BED ON FIRE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18681, 3 May 1926, Page 9

BED ON FIRE.

OLD MAN SUFFOCATED. Smoke from a burning mattress on Saturday night caused the death of Thomas William Flowers Hostler, aged 71 years, who resided with Mr Heese, caretaker of the Te Oranga Home, Burwood. Hostler was found dead in bed at about 11 p.m., and the kapoc mattress of his bed was smouldering. When the , fire was extinguished -hi 3 pipe was picked up in the bed. Yesterday an inquest was held on the body by the Coroner, Mr H. A. Young. Evidence was given by Mr Heese's son, who said that at about 6 o'clock that evening he had had tea with Hostler, and had then gone out, leaving Hostler in the house alone. Witness returned at 11 p.m. and saw smoke coming from the man's bedroom window. He opened the bedroom door and found the room full of smoke. Having opened the window to let the smoke escape, he called Hostler, but there was no answer. Witness sprayed the bed with a fire extinguisher, and pulled deceased on to the floor. He was then dead. The mattress had been smouldering away, but only one of several blankets was damaged, and though the bed was near the wall, this had not suffered. Hostler had drunk about three bottles of beer since witness had left him in the house alone, and it had been usual for him to drink a quantity at the week-end. Hewas not burned very much, except on the lower part of the back and the back of the legs, where there was contact with the mattress. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased died of suffocation through the bed on which he had been lying accidentally catching fire. , Sixteen years ago a fire occurred under the same circumstances. Hostler, who had resided with Mr Heese for eighteen years was then rescued his bed by Mr Heese's brother, and ins injuries kept him in hospital for sis Hostler had worked as a labourer for forty years with the firm of Mess P. T. Bobson and Co.. wool workers, and had worked for the predecessors o the present firm.