"AMAZING ACT."
BOY ELECTROCUTED ON FARM
HAYSTACK NEAR ELECTRIC
WIRES
CORONER POINTS OUT DANGER,
(By Telegraph.—Own Corresromlcut:)
NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday,
.. Giving evidence to-day at the inquest at Stratford.on the 16-year-old boy, Roy Frederick Paul, who was'electrocuted at Midhirst on Friday, Henry John Perh'am, a farmer, said he was assisting to,erect a stacker in one of his paddocks preparatory to making a haystack. Deceased and William Phelps were also assisting in the work. The stacker. consisted of a high'pole with four wire guy ropes, with about six feet of hemp rope a't the end to enable the guy ropes to be attached to pegs-in the ground. The pole was raised by the guy ropes, witness, deceased and Phelps each haying hold of one. . .
Witness had been over to Paul's peg to see that everything was right, and had just reached his own peg when there was a flash and witness could not remember much "of -what happened afterwards. Witness had not noticed the wires, and so far as he knew nobody in the party realised their existence. There was a flash and a crackle, and witness received a considerable shock. He was holding the hemp rope and so did not get. the full force.of the current. Phelps was injured, while Paul was killed instantlv.
Dr.. W. Gordon described the burris inflicted on Paul and Phelps. Witness said it appeared, that the intention was to erect a stacker almost underneath an electric wire. In view of the possible recurrence of such accidents, witness thought some steps should be taken to protect farmers over whose,.properties high-tension, electric wires, ran. In giving a verdict of accidental death the coroner, Mr. W. L, Kennedy, said it seemed an amazing thing that two men and two lads should attempt to erect a stacker where , they,did when there was a possibility of contact with electric wires, without giving thought to the position. He had visited the scene and saw that there was plenty of room in the paddock to- have -put up .a hoist in a'safe,position, r .'
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Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 16, 20 January 1931, Page 8
Word Count
340"AMAZING ACT." Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 16, 20 January 1931, Page 8
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