BODY IN CAR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 141, 27 March 1948, Page 5

BODY IN CAR

MAN BURNED TO DEATH (P.A.) DUNEDIN, Mar 26. A badly-charred body which w r as recovered from the" wreckage of a motor-car on the Lower Portobello road, about 11 miles from Dunedin, on Wednesday night was identified today as that of Robert James White, aged 20, a clerk. The body was in the back seat of the car. It was discovered- by a passing motorist, Mr A. A. Cameron, of Dunedin, about 8.30 p.m. The car was blazing furiously with the bonnet facing into a bank. It was impossible to approach thecar closly and Mr Cameron notified the constable at Portobello. When the remains were discovered in the back seat, the Central Police Station was notified and a party of police left for the scene. It was thought by the police that the car had skidded into the bank and that after White had attempted to get it back on the road without success he had climbed into the rear seat and lit a cigarette. He was in the habit of carrying extra petrol in the rear of the car, it was stated, and a petrol tin and broken earthenware jar were discovered.

When the inquest was opened to-day Harold William White, a cousin, identified a watch found under the body. 'John Hollick, a tramway motornian, said he left Dunedin with White at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, and arrived at Harrington point at 6 p.m. After drinking a bottle of beer. White set off to return alone. He was not intoxicated. He had in the back of the car a tin containing about two gallons of petrol.

The inquest was adjourned sine die.