CO129-413 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [8-10] — Page 100

€

Hon, C. S. F.

38306

Encloème 198

At 11.55 p.a. on thingìdƐinatant I was called to the

Charge Roon at Central by Inspector Fenton, who informed me

that E.P.C. A156 Miller had been accidentally shot. I

found the injured constable just being put into an ambul-

ance outside the Charge Room door. He had a bullet wound

in the abdominal region and appeared to be unconscious.

He was immediately sent to the 6.C.H. and the hospital

authorities were warned by telephone.

In consequence of what Inspector Fenton and E.P.0. A145

Stimson told me I then examined all the automatic pistola

All

in custody of the Charge Room B.P.0., 21 in all.

were in their holsters and at "Safe". All were charged

with magazines. Two pistols had a cartridge in the

chamber and the hammer cooked. In both these cases,

however, the trigger was at "Safe" so that no danger arose

from the cooked hammera inasmuch as the mechanism was in

order.

I then examined pistol No. 2, the weapon with which

E.P.C. A186 Miller had just accidentally shot himself.

The pistol was charged with a magazine containing siz

cartridges, the trigger was at "safe". Removing the

magazine, I cocked the hammer. Keeping the trigger at "Safe" I applied some pressure with my thumb to the back

of the hammer. The hammer sprang to the firing pin and

would have discharged a cartridge, had there been one in

the chamber. The mechanism was, therefore, out of order.

I think this explains a most regrettable accident.

From/