EXPLOSION OF SHELL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22716, 31 October 1935, Page 6

EXPLOSION OF SHELL

BOY FATALLY INJURED COMMENT BY CORONER (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, October 30. "It behoves all people who have these old shells to have them immediately examined to make sure that no fuses or other explosive material is in them," said the coroner, Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the inquest upon William John Boswell, aged eight years, who died at Devonport on October 23. The coroner's verdict was that the cause of death was injuries which the boy received when an old six-pounder Nordenfeldt yhell with which he was playing exploded John Boswell, a relief worker, said the shell which killed his sou was one which had been lying about in the fernery at his home for at least 10 years. It was used by witness and his wife, and also by the deceased as a mooring weight for his model yacht. From witness's own experience in military service he knew the shell had been fired through a pun. Sergeant Dunford, who saw the boy just after the accideut, said his -jght hand was blown off and chere wrs a severe wound in his chest. His face was blackened with powder and his shirt was blown to pieces. The boy had apparently been holding the shell in his hand and was hitting the nose on the contrcte near the doorstep. Major Parkinson, officer comma'jc'ing the Royal New Zealand Artillery, said the shell had been fired from a gun and had failed to burst on impact. Judging by the corrosion on the exterior it had been lying in the open probably fo. 10 years. Witness added that after D?actico shooting endeavours were always made by search to recover any unexploded shells.