DEATH OF FAMILY OF THREE

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25936, 17 October 1949, Page 8

DEATH OF FAMILY OF THREE

POISONOUS POWDER FOUND IN ROOM INHALATION OF FUMES THOUGHT LIKELY (New Zealand press Association.) AUCKLAND, October 15. A 29-year-old Public Works lorry driver, Hugh Campbell Kirk, his young wife and their 18-months-old daughter, who were found dead in a bedroom of their home near Ramarama last evening, are believed to have died from the extremely toxic fumes of an acute fumigant such as is used in the extermination of vermin. A partly empty tin of poisonous powder was found in a closely-sealed bedroom, and a quantity of powder was spread over the floor and bed. Mrs Kirk w’as in bed, the infant in a cot, and Kirk was lying on the floor at the foot of the bed. All were in night at*ire. An inquest was opened by the Pukekohe coroner (Mr H. Burrows) this afternoon. Evidence of identification was given by James Paul Kirk, a brother, and by a relative who discovered the tragedy. The Kirks were last seen on Thursday evening, apparently in good health and spirits. They were well known and apparently on the best of terms. Kirk was an amateur apiarist and had recently purchased fumigation powder to clean up a foul brood of bees for a neighbour. Kirk was at work on Thursdav but on Friday there was no sign of life around the house. Kirk’s three-ton lorry was parked outside. Mrs Kirk’s relatives went to investigate about 8 o’clock last evening. Police and a doctor who entered the house estimated that the inmates had been dead for about 24 hours. The inquest was adjourned.