FATAL RESULTS OF BOYS' PLAY.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1953, 8 April 1875, Page 4

FATAL RESULTS OF BOYS' PLAY.

On last Monday evening (writes our correspondent) a very serious result arose out of some boys' play. A lad named John -Frederick Kuhner, aged 14 years, was playing 'rith some others about his own age in a little paddock, in Darlingstreet, Dubbo. Kuhner, who previous to the commencing of the **larking" had been cutting some glass with a sickle, threw some dirt in the eyes of a lad named John Hears, who retaliated by also throwing dirt. A little brother of Mears, named Michael William, aged nine years, seeing Kuhner throwing dirt at his brother, took his part, and threw a small piese of grass, with earth attached, at Kubner, who, ex* asperated, rushed fe* the reaping-hook and picked it up*; ; The little fellow, as soon as he noticed Ktthner's intentions, ran away and the latter pursued him for about 10 yards, and finding he was unable to catch, him, threw the hook at him. The sickle struck the boy, entering his back between the sixth and seventh ribs Imm< diately after the stroke the lad fell; exclaiming. "I'm dying." Kuhner rushed up, plucked.the hook from the wound, and finding the boy much injured, ru»hed for the doctor. The dying Doy was taken to big father's residence, which was contiguous, and he lingered in great agony alt night, and sit 8 a.m. of Tuesday morning, expired. He was attended through the night by Dr. Tibbits, who administered opiates, &c . with the intention of inducing rest and alleviating the pain ; but all efforts were uinavailiLg. Constable Grcves arrested young Kubner just prior to Mear*' death. A magisterial inquiry was held before Mr Heane; J P., who committed Kuhner. The evidence of deceased's two brothers and father, t jie-apprehending constable, and Dr. Tibbits^ was taken. The former's testimony was in accordance with the fact s stated above, arid <&£ doctor's was that he attended the lad beiore death, and afterwards made a post-mortem exmiration. The external wound in the back was about an inch loog. On reflecting tte muscles of the back he traced the wowmL and fcuad it between the fifth and

sixth ribs, both of which were fractured. A portion of the lcwer rib was quite detached from the bone. The instrument with which the wound had been inflicted penetrated the cavity of the chest and beyond the pericardium. He was of opinion the deceased died from haemorrhage, the result of the wound.—Sydney Morning Herald^ March 13.