WOMAN'S DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 259, 2 November 1933, Page 8

WOMAN'S DEATH.

ELECTRIC SHOCK.

HANGING OUT CLOTHES.

WARNING TO CHILDREN.

| A verdict that death was due to an electric shock and fatty degeneration of tho heart was returned by the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the inquest concerning the death of Caroline Lilian Mason, who died at her home at 10, Gladwin Road, on October 12. Mrs. Mason tvas found lying in the backyard of her home, where she had been hanging out clothes. W. M. Stephen Langridge, an overseer for the Public Works Department, said that on Octobcr 12 he examined the premises occupied by Mrs. Mason. In a back room ho found a small wireless set fitted with head phones and arranged for connecting with the lighting socket by a length of flex and a lamp holder adapter. A direct connection with 1-20 cotton-covered wire had been made between the clothes line in the back yard to the terminal of part of the wireless set. This terminal was also connected to the end of the flex cord and lamp holder adapter. The full voltage was obtainable between the clothes line and earth when the adapter was inserted in the lighting socket. A neighbour, Effie May Cant, said that when she went to Mrs. Mason's assistance she received an electric shock through touching the clothes line and her arm ached for a considerable time afterwards. David Hislop Kennedy, a baker's agent, said that he found deceased lying on her back with a wet blanket hanging from the clothes line partly across her arm. When he touched the clothes line he also received a shock. Dr. Walter Giimour, pathologist at the Auckland Hospital, said that he found two burns on deceased's left arm. His opinion was that death was caused by an electric shock and fatty degeneration of the heart. In returning his verdict, the coroner said that he did not think that there, was any need for him to add a rider, as sufficient publicity had been given by the authorities and the Power Board concerning the illegal interference with electric equipment. He added, however, that he was given to understand that at schools there were classes conducted by social welfare people at which the pupils were instructed in the art of making model aeroplanes and wireless sets. He expressed a strong hope that the pupils would be severely cautioned not to touch or interfere with the electric lighting plant in any way.