1305. George Hamilton Cobcroft
BOY FATALLY SHOT.
Coroner's Open Finding.
The district coroner, Mr. G. H.. Williams, after an inquest at Ryde yesterday, said that
the evidence did not enable him to decide whether George Hamilton Cobcroft, 15, of 52 Anzac Avenue, West Ryde, wilfully or accidentally shot himself. The boy was found dead in his bedroom on April 2 with his father's .22 calibre rifle beside him.
"There is often no reason that we can find for people committing suicide," Mr. Williams said. "There are no apparent reasons why this boy should have taken his own life." Mrs. Elizabeth Annie Cobcroft said that on the day of the fatality she left home about 1.30 p.m. with her husband. Her son said he would remain at home and read. On her return at 6 p.m. she found him lying on the floor of his bedroom with a rifle alongside of him. When she left her son had been quite happy, and was to be apprenticed to the mechanical trade, which was his wish, the next day. He had been going to the Technical College for training at night time. On occasions he had said he felt tired. Stanley George Cobcroft, the father, said he believed that his son was taking the rifle to pieces when he accidentally dropped it, and in trying to retrieve it grabbed the trigger.
Dr. R. E. Wherrett, of Ryde, said that he did not think the shooting was accidental.
Source: The SMH 29 Apr 1939
701. Zena Faith Cobcroft
A CHILD AND A TOMAHAWK.
On Saturday evening, the fiveyear old daughter of Constable Cobcroft. of Hartley Vale, N.S.W., met with a painful accident whilst playing with a six-year-old companion. They got possession of a tomahawk and by some means the little girl received a serious wound across the back of the hand, almost severing one of the fingers, which was subsequently amputated at Lithgow hospital.Source: The Farmer and Settler 30 Jun 1911