SOLDIER'S DEATH

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, February 29. The man found dead near an electric transformer pole on the Great South Road, about a mile south of Papakura Military Camp, early this morning has been identified as Private Lester Neil McKinnon, single, aged 26, formerly a nurseryman of Cambridge. He was a member of the 21st Rifle Battalion. The body was discovered by a passing motorist, who notified the police at Papakura. A doctor was called, and he found that Private McKinnon had been dead for some hours. There was extensive burning of the fingers of the right hand and the toes of both feet. It is believed by the police that he climbed the pole in his socks and stood on one live wire with both feet while he grasped another with his right hand.  When an inquest, was opened a relative of Private McKinnon in camp gave evidence of identification,, and said McKinnon had been very depressed lately, and was last seen in camp on Sunday. He did not respond to roll-call on Monday and was posted as missing. The inquest was adjourned sine die.

EVENING POST, VOLUME CXXIX, ISSUE 52, 1 MARCH 1940, PAGE 5