HERMIT FATALLY BURNED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 198, 19 May 1936, Page 3

HERMIT FATALLY BURNED

Living Alone for Kifty Years Mourning tjie death of his young and beautiful wife, a man ot 45, wealthy and with extensive estates, decided to bury himself away in tl* fe woods near Cowfold, Sussex. That was 50 years aifo aud throughout all that time he med the life of a herhiit. alone with his memories anj his violin. Only last month, when the coroner investigated his death, diu his strange story come to light. T't.e man, John Horatio Pitcher, aged 1-5, was found burned to deatli in the smouldering ruins of his little buugaiow near St. Hugh Monastery. Tho representative ot a firm of solicitors. Mr. .P. Dudeney, tc.d the coroner that his firm bad had .- long association with the dead mam At one time lie owned considerable pioptrty, chiefly in Pevensey, Hailsham ami East Sussex. “But he was a ve.y eccentric old gentleman, and he endeavoured to manage his farms and land himself,” Mr. Dudeney added. "In consequence, these farms became heavily aic tig aged. and. some few years ago. vatlous mortgagees had to step in and exercise power of sale.” As far as Mr Dudeney’s firm knew, .Mr. Pitcher bad no relatives. “We rather suspect that the poor old gentleman died almost pentii.ess," stated Mr. Dudeney, who. ou behalf of his firm, offered to bear the fuaeiai exjienses. Evidence was given cl.at flames were seen coming from the bungalow shortly after six o’clock in the morning, and that it was impossible fot the first arrivals to get within 15 feet of the blazing building. Albert Langridge, who lives in a nearby cottage, said that lie visited Mr. Pitcher every evening. He was in a very enfeebled condition, and he thought that the fire might have been caused by the overturning of a candle, which was the only means of lighting.

The eoroner, stating that the actual cause of death had not been ascertained. recorded an open verdict.