The Queanbeyan Age - 20 May 1886.
Shocking Fatal Gun Accident
Last night, just after we had gone to press, Mr. E.W. Percy came breathless
into town. He reported to the police and Dr. Fitzpatrick that he had been the
accidental cause of shooting Mr. William Plummer. The accident occurred on the
Queanbeyan Hill, just at the back of Mr. P. Ryan's slaughtering yards. The sufferer,
he stated, was seriously injured. Although naturally he had not stopped with
him long enough to ascertain the exact nature of his wounds, leaving him, rather,
to the care of other companions (Mr. F. Penney and his son) while he made all
haste for such aid as might be procured.
Immediately on the news gaining circulation a number of townsmen went to the
scene of the accident to bring home the sufferer, and render what assistance
might be found neccessary.
They found PLummer apparantly in mortal agony, bleeding profusely from the
mouth, which was at the time thought to be the seat of the injury. A stretcher
was improvised by wrenching the door from a hut close by, and the unfortunate
young man brought on the shoulders of strong men to his home at Mr. W. Percy's
in Rutledge street. On his way his groans were piteous and his agonising struggles
such, that it was only with difficulty he could be kept on the stretcher. A
large crowd followed those who bore the sufferer and remained round the doors
of his lodging till a late hour in the night.
Dr. Fitzpatrick came quickly to Mr. Plummer's aid, but at once saw that no
human skill could save him. It was found that an entire charge of large shot
had entered his back upon, between, and below the shoulder blades, and had lacerated
the lungs, as might be expected from the copius bleeding at the mouth.
The police were quickly in attendance, and it is usual in such cases, under
instructions from Senior sergeant Cornett, Mr. Percy was taken into custody
pending results.
It was evident from the first that death was only a question of a few hours;
an attempt was made to obtain from the dying young man his testimony in the
presence of a magistrate. But he was in too great pain to give any coherent
account of what happened. All he could say was that he thought he had been shot,
but could not recollect by whom or who was with him at the time, except Mr.
Frank Penney. He said it was all the result of an accident.
Dr Fitpatrick remained in attendance, doing what he could do to alleviate the
accute sufferings of the dying man who lingered till about two o'clock this
morning when he breathed his last.
