FIRE TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 90, 17 April 1934, Page 8

FIRE TRAGEDY.

INQUEST AT WAIPU. FARMER BURNED TO DEATH. EVIDENCE OF LIQUOR. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHAN GAB EI, this day. The inquest into the death of Robert Hamilton Black, the farmer who was burned to death when his home caught fire at Rnakaka early on Sunday morning, was opened at Waipu by the district coroner, Mr. F. E. Cullen, yesterday, and was adjourned sine die.

Evidence was given by Andrew John Owen, of Ruakaka, who said ho could not definitely identify the remains as those of Robert Hamilton Black. The only mark of identification was a, singlet, similar in pattern to the one deceased' was wearing on Saturday evening. Deceased had been sick for some time and had been very feeble, as he was a heavy drinker. Deceased was only one full day in the nursing lome in Whangarei before he returned 011 Saturday afternoon. He was then very shaky and weak. Ho had whisky with him. lie went to bed about 4 p.m. and witness stayed with him until 7 p.m. He was then awake and was not sober. There were two lights burning in the room, a, night lamp 011 a table at the head of the bed and a candle on the dressing table. The lights, were so< close to deceased that he would be likely to knock them over if he put his hands out to got anything. There wore about 40 to 50 letters 011 the dressing table.

Dr. Herbert Greenwood said ho could find 110 marks of violence on what was left of the body.

Edward Daniel McKay said ho was awakened early on Sunday morning by an explosion sounding like guns going off and went over to deceased's place, but could do nothing. He called other neighbours and they saw what they thought was the corpse in the front room behind the foot of the bed in which deceased was accustomed to sleep.