DEATH IN FIRE

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32035, 9 July 1969, Page 1

DEATH IN FIRE

A woman died in a fire which gutted the bedroom of her Spreydon flat yesterday morning. She was Mrs Mary Perry, aged 63, of 9 Athelstan Street.

Mrs Perry, who lived alone in her flat behind the Spreydon Drapery, returned on Monday after spending six weeks in the North Island. The owner of the shop, Mr D. R. Skinner, was among I the first to notice the

fire. He broke a bedroom window but was unable to see inside or enter because of the smoke and flames. Mr Skinner and two other shopkeepers, Messrs T. Wedlake and J. Graham, then forced the side door of the flat, but could not see Mrs Perry, The smoke and heat drove them out.

Firemen from Sydenham and Sockbum, using breathing apparatus, searched some of the rooms but were unable to enter the

bedroom until the flames there had been quelled. Mrs Perry’s body was found near the remains of her bed. Detective Inspector M. T. Churches and Detective Senior-Sergeant E. T. Mitten, who were called to the house, 'believe the fire began accidentally near an electric heater. The fire spread up a wall of the flat and across the ceiling of the shop, damaging the roof and causing extensive smoke damage to stock.