SCHOOLBOY’S INJURIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 15 July 1925, Page 2

SCHOOLBOY’S INJURIES

PENCIL PENETRATES BODY

•SEVERE WOUND INFLICTED

TUSSLE IN THE PLAYGROUND In the Christchurch Hospital .it the present time is Onslow Johnston Drinkwater. aged 10 years. who was grievously injured at the Lin wood school in a tussle with another bnv.

I lie two hoys apparently, as hoys will, matched their physical strength against each oilier. There was- a tussle and Drinkwater ran away after a snuggle. Diinkwater then found that lie had been injured in the struggle and was taken into tho school from the play ground. A sharp slate pencil set in a metal holder ha ( | penetrated his abdo men severely. Every eare was given to the hoy, who did not lose tonseiolls ness, lie was hurried to the Christchurch Hospital. and it was subsequent ly found that the pencil had snapped off. The headmaster, Mr T. Dowds, te leplioned to the hospital to inform the doctor that some portion of the pencil might, bo in the wound, hut luckily there was nothing there. Two operations were performed < n the hoy and at first it was feared I here might he complications.

Mr Dowds slated that the oilier hoy had been questioned concerning the incident, but it was difficult to obtain an explanation from him. This hoy at any time did not lend himself readily to questioning. The hoys’, both aged about ten years, were in the playground and it was not known whether there had been a quarrel, nor did it seem that the other boy bore Drinkwater a grudge. It the boys fell the pencil might have been forced by Drink waters weight into his body, an,| the impression that it was an accident was strengthened by the circumstance that Drinkwaler ini mediately ran away ignorant of the fart that lie had been burl.

A full report on the incident. was made by the headmaster to the Linwnod School Committee. The committee decided that there was no action open to it on the evidence produced. There was no evidence that the injury hail been inflicted wilfully.

First. Housewife: "That, woman knows how to handle her husband. He eats out of her hand." Second Ditto: “Lucky woman! No dishes to wash.”