WIDOW'S DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 241, 12 October 1933, Page 8

WIDOW'S DEATH.

FOUND BY BAKER.

| BODY ACROSS CLOTHES-UNE

ELECTRIC SHOCK 7

Mrs. Caroline Lilian Mason, widow. n."> years of age, of 10, Cladwin Road, Kpsom, who had. been washing blankets, was found lying dead on the back lawn of her residence just after ton o'clock this morning by a baker, Mr. David Kennedy. The line was down and Mrs. Mason was lying across it and a wet blanket. Miss K. Cant, living next dour, who was called in to assist, stated that when she touched the clot lies line, over which .Mrs. .Mason had just hung the first blanket, eho received an electric shock. "When I touched the Jine," she said, "I felt a sharp twinge go through my right arm. I can't say it was very severe, but I would not like to experience it again." IMi>s Cant telephoned for medical assistance, and Dr. (.'. J. A. (irifiiu attended. The woman was dead when he arrived. Dr. Griflin said he was unable to slate off-hand the cause of death. It might have been due to a weak heart, though from what lie could gather. Mrs. Mason had not been attended by a doctor for some years. Mrs. -Mason, who lives with her sou, ■was alone at the lime; but shortly after "the discovery, was made by the baker, her daughter, Mrs. T. W. Ciunming, of 081, Manukau Toad, arrived on a visit. In fact, she had just got, to the gate when the news was broken to her. A number of men employed by the One Tree Hill Borough Council, who happened to be working ju.-t in front of the house, assisted her to carry the body inside. One of them, Mr. H. N. Ripley. ji marine engineer by profession, said that the clothes line'appeared to have been used as an aerial, as there! was a length of electric wire led in through a window of an outhouse from the line. In that outhouse he found a battery on charge. As a precaution he pulled out all the electric switches on the main switchboard in the house. He said thnt Mr. Kennedy told him he also had received a slight "shock on touching the line. An examination of the electrical apparatus is to be made by an electrician under police supervision. Mrs. dimming stated that her mother had been in indifferent health of late.