THE TRENTHAM FATALITY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17552, 23 April 1919, Page 5

THE TRENTHAM FATALITY

THE CORONERS FINDING,

(Per Press Association ) WELLINGTON, April 22. An inquest on Kennefri \vaugh, who was killed by a bomb explosion yesterday, was held at Trentham to-day. The coroner delivered his nuding as follows : " I find tiiat the deceased died at Trentham camp on April 20th, the cause ol death being injuries to the brain due to explosion oi a bomb constructed by the deceased from explosives and a bmb case found in or near a dug-out in tlie camp. At the time of the explosion the deceased was one of a party of Boy Scouts encampeU at Trentham Military Camp. Considering the construction of the dug-out and the nature ol' the fastening of the door, 1 am of opinion the dug-out &houdl have been inspected immediately prior to the Boy Scouts being permitted to make use <>f the camp, and that the scoutmasters should haA'e been informed of the location of the stores of explsives and instructed to keep the dovs away from them. Tlie evidence does not show i when or by whom the dug-out was broken into. It appears to be that while the dug-out may have been a | sufficiently secure place of storage for j guncotton and bombs during t)'; period | when the camp was -ii military ocou- | pation, and visitors wore more or Jess j under a supervision, it was not sufh'- ! ciently secure at a time wifen the camp j wa.-> no longer in the same active military occupation, and parties of boys were allowed to have unrestricted use for a number of days of the portion of the camp grounds wu.ere the dug-out Mas situated, unless the safeguards 1 ! have mentioned had been made use of. lii view of the possibility of a, full enquiry being held by me Defence Department into the matter, it is not necessary or desirable that I should make a. more detailed finding."