INQUEST AT LEESTON.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9737, 27 May 1897, Page 5

INQUEST AT LEESTON.

An inquest was held at' the residence ot Mr David > Aiken, Leeston, before" B. Beet ham, Esq., Coroner, aud a jury, of which Mr W. Spring was chosen foreman, touching the death of a son of -Mr Aiken, aged three and a-half years, who was accidentally burnt to death on Saturday last. From the evidence it appears that the father, D. Aiken, lit a fire on Friday to burn rubbish. The fire was supposed to be extinguished on Friday night, but the wind on Saturday made it light up again unknown to the father and mother. The children on Saturday morning were playing round the blaze, when the heavy wind blew the youngest child on the fire, which ignited its clothes and burnt it very severely. -Mrs Aiken and one of the elder children were immediately on the scene and put the fire out, but not before fatal injuries were inflicted.. After hearing the evidence, a verdict of accidental death by burning wa9 returned, a rider being added that no blame was attachable to anyone. The brief report of the occurrence, which we published yesterday, it has been pointed out, may be read bo as to imply that the father was in to blame. From the evidence given at the. inquest it will be seen that this is incorrect. The fire burned up again unknown to the father and mother. The fatality waa brought about by the high wind and could nob have been foreseen or prevented.