Mexborough and Swinton Times April 5, 1913

Serious Charge against a Wath Man

A charge of selling a gun to a person not entitled to purchase, was preferred against Charles W.Hulse of Wath.

Superintendent Hayes stated that proceedings have been taken in this case because on 3 February last a 15 year old boy accidentally shot himself with a pistol he had in his trousers pocket. As a result of his accident, the boy died in Mexborough hospital. Enquiries were made, and the pistol was traced through several hands, until it transpired that it had been obtained by the defendant from London. Enquiries which had been made proved that defendant had purchased 15 pistols of different sorts and several thousands of cartridges.

Defendant said that he acted in ignorance of the law, but yet, although he was a chemist’s assistant, he told a London firm from whom he was purchasing that he was an ironmonger and hardware merchant. The pistols cost 1/4 each, and defendant sold then at 2/8, making a profit of 1/4.

The Superintendent said that through defendant’s carelessness and breach of the law a fine young lad had lost his life, and asked their Worships to inflict a substantial penalty.

William Oren (18), of 3 Victoria St, Kilnhurst, gave evidence to the effect that he had bought pistols and cartridges from the defendant at various times and then sold them on. On the last occasion that he bought one defendant said that if witness took half a dozen he would let him have them cheaper. Witness had not bought any since.

Hulse, who pleaded guilty, now stated that he did not know no what he had done was against the law. He thought it was at the option of the dealer to ask for the production of a gun licence. He was sorry for what had happened, and promised that it would not occur again.

The Bench took a serious view of the case, and inflicted a penalty of £1 and costs, or 14 days.