THE GAS MYSTERY.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15269, 4 May 1915, Page 4

THE GAS MYSTERY.

INQUEST ON THE VICTIMS. A WEEKS ADJOURNMENT. (press association telegram.) WELLINGTON, May X This afternoon, Mr W. G. Hiddell, S.M., opened an enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, ou Friday last-, presumably through gas poisoning, of Walter Holme's and James Robert Smith, who wero found dead at residence- in Mulgravc street, and threo Chinamen, Young Wong. Young Ching, and Youivr, King, found in a shop in Tinakoriroad. Mr E. G. Jellico-. watched the case on behalf of the Chinese. Mr Peacock appeared for the relatives of Holmes, and Mr Neavo for tho L!a*s Company. Senior-S3i*goant Mullany conducted tho proceedings on behalf of the police. The Magistrate intimated tliat ho proposed to take evidence regarding the facts of the case, and then to adjourn the enquiry for a week to enable him to discover, if possible, the cause of the disaster. In answer to Mr Jollicoe. his Worship .said that :f Mr Jellicoo had any evidence to offer he should submit it to the police, who would submit it to the Coirt if th-?y thought it proper to. Evidence w*as given by Mrs Evelyn Grace Bennett, Mnigrave street, as to the finding of tho body of James Robert Smith, who had hc?n boarding with her. On Friday morning, as he did not appear at. the usual time, she went into his room and found him lying dead iv bed. His room was on tho ground floor. There was a very bad smell of gas. The window was open and the gas meter was turned on. It was not tho practice to shut it off. She had never previously noticed such a -trong smell of pas in the house. To Mr Neave: Sh? did not remember when the meter was last watered. Shehad never touched it. She only used gas for cooking. There wa s a slight smell of ens in the houso other than in dceased's room. Sergt. Mullany said deceased's relatives belonged to the West Coast, and had been communicated with. Constable McKelvie said he was present when the post-mortem examination of Smith's bo'*y was conduct?d by Dr. Gilmer, wbo took a sample of deceased's ! blood, which witness handed to the \ Government analyst. Elizabeth Johnson, with whom the decreased, Holm.-, lodged, said she noticed a strong smell of ga 6 on Friday morning. The jet in the hall was slightly turned on. Later, she noticed, a hissing noise, and on opening tho m?ter-box th e gas seemed to be blowing out of tho front of the meter. Her son turned the tap off. Witness went upstairs aud found a -second boarder, Erskine, in a stupor, whilst Holmes was lying on the bed in hie room very white. W'-en a doctor arrived he pronounced Holmes dead. "Witness did not usually turn the meter off at niiht. Tho meter hid not bean watered for four weeks. There was a gas jet in deceased's room which was at the back of the house away from th© meter. On Friday morning, after Holmes was found, a man from the Gasworks came and put about half a bucket of water into tho meter. Alfred\E. Bowden deposed to smelling gas outsids the premises occuoied by the threo Chinamen in Tinakori road. As the smell continued, and the Chinese did not appear, he broke into, the premises in the afternoon. Ha also called the police, and they found tho three Chinese dead. The gas meter downstairs was l.aking badly. The inquest was at this stage adjourned till Monday next.