HEARTS TOUCHED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 187, 10 August 1938, Page 26

HEARTS TOUCHED.

CHILDREN'S DEATH.

THREE INCINERATED

" ALONE IN HOUSE."

SYDNEY, August 5

"Never lias an inquest so touched the hearts of the people of this district," said the Caniden district coroner, Mr. 11. S. Kelieway. He was inquiring into th=> deathe of three children who were incinerated in h slab and bark house on July 9 at Weronibi. near Caniden. Tlie children were Shirley Patricia Cidke (!)i. Winifred Adelaide Croke (ti) and David Henry Croke (<i). Tlie coroner returned an open verdict. '"Whether the fire originated accidentally or otherwise, tlie evidence does not enable me to say." he said.

A statement made to tlie police by ■Tames Michael Croke. unemployed, father of the children, was read.

hi tlie statement Croke *aid that at ' s -l"> p.m. he and his wife and three other child mi left to visit Mr. Je<-sup. who lived SOO variLs awav.

"My eldest sou. Leslie James Croke, Noel Sales. Cordon Old,, and the three youn»est children remained at the house.

'■'I'he two yoiinjrest children were asleep in bed in the front room, and Shirley was in bed in an adjoining room.

'•There was a small fire in the rfstove in the kitchen, and a tire in an open fireplace in the dining room. Shirley had a lighted lamp on a table at the side of her bed.

"When my son and his frieiuU joined u< at .liv-snp's. they said that the' light was out in ShirlevV room.

"At ll> p.m. Jessup. who had gone outside, said there was a tire near mv hon,M.."

(Yoke's st.dem-nt then told how they had all rushed over to the to finn it alicht at the rear.

'T forced a slab off the wall of Shirlev's room and the flanv-s burst out." he said.

""Sly eldest eon chopped awav two -labs from the front bedroom where the youngest children were, hut the flames bin-sf out and drove him back.

'•Noel Sales forced the front door, hut he could not got in as the flames burst out there. (~,,. Til a few minutes the wlu.lt> of the roof eolhuvcd."

Leonard Cordon OJfTe. apred 23. sai.i lie had t,, hold i".,.<ij,. Onko. who. almost overcome by fi;imcs and smoke, per--i-ted in trying to break into the hou^o.