THEORY OF FIRE

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 189, 9 May 1934, Page 10

THEORY OF FIRE

Inquiry Into Double Tragedy By Telegraph.—Press Association Dannevirke, May 8. At Hie inquest into the deatli of Mrs. Ellen Franklin and Miss Effie Leighton Smale, who perished in the fire at the Broomfield homestead on Sunday evening, the evidence disclosed that they were last seen in the diningroom late in the afternoon having tea. A fire was burning in tlie room, dry totara wood being used.. Constable Moss advanced the theory that the fire started in the diningroom hy a spark or a cinder falling from the fireplace and setting fire to the carpet or the chesterfield while the women were in Hie kitchen washing the crockery used for tea. and that, when they discovered the tire they attempted to put it out and were overcome by smoke and flames. There were no suspicions circumstances. , The verdict of Hie jury was that death was due to tlie women being unable to escape from the burning building. The fierceness of the tire is indicated by the fad that tlie bodies were almost completely destroyed. Hie remains consisting only of 11 few bones. MISS SMALE IDENTIFIED Blenheim, May 8. Miss simile was a former resident of Blenheim, and a daughter of the late Mr. R. H. Smale. In recent letters to friends in Blenheim, Miss Smale mentioned that Mrs Franklin’s house suffered severely n> Hie recent earthquake, tlie chimney* being affected. A sister of Mis* Smale. Mrs. Myrtle Garrett, lives al Wanganui, and a brother. Mr. Kewi Smale, in Nelson.