SCHOOLBOY’S DEATH

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1933, Page 6

SCHOOLBOY’S DEATH

STRUGGLE WITH ANOTHER BOY.

VERDICT OF HEART' FAILURE:

(Per Press Association — Copyright.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 30. The playground at the Waltham School ivns the scene of a tragedy on jj.r.y ■ 5 when a boy, Hector Burgess, eoi.apsed and died. At the inquest yesterday the coroner (Mr La wry), found tnat death - was due to heart failure associated with status lymphaticus, the exciting factor being- the boy’s struggle with another boy at the school

The vei'dict added that the struggle itself was excitement enough, in the boy’s condition, to cause death without any undue roughness being used.

Jock 0 Mazeldean iScott, a schoolboy, gave evidence that he chased iiurgoss at -play dime, and caught and struggled with him. They were playing, and he denied fighting or having “waited” for Burgess. Another schoolboy said that Scott was angry with Burgess, and caught him round the neck and tried to choke him. He then threw Burgess down. The latter, got blue in the face and had to be carried into the school. Dr. Pearson, in his .evidence, said that there were no marks on the neck. In the boy’s condition the struggle had been enough to cause death, with* out .any suggestion of throat grappling. Counsel for the parents of the deceased boy asked: Without such incident. would he have grown into- a normal boy? - l ,

Witness: Yes. Was strangulation the real cause death ?

Witness: No. Heart failure caused death; and strangulation was the exciting factor. ‘