BOY'S JUMP OVER BRIDGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20162, 24 January 1929, Page 13

BOY'S JUMP OVER BRIDGE

DRAMATIC INQUEST SCENE.

ALLEGATIONS BY UNCLE.

CORONER ORDERS APOLOGY.

WELFARE OFFICERS' TREATMENT.

There was a dramatic scene at an inquest yesterday into the death of Henry Edward Ashby, aged 16, who escaped from the Mount Albert Probation Home on December 6 and jumped over Grafton Bridge in the early hours of the following morning. Thomas Edwards, an uncle of the boy, alleged the entire blame for the unfortunate occurrence would have to be borne by the Child Welfare Department on account of the way in which the lad had been treated. The coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, "S.M., ordered Edwards to leave the witness-box and later made him apologise for a statement he made from the body of the Court. Edwards, who said he was a tramway motorman, stated the boy had been released on licence from the probation home and went to stay with his grandmother, witness' mother, at Avondale. Ho was found a job at a chemist's shop, but the Child Welfare Department communicated with the employer and said the boy was under the care of the State. Witness alleged that as a result the boy was dismissed.

Shortly afterwards, witness* mother intended moving, and the Welfare Department was asked to take care of the boy, again. He returned to the home on December 5. Witness saw deceased a few, days before his death and the boy then said: "The Child Welfare Department has said enough to me to-day to fix me." No explanation was given as to the import of this statement, and witness did not question his nephew. "Hounded the Boy Down." "I blame the Child Welfare Department for everything that has happened; they, hounded the boy down," witness added. "That is scandalous; you must not uss expressions like that," the coroner saicL "By saying he was hounded down yoa imply the department did it purposely.^ Witness: Exactly.

Mr. J. S. Cupit, child welfare officer; at Auckland: I believe you said you went to the home about two years ago and found the boy with sore. feet. Did yon complain to anyone then ? Witness: No.

If you had so much interest in him do you not think ifc was your duty to say, something to someone in authority?—lfc would have been useless if I had done sos

You said the department hounded the boy out of his position at the chemist's shop. Was his job temporary or perman* ent ?—He would have had it for a coupleS of years at least. "The position was not permanent," Mr.Cupit said to the coroner. "The chemist advised us he intended to do away with the boy's services in about a fortnight. If the department had rung up the chemist; it would have been within its rights, bufc this was not done, as the witness sug« gested. The officer who rang the chemist! said he understood from the boy's, uncle that the position was only temporary. "It is rather scandalous that the Child Welfare Department should do its best for the boy and that a witness should make statements absolutely contrary to fact,'* Mr. Cupit added. "I wished to state as little as possible about the boy's charao* ter."

Witness: You have nothing to state about his character. The Coroner: Nothing has been said about it. Do not be alarmed. Rebuke by the Coroner.

Mr. Cupit added the lad was to have applied for a position with another firm, but he failed to keep the appointment with the manager, and the job wa& lost for him. "If that boy had been treated properly at the home he wpuld not have run awav,"' witness interjected. "Look, you have no right to say that, '5 the coroner said. "Boys_ run away from perfectly good homes, "i ou stand down j I do not want to hear any more from you." Witness: It is all very well— The Coroner: Stand down. Do not be impudent or I will send you to goal fo£ 14 days. You are in a Court now. "Ail right, but you may hear more o£ this." witness called as ho resumed hiq seat. _ "I am not going to have that,_ ths coroner said. "Stand up and apologise foil what you said. Come along, stand up,** the coroner added, as Edwards demurred* "Yes, I am sorry," Edwards said. "Yes, and you had better apologised the coronoi said. Mr. Cupit said the boy was first mitted to the home on May 25, 1927. Hd was allowed to go to his grandmother oa licence on July 22, 1927, but on Decern* ber 5 Henry Edwards, his other uncle, complained that the lad was out of corn trol and took him back to-the home the same day. Mr. Cupit said he interviewed the boy at the home next day, and he appeared cheerful and happy. He had no complaints, and was considerably pleased over an offer to be found a job in tha country. Henry Edwards, of 15, High Street, Avondale, an uncle of deceased, said the boy behaved for some time after being released on licence, and then got out o£ control. He frequented racecourses and on one occasion went to a race meeting at Avondale without permission. The boy was fairly happy while at home.

Cheerful at the Home. Jessie Cavers, matron at the probation home, said she last saw deceased at 10.5 p.m. .on December 6, when on her final round. The boy was about the home all that day and seemed quite cheerful. He was reported missing when ths children were called next morning.

Leonard George Harris Webb, iinotypa operator, said he was returning home from work about two o'clock on the morning of December 7. While talking to a fellow worker at the city end of Grafton Bridge they saw a boy wearing short trousers and barefooted walk down Symonds Street and start to cross the bridge. Witness and his companion then mounted their bicycles and passed the boy about one-third ot the way over the bridge. On reaching tha other end of the bridge they missed th 9 boy, and almost at the same time they heard a thud. Realising the boy must have jumped over the parapet they re* turned hurriedly and sought a constable* The boy was later found in the gully, badly injured, and he was taken to hospital. Sydney Collins, of 4, Brown Street, Avondale, said deceased told him that if he were returned to the home he would not stay more than two days. He. said he did not like the idea of doing farm work, as the hours were too long. Deceased also seemed very despondent over the fact that although his term of probation was shortly to expire, he would be under the supervision of the department until he was 21.

Two young inmates of the home said deceased joined in games at the home on tha night of bis disappearance. He then seemed perfectly happv. Dr. E. W. B. Griffiths, of the Auckland Hospital, said deceased sustained multiply fracture of both legs, as well as internal injuries. . . . f A finding that deceased died throngi ' juries received as a result of Grafton Bridee was "It is very unfortunate, Mr. » tba "There seems to be mixed cq himself family. Each one was tatogrg * the right to look after this bo*