WOMAN’S DEATH

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1933, Page 5

WOMAN’S DEATH

RESULT OF ELECTRIC SHOCK A FATALITY AT AUCKLAND (Per Press Association ~ Copyright.) AUCKLAND, October 12. : An electric - shook from a _ clothes line connected to the household electricity supply is believed .to have indirectly caused ,the:-, .death , of , Mrs Caroline’ Lilian. Alaspn, .widow, '■ aged. 56, at her home) ,/10 'Gladwin - 'Hoad; Epsom, i Her death • was not due to electrocution, ,a$ the current, in 1 the line was-‘too weak,’ but-'th4 v effect of the experience upon -a' weak heart id believed tp r have been responsible fop tlie fatality. ' ‘"

Airs' Alasbii, whp • was -alone' 'at - the/ time, was. fpuind : ;% -the" baker lying in the Hack yard, "across a wet blanket sUe-had; and the ■ clothes' i’rie A neighbour, Aliss E. ’ who was summoned / -wliem ■ Mrs:"'MasQii: was goundj said shp' top- yeeSiYbdW shock when she touched the 'clothes /line. It was not sevejp," bu| ’.’|he.,'" c6-uld. foel its eflVcts-'dii ,her artrt -fOf soihe tin,’©.

As u. precaution, Die -fuses 'in ■ thei \ main switch -in The house were \ polled out engineer,.. 1 who was engaged on relief work' near ‘by.-- .. He said the • clothes line . seemed to have been iipbd; as a-, ,wireless aerial. A subsequent -examination of ’ the premises by. /' .Mr > Sy, Larigridge, electrical inspector of the Public. Works Department,-and officers of the Auckland Electric Power Board, showed the clothes line was 1 aEve. The Tina apparently had been used as an aerial for a home made;'crystal radio set, which -wasij' /in tiirnf connected with, a light plug inside the house.