinary way, I-suppose you would remove all cartridges from the magazine on the conclusion of a competition. Ought you not to have done that?
Witness—Yes. That would be the proper procedure.
Mr. Blackburn—I take it the omission to do-so was due to forgetfulness Witness—Yes, owing to the excitement of my winning the competition.
Lieut. Dalton informed the Court that an inter-section competition was being conducted at the time, starting at 300 yards. Private Smith and another man advanced to 200 yards, followed by witness and two sergeants, and on to 150 yards, where Private Smith knocked his man out, ending that competition. The order was then given to cease fire. As they were in a hurry to carry on with the competition the rifles were not inspected. Witness and the sergeants then returned to the 300 yards range and he was engaged in getting the next two sections on the mound when he heard a shot fired near the cleaning cart. He ran across and found that a man had been shot, and that the rifle belonged to Private Smith.
Mr. Blackburn intimated that further evidence was unnecessary, and added that the Court found
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