SHOCK THROUGH RADIO

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 3 November 1933, Page 4

SHOCK THROUGH RADIO

AUCKLAND WOMAN’S DEATH

POWER POINT INTERFERED WITH full VOLTAGE ON CLOTHES .. line. (By TeJegrapn—rress Association.) AUCKLAND, Nov. 2. A verdict that death was due to electric shock and fatty degeneration of the heart was returned by t-lie coroner, Mr F. K\ Hunt, S.M., at the inquest concerning the death of Caroline Lilian Mason, who died on October 12. . Mrs Mason was found lying in the back .yard of her home where she had been hanging out clothes.

Stephen Ijangridge. overseer in tinPubLic Work,* Department, said he examined) the premises occupied by Mrs Mason. In the beak j;oom he found a small wireless set fitted with headphones and arranged so that it could) be connected with the lighting socket bv a length of flcv and a lamp holder adapter. Direct connection with a 1-20 cotton-covered wire had been made between the clothes line in the back to a terminal of part of the wireless set. Tliis terminal was connected to the end of the flex-cord and lamp-liolder. Full voltage was obtainable between itlie clothes line and the earth when the adapter was inserted in the.lighting socket: . A neighbour, Effie Cant, said that when she went to Mrs Mason’s assistance she received an electric shock through touching the clothes-lines. Her arm ached for a considerable tunc afterwards. David Kennedy, a bakerV agent,, said he found Mrs Mason lying on hei back with a wet blanket hanging from the clothes-line partly across her arm. When he touched the clothesline he received a shock. Dr IGihnour, pathologist at tinAuckland hospital, said he found two burns on the woman’s left- arm. His opinion was that death wasi caused by electric shock and fatty degeneration of the heart. The coroner said he did not think there was any need for him to add a lrider as sufficient publicity had been given by the authorities and the .power board concerning illegal interference with electric equipment. He added, however, that he was given to understand that at lire schools there were classes conducted by social welfare people at which pupils were instructed in tne art of making model aeroplanes and wireless sets. He expressed' the (strong hope that the pupilswould be severely cautioned not tjo touch or interfere with electric lighting plant in any way.