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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier Saturday 03 Sep 1938
Page 6 Column 3
A PITNEY TRAGEDY
SAD DISCOVERY IN PLANTATION
DEAD MAN BESIDE GUN
“DEATH BY MISADVENTURE” VERDICT
A distressing tragedy was discovered at The Plantation, Pitney, on Monday morning, when Mr. Kenneth Gordon SALWAY, aged 39 years, son of Mr. W. G. SALWAY, of West-ville, Huish Episcopi, was found lying dead with a shot-gun beside him. At the inquest on Tuesday the story was told how he borrowed a gun and the only cartridge available, stating he had seen some birds in the neighbourhood. The tragic discovery was made some hour or more afterwards by Mr. Percival Samuel WALROND, of Glebe Farm, Pitney, the dead man having been severely wounded in the head.
The inquest was held at Brookside Farm, Pitney, and was conducted by the Deputy Coroner for the district, Mr. J. J. B. RUTTER, who sat with a jury of seven, with Mr. F. C. WEBB as foreman. P.C. GOWING (Somerton) was the Coroner's officer.
NEVER KNOWN TO TOUCH GUN.
Evidence of identification was given by deceased's brother, Mr. Reginald Sidney SALWAY, who said he last saw him alive on Sunday evening at about 10.30, when he appeared to be in his usual spirits. Witness said his brother had enjoyed good health, and had never made any suggestion that he might end his life intentionally. He (witness) had never known him touch a gun before. On Monday deceased left the house as usual at about 6 or 6.30 a.m. before any other members of the household were up, and went to his work as a news vendor. The occupation was one which suited his character and temperament admirably, and he was apparently happy in his work.
“SEEN SOME BIRDS.”
Mrs. Constance Mary PETTY, of Chapel Farm, Pitney, said deceased came to the farm at about his usual time delivering the papers and appeared to be quite his normal self. He accepted the customary cup of tea and in the course of conversation mentioned that he had seen some birds, and asked if he could borrow a gun. Witness was busy at the time and told him she could not be bothered and he went away. A few minutes later he came back to the house and said there was a gun in the meal-house, could he take it? He was given permission to take the gun, and then inquired if he could borrow cartridges. “I told him we had none,” continued witness, “but that my brother, who was working about the farm, had some. I told him he was out in the barton somewhere, and he went off out there.”
THE ONLY CARTRIDGE.
Aubrey Herbert PETTY, of Drayton, stated that recently he had been staying at Chapel Farm helping his brother. On Monday the deceased came to him at about 8.15 a.m. and asked if he had any cartridges. “I only gave him one, the only one I had on me at the time,” went on witness. “As he went away he said 'I've got a licence.' He had no gun then. I noticed nothing out of the ordinary in his manner; he was just his usual self.”
STORY OF THE DISCOVERY.
In his evidence Percival Samuel WALROND, of Glebe Farm, Pitney, said he left home at about nine o'clock to attend to his stock. He had occasion to pass the Plantation, and he then noticed a man's bicycle and a bag of papers near the gate. On that occasion he attached no importance to the sight, but merely assumed they belonged to the deceased through the presence of the bag of papers. Passing the spot some time later with a flock of sheep, he saw the bicycle and the bag of papers in the same position. Thinking this somewhat unusual, he went into the plantation to investigate. About 30 yards from the entrance he saw the deceased lying in the pathway with terrible injuries to the head. Having penned his sheep in a field, he went to Brookside Farm and asked Mr. HIGGINS to telephone for the police. He visited the scene with the police officers and doctor, and the body was still in the same position.
Henry Albert COX, who is employed at Brookside Farm by Mr. HIGGINS, said he was sent to a field for a load of clover hay at about 9.15 a.m. He saw the deceased come out of the plantation gate, take his bicycle, and proceed back towards the village. Witness took no particular notice of him, but when he (witness) returned about half-an-hour later the bicycle was there again. Even so, he attached no importance to the matter and passed on.
Replying to the Coroner, witness said he did not think there were many birds in the plantation, as it was rather close to the farm. There might, however, be some pigeons about.
TRIPPED IN WIRE?
P.C. GOWING (Somerton) told how he visited the Plantation and went to some bushes as pointed out by Mr. Percy WALROND, who had discovered the body. “I saw the body of a man lying in the bushes on his left side, with the top of his head blown away, and a 12-bore single-barrelled shot gun containing a spent cartridge was lying on the ground near his right hand, added witness. A cycle bag was underneath him. Three feet from where the body was lying was a Blakey boot protector, and on examination of deceased's boots I found he had a number of others in the soles. This plantation is fenced with mesh wire, and where the body was found the wire was practically flat on the ground.
It would appear that as deceased was creeping through between the overhanging bushes and the wire fence the wire tripped him and in falling the gun was discharged.”
Evidence as to deceased's habits was given by P.C. STANDEN (Huish Episcopi), who said he had been a neighbour of the family for five years. There was nothing about deceased's manner which would lead one to suppose that he might intend to take his own life. He was certainly morose, and kept himself to himself.
INSTANTANEOUS DEATH.
Dr. Kenneth Howard WRIGHT, of Somerton, described the injuries, and said it was obvious that death had been instantaneous. He formed the opinion that the shot was fired with the gun resting on or very close against the skin, and the explosion occurred inside the head. Death was due to the com-
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plete destruction of the brain centres which controlled the heart. From a medical point of view it could not be laid down either that death was by accident or otherwise. The injuries were above the right eye.
In reviewing the evidence, the Coroner said in some way the suggestion that the deceased tripped obtained added weight in view of the fact that one of the boot protectors was found three feet way, as though it had been pulled from the boot, which was minus a protector.
The jury after a short absence, recorded a verdict of “Death by misadventure,” and stated that death was due to the destruction of the brain through a gunshot would accidentally self-inflicted.