HOTEL FIRE IN DUNEDIN
Coroner’s Finding Of Arson DEATH OF YOUNG MAN (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN. June 6. It had been abundantly proved by scientific and other evidence that the fire was a result of arson, said Mr J. D. Willis, S.M.. as Coroner at the conclusion today of the inquest into the death of James Edward Connell, aged 22, a grocer’s assistant. He found that Connell had been burned to death in his bedroom at Terry's Private Hotel on November 29. 1955, when the premises were destroyed by fire started by the deliberate and wrongful ignition of petrol in another bedroom by a person or persons at present unknown. The police had done their best to | sheet home the offence, and their I work in attempting to detect the Offender had been excellent, the Coroner said. “In view of the fact that their efforts may yet be crowned with success, I will not say much about the events,’ he continued. “It is an extremely unfortunate case, and the offence is recognised as a serious one.”
Connell unfortunately was an asthmatic, and it was difficult for him to rouse himself, the Coroner said. This no doubt was a factor in his death.
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Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27988, 7 June 1956, Page 12
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203HOTEL FIRE IN DUNEDIN Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27988, 7 June 1956, Page 12
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