EXPLOSION AT SCHOOL

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 75, 29 March 1928, Page 15

EXPLOSION AT SCHOOL

CAUSE OF BOY'S DEATH.

GLASS PENETRATES ABDOMEN

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

PAHIATUA, Wedneday,

An inguest into the death of Leslie Wilfred Murphy, aged 15 years, who died from injuries on February 6, as the result of an explosion in the science room of the Pahiatua District High School, was opened before the district coroner, Mr. J. D. Wilson.

Dr. Dawson said when admitted to the hospital the boy was suffering from shock and two wounds in the abdominal skin. The next morning he opened the boy's abdomen, and found a triangular piece of plate-glass about an inch and a-half wide. A few days ifter the operation an abscess developed. Subsequently the boy had a

• ery profuse attack of hemorrhage. Witness suspected there must be some jrlass undiscovered in the interior of the liver. He telephoned to the secretary of the Wellington Education Board and said he wished to have other surgical advice. The board secretary sent Dr. Gordon Anderson, from Wellington. Dr. Anderson advised a further operation, which was conducted, but without detecting any glass in the liver. The boy passed away from toxaemia, plateglass having penetrated the abdominal cavity.

The inquiry was adjourned to Wednesday next to give representatives of the Education Department an opportunity to be present.

The coroner said all evidence os to how the aceident had actually occurred would be left until then.