FIVE INQUESTS CONCLUDED

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28661, 11 August 1958, Page 7

FIVE INQUESTS CONCLUDED

Man’s Death In House Fire

Evidence that a fire in a threeroomed cottage at 136 Tedder avenue, North Beach, was thought to have been caused by an electric cooker being left on and setting fire to nearby woodwork was given in the Coroner’s Court on Friday when the inquest into the death of Mathew Campbell, aged 76. was concluded before the Coroner (Mr A. T. Bell).

The Coroner found that Campbell died from asphyxia caused by carbon monoxide poisoning suffered when the house in which he lived alone caught fire on June 24. Eric Sydney Hands, a driver, said that he knew Campbell well and knew him to be a heavy spirits drinker. He had been drinking heavily on the days immediately before the fire. Colin Alfred Penny, a station officer at the Central Fire Station, said that he attended the fire and when told there was a man in the house he went in and found Campbell lying face downwards on the floor. His clothing and body had been extensively burnt and he was then dead. He noticed that the switch of an electric cooker in the room was on the “medium” position. Denis James Hogan, a Government analyst, said that specimens of blood and urine which he had examined contained alcohol. Avon Drownin *

The Coroner found that Peter George Hende, aged 61 years, died from asphyxia caused by drowning when he accidentally fell into the Avon river at Av'onside drive on July 9 when he was in an intoxicated condition. Edward Michael Browne, a steward employed at the Richmond Workingmen’s Club, said that Hende had bought drink from him, usually a bottle of sherry or two bottles of beer. On the day in question he had bought some sherry, beer and a small bottle of gin. He had never seen Hende drunk, said witness.

Examination of specimens given to him by the pathologist had shown that Hende had been intoxicated “to a considerable degree,” said Denis James Hogan, a Government analyst. Found Dead William Harry Restieaux, aged 79, died on July 7 at his home at 21 Kent street, Sydenham, from carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the Coroner’s verdict Constable G. A’Court, of the Sydenham station, said that when Henry Preston, a neighbour of Restieaux, reported that he had not seen Restieaux for several days, he went to his house. Forcin , open the front door, he found Restieaux- dead on the couch. The gas tap to a light fitting was partly open, anti it appeared that death had occurred several days - Run Over by Train The Coroner found that Richard Walter Bailey, aged 72 years, died on June 16 from multiple injuries he suffered . when he was run oveT._l>y a train near, the Christchurch railway station. His body was found lying across the railway tracks. It was known that Bailey . had intended reserving a seat on a train to make a trip to Dunedin, and it was believed that he was struck when making a short cut to the r Hway station, said Constable G. A. Lithgow. Motor Accident Victim

Gerald Richard Davies, aged 20. of the United States Navy, died from shock caused by • multiple injuries suffered when, on March 21. he was a passenger in a car which overturned on the road between Teddington and Governor’s Bay. Davies, who was thrown out of the car. died at the Christchurch Public Hospital on the following day. The driver of the car was David William Gates. Found Dead An inquest into the death of Alexander Moore, aged 87. was opened before Mr A. T. Bell, the Christchurch Coroner, at Kaiapoi yesterday. Moore was found dead in his home on the Main North road, at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The inquest was adjourned sine die, after evidence of identification had been given.