TRYING A FILM “STUNT.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3735, 29 December 1927, Page 2

TRYING A FILM “STUNT.”

BOY’S DEATH FROM HANGING,

London, December 20

The death of a boy of 13 while trying to imitate a film artist, was told a't the inquest on Edmund Martin Wells.

. The boy was at home last evening, and when his father and mother returned, Mrs Wood, a guest, called upstairs to him as he had a tempornry bed in the bathroom.

As there was no reply Mi' Wells went upstairs and found his son hanging dead from the top of the bathroom door. The boy was hanging by the wrists, tied with a handkerchief and there were two leather straps around the neck. He had stepped off the bed and was testing what he had seen on the films. But the boy had forgotten certain possibilities not visible on the films. He forgot he had 1 also tied his ankles together with a strap and it was too late when he left hold with hjs feet. He was strangled by the nooses around the neck without any chance of saving his life as he had seen on the film. After seeing the film star do the “stunt” he had told a schoolboy friend that he could do it.

’ The Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death, remarking that the boy was fond of the pictures and unfortunately tried to do something which went wrong. The father stated that previously lie had had to break into the house and'found the boy enviously dressed. He had gagged and suspended himself.