FATAL RESULTS OF BOYS’ PLAY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 682, 14 May 1875, Page 4

FATAL RESULTS OF BOYS’ PLAY.

0 — On Monday evening (writes our correspondent) a very serious result arose out of some boys’ play. A lad named John Frederick Kuhner, aged 14 years, was playing with some others about his own age in a little paddock, in Darling street, Dubbo. Kuhner, who previous to the commencing of the “ larking ” had been cutting some grass with a sickle, threw some dirt in the eyes of a lad named John Mears, who retaliated by also throwing dirt. A little brother of Mears, named Michael William, aged nine j ears, seeing Kuhner throwing dirt at his brother, took his part, and threw a small piece of grass with earth attached, at Kuhner, who, exasperated, rushed for the reaping-hook and picked it up. The little fellow, as soon as he noticed Kuhner’s intentions, ran away and the latter pursued him for about ten yards, and finding that he was unable to catch him, threw the hook at him. The sickle struck the boy. entering his back between tbe sixth and seventh ribs. Immediately after the stroke the lad fell, exclaiming, “I’m dying.” Kuhner j-nshed up, plucked the hook from the wound, and finding the boy much injured, rushed for the doctor The dying boy was taken to his father’s residence, which was contiguous, and he lingered in great agony all night, and at eight am. on Tuesday morning, expired. He was attended through the night by Dr Tibbits, who administered opiates, &c, with the intention of inducing rest and alleviating the pain ; but all efforts were unavailing. Constable Groves arrested young Kuhner just prior to Mears’ death. A magisterial inquiry was held before Mr Hearne, J.P., who committed Kuhner. The evidence of deceased’s two brothers and father, the apprehending constable, and Dr Tibbits was taken. The former’s testimony was in accordance with the facts stated above, and the doctor’s was that he attended the lad before death, and afterwards made a post mortem examination. The external wound in the back was about an inch long. On reflecting the muscles of the back he traced the wound, and found it between the fifth and sixth ribs, both of which were fractured. A portion of the lower rib was quite detached from the hone. The instrument with which the wound had been inflicted penetrated the cavity of the chest and beyond the pericardium. He was of opinion the deceased died from haemorrhage, the result of the wound.—Sydney Morning Herald, March 13.