ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 257, 9 March 1911, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

FALL FROM A HORSE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Palmcrston N., Wednesday. A. Morris, a well-known resident of Palmcrston, was thrown from his horse at Waituna West and found unconscious by some motorists, who brought him to the hospital, where he died last night. He was a single man aged 30. BOY ELECTROCUTED AT NORMAN RY. Joseph Alexander Henderson, youngest son of Mr. Samuel Henderson, was found dead outside the transformer house of the Hawera Electric Light Company at Normanby, on Tuesday evening, at about 6.30.

It appears (writes the Hawera Star) that Mr. Thomas Robson, who owns the land on which this transformer house stands, had his attention drawn to the building by seeing a light there, and on going there to investigate, saw the body of the boy lying on his back on the ground alongside the house. He immediately recognised the boy, and on examination found the lad to be quite dead, both hands being badly burned. The door of the transformer house being open, he came to the conclusion that thc« lad had been electrocuted, and on looking into the building saw wires apparently burning or fusing. In the meantime word had been taken to the police by Charles Andrews, and upon the arrival of the constable the body was removed to his parents' residence. The lad was between fourteen and fifteen years of age.

The boy, according to a statement made by the father, was engaged in driving a cow from a paddock, and in doing so had to pass the transforming house. For some unaccountable reason he dismounted from the pony he was riding, and opened the door of the house. Someone who had the boy under observation at the time noticed that his action was followed by a flash from the transformer, and almost immediately afterwards an investigation was made. The body was found outside the door, and it is presumed that he received a current of about 3000 volts by placing his hand upon a wire just outside the door. The right hand was charred, the points of the two fingers being burnt off, and the features were hardly recognisable. The boy was of a quiet nature, and has usually been regarded as cautious and careful.,