YOUTH’S DEATH

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1931, Page 6

YOUTH’S DEATH

DUE TO ELECTROCUTION. EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) WELLINGTON-, December 15. “A crystal set is a perfectly safe/instrument for anyone to use,” said Mr McNeil, the Coroner, at the inquest on Leigh Haldsworth Auton, to-day, “but if the user is under the mistaken idea that he is ‘improving the working of the set and connects it up to a source, of electric power in a house, an action which is absolutely unnecessary, he is dition, and running a very grave risk of being electrocuted.’’ Mr Wilcocks, Chief Inspectof of the Wellington Corporation Lighting Department, said that he understood that cover of the switch of the hot point had been taken off and the set connected‘to a live wire by a twist. Apart from the boy being in the bath, this was a dangerous thing to do. it was just courting' disaster and was against the regulations. A verdict was returned that deceased died by electrocution. The Coronetstressed -on the public that it was an offence to touch the electric installation in any house. '

NEED FOR CARE WIRELESS SETS. ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS. The fatality that occurred in Wellington when a young man met his death through plugging the aerial of a. crystal wireless set into an electric point emphasises the danger of interfering with any electrical fittings. Although the victim was using a wireless set at the time, the case has, of course, nothing to do with wireless, and it would be erroneous to assume that the fatality arose out of any peril inherent in wireless sets

A radio dealer pointed out that a wireless set was as safe as the proverbial house, and, properly used, could not do harm to anyone. The fatality in Wellington arose not so much by reason of any ignorance of wireless and [the propel- use of wireless sets as through an apparent entire ignorance of electricity. Nobody with an elementary knowledge of electricity, he pointed out, would think of connecting the aerial of a wireless set to an electric light system. He assumed that what had occurred in this instance was that the current was not turned on the heating point, and that he used it merely as a convenient point of attachment for the aerial

Electric radio sets were, of course, connected with the house current, but it was the electrical systems of the sets and not the aerials that were so connected. As the necessary electric plug was provided for this purpose, the sets were to all intents and purposes foolproof, and it was almost inconceivable that any person, no matter how ignorant, could come to harm through incorrect connecting.