BOY CHEMIST’S DEATH

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 316, 29 March 1928, Page 15

BOY CHEMIST’S DEATH

EXPLOSION IN SCHOOLROOM EVIDENCE AT INQUEST Press Association. PAHIATUA, Wednesday. An inquest into the death of Leslie Wilfred Murphy, aged 15, who died from injuries on February 6 as the result of an explosion in the science room of the Pahiatua District High School, was opened before the district coroner, Mr. J. D. Wilson. Dr. Dawson said that when admitted to the hospital the boy was suffering from shock, and two wounds in the abdominal skin. The next morning witness opened the victim’s abdomen, and found a triangular piece of plate glass about an inch and a-half wide. Both witness and Dr. H. Paterson had made a very careful examination tor any further pieces, but could find no more, nor any marks of laceration made by the glass. A few days after the operation an abscess developed. Later the boy had a very profuse attack of hemorrhage. He seemed well for ;%iother two or three days, but he had another attack of bleeding. Witness then sought other surgical advice. The Wellington Education Board secretary sent Dr. Gordon Anderson from Wellington, and by his advice a second operation was carried out. The victim died from toxaemia, plate glass having penetrated the abdominal cavity. The inquiry was adjourned to Wednesday next to give representatives of the Education Department an opportunity to be present. The coroner said all evidence as to how the accident had actually occurred would be left until then.