FATAL FENCING PLAY

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 17, 14 October 1933, Page 18

FATAL FENCING PLAY

Duel with Stilettos

A dramatic story of how a schoolboy received a fatal wound during a mock stiletto duel with a girl, who later offered her own blood to save his life, was unfolded at a recent inquest at Herne Bay; England. The tragic accident occurred during a fete at a local cricket ground, the victim being Arthur Robert Pearson, aged 15, son of Mr. E. A. Pearson, licensee of the Druid’s Head. Herne Bay. Louise Fasciotti, aged 19, a tall, beautiful Italian girl, who stated that she was in England to learn English, told the coroner. Mr. A. K. Mowll. that she met Pearson at the fete with three other boys. She had only known him three days. At. an earlier meeting, at which his sister and another hoy friend were present, Pearson had shown them two stilettos, which they threw at the wall of a hut “like Red Indians." During the fete witness said the boy handed her a stiletto and took up the attitude of a swordsman. "I took up the same attitude.” the girl continued, “and we crossed stilettos. We only played about in the air. and I think it is impossible that it was my stiletto that wounded him. because I did not feel any resistance against it. He moved bis foot and lunged forward, and then ran away.”

The girl demonstrated how she and Pearson held the stilettos, and added that Pearson’s upraised arm made it impossibl for her to have Inflicted the wound. She thought that he drew

stiletto toward himself. She bad previously shown him how one could twist a stiletto round and strike oneself with the handle. She thought he was doing the same thing, and forgot to turn the blade.

Leslie Plowright, a former prefect at the dead boy’s school, gave evidence that Pearson suddenly stumbled toward Miss Fasciotti and cried out, "Good God.”

The girl said, in French: “What have I done?” The hoy’s father stated that Miss Fasciotti came to see him the morning after the traaedy. and. unaware that Ids son had died offered to give some of her blood to save bis life. She collapsed on hearinc of his. death.

Dr. F. C. Cozens, who was on the fete ground, and answered a summons broadcast by loudspeaker, expressed the opinion that the wound pointed to Pearson having accidentally stabbed himself. The coroner said ho had no doubt that the jury would come to the conclusion the boy bad accidentally stabbed himself. Referring to Miss Fasciotti. the coroner added : “'We do t-ot want this girl to go back to her own country with the feeling she has killed, although quite innocently, this young boy.” Tlie jury found that Pearson riled from a self-inflicted wound, and a verdict of “Misadventure” was recorded. They exonerated. Miss Fasciotti from blame.