“LIVE” CLOTHES WIRE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18236, 3 November 1933, Page 7

“LIVE” CLOTHES WIRE

CAUSED WOMAN’S DEATH RADIO INSTALLATION ILLEGAL INTERFERENCE (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. A verdict that death was due to electric shock and fatty degeneration of the heart was returned by the coroner, Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., at an inquest concerning the death of Caroline Lilian Mason, who died on October 12. Mrs Mason was found lying in the backyard of her home, where she had been hanging out clothes. - ? ’ Stephen Langridge, overseer for the Public Works , Department, said he examined the premises occupied by Mrs Mason. In the back room he found a small wireless set fitted with headphones and arranged for connecting with the lighting socket by a length of flex and a lamp holder adapter. A direct connection, with .cottonrcovered wire had. been made between the clothes line in the back yard to the terminal of part of the wireless set. This terminal was also connected to the end of the flex cord and the lamp holder adapter. The full voltage was obtainable between tlie clothes line' and the earth when the adapter was inserted in the lighting socket. CORONER’S COMMENT A neighbor, Etfic Cant, said that when she went' to Mrs Mason’s assistance ’ she ; received an electric shock through touching the clothes line, and her arm ached for a considerable time afterwards. David Kennedy,, a baker’s agent, said he found the deceased lying ou her back with a wet blanket hanging from tho clothes line, 'partly across her arm. When he touched the clothes line he received a shock. Dr. Gilmour, pathologist at the Auckland Hospital, said he found two burns on tho deceased’s left arm. His opinion was that death was caused by an electric shock and fatty degeneration of the heart. The coroner said that he did not think there was any need for him to add a rider, as sufficient publicity had been given by the authorities and the Power Board concerning illegal interference with electric equipment. He added, however, that he was liven to understand that at the schools there were classes conducted by social welfare people at which pupils were instructed in the art of making model aeroplanes and wireless sets. He expressed a strong hope that the 'pupils would be severely cautioned not to touch or interfere with electric, lighting plant in any way.