SCHOOLBOY'S DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21505, 31 May 1933, Page 13

SCHOOLBOY'S DEATH

PLAYGROUND STRUGGLE CAUGHT AFTER A CHASE VERDICT OF HEART FAILURE [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CETRISTCHTTRCH, Tuesday The playground at Waltham school was the scene of a fatality on May 5, when a boy, Hector Burgess, collapsed and died. At the inquest yesterday the coroner, Mr. H. P. Lawry, found that death was due to heart failure, associated with status lymphaticus, an exciting factor being the boy's struggle with another boy at school. The verdict added that tbe struggle itself was excitement enough in the boy's condition to cause death without any undue roughness being used. Jock O'Hazeldean Scott, a schoolboy, stated in evidence that he chased Burgess at playtime, caught and struggled with him. They were playing. Witness denied fighting or having "waited" for Burgess. Evidence by Doctor Another schoolboy stated that Scott was angry with Burgess, caught him round the neck and tried to choke him and then threw Burgess down. The latter got blue in tho face and had to be carried into the school. Dr. Pearson said there were no marks on the boy's neck. In the boy's condition, the struggle had been enough to cause death without any suggestion of throat-gripping. Counsel for tho parents of the deceased boy asked whether, without such an incident, he would havo grown into a normal boy ? Witness: Yes. Counsel: Was strangulation the real cause of death ? Witness: No. Heart failure caused death. Strangulation was an exciting factor.

Douglas Barlow, a schoolboy, said that Jock Scott was waiting for Hector Burgess to come out. "Hector would not come out until playtime because Jock was going to give him a hiding," he said. "Hector told me and others and was giving us cigarette cards to stop Jock from hitting him. We were on Jock's side at first. He was angry with Hector all right. At playtime we were having a drink, and Hector was with us. Jock came up and pushed through us before we could stop him and had Hector round the neck. Boys Continue Struggle

"I tried to stop him," witness proceeded, "but Jock's big brother stopped me and said to let them have a fair fight. Walter Barnes also tried to stop Jock. I cannot fight Jock myself. Jock is a gOod fighter and could beat Hector. 1 had to let go. They continued to struggle. They were not punching. "Jock had Hector round tho neck and was pinching his thoat as if trying to choke him. Hector went blue in the face. Jock threw Hector down. Hector got up, but then fell down again. I helped to carry him into the school. As we were carrying him in, Mr. Doubleday arrived. Hector's eyes were moving in all directions. Jock had him round the throat for four or five minutes. When Hector went down first he hit his head on a tap. I do not think Jock intended to throw him against tho tap."