WARNING TO PUBLIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 765, 11 September 1929, Page 11

WARNING TO PUBLIC

DANGER OF TAMPERING WITH ELECTRICITY EVIDENCE AT INQUEST A suggestion that warnings should bo issued to every consumer of electricity of the danger of using faulty leads and hand-lamps was made by the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M . when an inquest was held this afternoon to investigate the death of a man who was electrocuted. The inquest was held on the death of Leslie Arthur Jones, aged 39, a telegraphist, who was electrocuted a< 34 Margaret Avenue, Mount Albert, on August 30. while installing an earth-wire under his house for a radio set. \V. Langridge, a P.YV.D. engiueer, said that the lamp-holder and connection were faulty. The voltage could not have been more than 230 volts. Witness d.d not consider the A.C. circuit more dangerous than the D.C., though he admitted that all fatal accidents in Auckland had been through alternating current. It was evident, according to Bertram Marshall Mead, an electrical engineer, that. Jones had grasped a water-pipe at the same time as the faulty connection had made contact with the lamp-holder. This had occurred when the man was under the house. Dr. Patterson was of the opinion that there could be no doubt that Jones had been electrocuted by a short circuit of the electric light lead he was holding. There were burns on one hand and on the body. Mr. Hunt’s suggestion was referred to by Mr. R. H. Bartley, manager of the Auckland Electric-Power Board, who said that notices were printed periodically on accounts. Since th - last two fatal accidents meter-readers had been instructed to inquire at evenhouse and examine any electric leads and hand-lamps. The two accidents were the first of the type for IS year.-. A verdict of accidental death wus returned.