This week in Prince George history, Aug. 21-27:
Aug. 23, 1934: Sgt. McKenzie of the provincial police laid out his case explaining the deaths of two Pineview men before a coroner's inquest, The Citizen reported.
Steve Zadorozny was last seen at his home on Sunday, Aug. 12, 1934 by his son, Paul.
"He had been picking wild berries. As he was still missing on the following Tuesday, his disappearance was reported to the provincial police and Constables Cook and Gray were assigned to the search work," The Citizen reported. "They had not been successful up to Friday last when the body of Philip Ibanovitch was discovered by Mike Dronich close to the shack in which Ibanovitch and Dronich had lived for the past two years."
Ibanovitch died from a rifle bullet, which had entered his left breast and went out his back. A .38-55 Winchester rifle and a crotched stick were found on the ground near the body. The flesh around the bullet wound was burned, and police came to the conclusion Ibanovitch had killed himself by pressing the rifle to his chest and firing it with the crotched stick.
The search for Zadorozny continued, with the added knowledge that Ibanovitch -who had previously helped in the search for his neighbour -had killed himself.
Zadorozny's cabin was about a mile and a half from the shack shared by Ibanovitch and Dronich, across rough terrain filled with windfalls.
"On Sunday the searchers discovered the body Zadorozny. He had been shot through the back of one of his shoulders," The Citizen reported. "The body had been exposed for several days and was in an advanced state of decomposition. The police made a significant find in an empty rifle shell 25 yards from where the body lay, which carried identical marks with those on the empty shell in the rifle found beside the body of Ibanovitch, pointing to the conclusion the two men had been killed by the same weapon."
Sgt. McKenzie told the inquest that their investigation showed Ibanovitch was know to be a hunter and frequently carry a firearm. In addition, he was know to be nervous and trigger happy, "and had frequently been known to fire at burnt logs mistaking them for bear or other animals."
Zadorozny's body was found in a thick patch of Saskatoon berries, where he had already filled one pail full of berries. He was wearing a black hat and coat, with blue overalls.
McKenzie told the inquest he believed Ibanovitch accidentally shot Zadorozny, thinking he was a bear or other animal, and then was afraid to confess to the shooting. Police believed Ibanovitch hoped the body would not be found in the dense bush.
"The odour from the body had become strong and Ibanovitch, realizing discovery was imminent, decided to take his own life," The Citizen reported. "The circumstances that he used the same rifle, in the opinion of the police, cleared up the mystery in connection to the death of Zadorozny."
Police could find no motive for Ibanovitch to intentionally kill Zadorozny, as the two were neighbours and had no apparent bad feelings between them.
The Citizen apparently did not follow up on the case to report on the verdict issued by the coroner's inquest. But with the alleged shooter dead, I suppose there was little for the jury to do but rule Zadorozny's death either accidental or intentional.
It's a good cautionary tale for hunters and others who carry firearms in the bush - never fire unless you can clearly see what you're shooting at.
• To explore 100 years of local history yourself, visit the Prince George Citizen archives online. The Prince George Citizen online archives are maintained by the Prince George Public Library.
