SCHOOL TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1928, Page 1

SCHOOL TRAGEDY

INQUEST ADJOURNED. (By Telegraph -Per Press Association.) PAHIATUA, March 28. The inquest as to the death of Leslie Wilfred Murphy, the boy who died of injuries received on the 6th February, through an explosion in the science room of the Pahiutua District High School was opened to-day before thq District Coroner. Air J. D". AYilsotf. The victim was nearly 16 years of age. Dr Dawson said that when admitted to the hospital the boy was in a very collap'sed state, and was suffering from shock. He hud two wounds in the abdominal skin over the region of the liver, about two inches apart. Next morning, when in a fit condition, aiid partidfly ‘Yecovei*ed from the shock, witness opened the victim’s abdomen and found a triangular piece of plate glass, about aft inch and a half each way. lying under the liver. Both witness and Dr H. Paterson made a very careful examination for any further pieces, but could find no more, nor any marks of laceration made by glass. A few days after the operation, an abscess

developed. AVitness described the next steps taken. Subsequently the victim had a very profuse attack of haemorrhage. Witness suspected there must he some glass undiscovered in the interior of the liver. He was unable to find any more glass. The boy seemed well 'for another two or three Jays, hut when he commenced to move about the lied, he had another attack of bleeding from the liver. Witness then rang up the Secretary- of the Wellington Education Board, anct said he wished to have other surgical advice. The Board Secretary sent Dr Gordon Anderson from Wellington. Dr Anderson gave it as his opinion that" there was still some glass in the liver. He advised a further operation which was conducted in the presence of witness and' Dr Paterson but without detecting any glass. The victim passed away from toxaemia, the plate glass having penetrated the abdominal- cavity. ' _ , The inquiry was adjourned to A\ednesdav next, to give the representatives of the’ Education Department an opportunity to he present. The Coroner said that all the evidence, as to how tJKe ieridefrt occurred would be left till then.