SOLDIER ELECTROCUTED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24236, 1 March 1940, Page 6

SOLDIER ELECTROCUTED

BODY FOUND BY MOTORIST (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Feb. 29. A soldier of the second echelon stationed at the Papakura Military Camp was found electrocuted, lying near an electric transformer pole on the Great South road about a mile south of the camp early this morning. He was Private Lester Neil McKinnon, single, aged 26. formerly a nurseryman, of Cambridge. He was a member of the 21st Rifle Battalion. The body was discovered by a passing motorist, who notified the police at Papakura. A doctor was called, and he found that McKinnon had been dead for some hours. There was extensive burning of the fingers of the right hand and the toes of both feet. It is believed by the police that he climbed the pole in his socks and stood on one live wire with both feet while he grasped another with his right hand. McKinnon was clad only in a grey shirt and khaki denim trousers. A pair of civilian shoes were found at the foot of the power pole which carried the high-tension wires. When the inquest was opened a relative of the deceased in the camp gave evidence of identification, and said the deceased had been very depressed lately and was last seen in camp on Sunday.* He did not respond to the roll call on Monday, and was posted as missing. The inquest was adjourned sine die.’ '