BOY INFLATED

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1928, Page 7

BOY INFLATED

FATAL SI {I !»V Ali I) PRANK

LONDON, Oct. 20

Tlh> inquest on John MeKiernan, aged 14, a rivet’ catcher, who was killed at Messrs John Hoadhead and Sons' shipyard. South Shields, on Sopieinher l.’dlh hy a blast of compressed air entering his body, was concluded at South Shields yesterday. Mr Douglas drier, manager ol the shipyard, said tin 1 air pressure at the nozzle of the pipe was KHlIh to the square inch, hut there would he no danger unless the pipe was held close to the hotly. liichard lVrry (ivington, an apprentice riveLe'-, : , i < 1 that alter unscrewing his hammer from the coni[)ressed air pipe lit! blew air from the pipe at. McKiernan as a joke, lie did not realise that he was doing anything dangerous. He thought the pipe was more than a foot away from MeKiernan. hut, but now realised that it must have been nearer. Another apprentice named Hubert Griiidal had an arm on AleKiei nan’s shoulder, hut he did not know whether MeKiernan was hemline; or not. (irindal stated in evidence that as Me Kiornan Imd not done what he was told he took hold of him and pulled him towards him. The hoy said “Oh.” and collapsed. Mr Moulton, the deputy coroner, said it was for I lie jury to say whether Kiev thought Orimlal was holding the hoy in position while Ovington was blowing air at tiim.

'flu. jury iouiui that MeKioruan died fro in the o fleet of being inflated w ith air from a pipe held hy Ovinglon. liey Wire satisfied from the evidence and ijisac'c tmii el tbiO hay’s clothes that, the pipe was held within about six inches ol nim.

Mr BoiiUon said that amounted to a verdict, ol .Manslaughter, and he conimiffed Crindal and Ovington for trial. Hail was allowed.