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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3317, 24 September 1889, Page 2

Terrible Death of a Boy Some remarkable evidence was given at an inquest hold recently on the body of a boy named Alfred Hockley, of Elsteail, near Guildford, The boy went on to the common between Elstead and Tilfond, and found a number of blank unfirod cartridges, which had been thrown away during the military manamvres in the district. He exploded seTeral with a stone, 'and finally set the lieatb on fire. It trying to extinguished the flames, a number of cartridges which lie still had in his pockets ignited, with the result that his clothing took fire and was literally burnt off his body. The poor lad managed to reach his home, a mile and ti quarter distant, but arrived there perfectly naked, except his stockings, and so dreadfully burnt that ho died afterwards. It was shown iu evidenco that bojs regularly bunted for and found cartridges on tlio common, and the father of the deceased said one day a lad picked up between COO and 700' undischarged cartridges. The jury in returning a verdict of "Accidental death," requested the coroner to make a strong representation to the War Office on the manuer in which the cartridges were thrown away, the practice being both dangerous' and extravagant,