BOY’S INJURIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 532, 8 December 1928, Page 13

BOY’S INJURIES

FLIGHT FROM PROBATION HOME STATEMENT BY UNCLE A statement regarding Henry Edward Ashby, the boy who jumped from Grafton Bridge early yesterday morning, was made to THE SUN to-day by the boy’s uncle and guardian, Mr. T. Edwards, of St. Michaels Avenue. Point Chevalier. Ashby, aged 16 years ?.nd 11 months, had absconded from the Mount Albert Probation Home in the evening. His badlv-smashed body was found at the foot of the gully at about 2.45 o'clock ; yesterday morning. Both legs were broken and the boy was suffering from severe internal in- ; juries. He is now in the Auckland j Hospital in a semi-conscious state | and it. ia not expected that he will j recover. Mr. Edwards said this morning in his statement to The Sun: “I am the boy’s guardian. He had previously lived with his grandmother in High Street, Avondale. “3?he boy was committed to the Probation Home about 15 months ago, but four months later he was licensed out to live with his grandmother. I got him out of the home after having a lot of trouble with the authorities. I do not know why they objected. “The authorities at the home said that they would endeavour to find him a position, but they did not get him one at that time, though they told me they would do so. “Soon after going to live with his grandmother my nephew got a position next door with Mr. Maxwell, a chemist. When the child welfare authorities discovered that the boy had a position they rang up Mr. Maxwell and asked him if he were aware that the boy was under the care of the child welfare. Mr. Maxwell said that he was well aware of the fact, and that the boy was satisfactory in every way and that he was quite prepared to give him a first-class reference. “After leaving Mr. Maxwell, where his position was only temporary, the boy obtained several other positions. Later the child welfare authorities said that they had found a position for my nephew in a motor garage. “On Wednesday my brother, another uncle, who evidently thought that he was doing his best for the boy, sent him back to the Probation Home. “The child welfare officers visited the home on Thursday, and I am of opinion that what they said was the cause of his leaving the institution.” Mr. Edwards said that he is prepared to stand by all he says. He does not think that the boy has been fairly treated. Mr. J. S. Cupit, child welfare officer, said that Ashby attended a boxing match at the probation, home on Thursday evening and that he seemed all right then. At 10 o’clock the boy was in bed. He had seemed pleased with the offer, of a job in the country and would have gone there on Monday. This morning Mr. Edwards called at the hospital to see his nephew, who was then in a semi-conscious condition,