FATAL ELECTRIC SHOCK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17441, 13 April 1931, Page 8

FATAL ELECTRIC SHOCK

PECULIAR TRAGEDY WIRE. NETTING “ALIVE” (lVr press Association.) GHKt.STCHUR.CU, lari night. Touching the fence round the Bin wood 'Methodist Tenuis Club court, in Hereford street east, to-day, Wilfred (llarenc.o Taylor, a married man, received an (deedric shock from the effects of which lie died a quarter of tin hour later.

A high netting fence was erected a few weeks ago to prevent halls from going into the neighboring gardens. Tt had n hole cut in it to allow space for elect ric. power lines to pass through. Chafing in the high winds had apparently rubbed oh' the insulation and the whole netting became alive.. Mr. Taylor called at the house of his landlord. Mr. Harrington, to pay his rent. While he was talking to Mrs. Harrington, her 17-ye'ar-old daughter, who had come through the tennis court, fell an electric, shock when sjie touched tdie latch of the tennis court gate.

Mr. Taylor went, to investigate and put both hands on the netting and could not free himself. Mrs. Harrington tried to pull him away, hut was herself’ shocked and could not do so. Then she went for assistance. Mr. Taylor quickly collapsed. Id'll on his back and died before medical aid could bo obtained. A witness said that the ground being wet owing to the heavy rain had made the danger of touching live wires much greater.