DEATH OF WILLIAM MARTIN

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 35, 11 February 1914, Page 8

DEATH OF WILLIAM MARTIN

INQUEST CONCLUDED. The adjourned inquest on the body of William James Martin, who lost his life in a fire at 104, Dixon-street, last Friday, was continued before the Coroner, Mr. W. G. Riddell, at the Courthouse this morning. Mr. J. O'Shea represented the City Corporation. Harry Wilton, 94, Dixon-street, stated that he was standing about 20 yards from the house that was destroyed when he noticed the flames in the front room of that house. The flames were all inside, and the curtains were burning. He lan along and found another man knocking at the front door. The door was locked, but witness broke through it. He was unable to enter the house on account of the smoke. He called out, once only, "Anybody in?" There was no answer. He thought that the fire brigade was very slow in reaching the scene of the fire. The flames had a big hold by the time the brigade arrived. He could not swear to the actual time when he first noticed the fire. To Mr. O'Shea: In saying that the brigade was slow he menat that it was some time after its arrival before a lead of hose was playing on the building. . The brigade seemed to be a long time getting the water turned on. Arthur Tidman corroborated the evidence of Superintendent Tait, of the fire brigade, to the effect that the alarm was given at 8 o'clock. He broke the alarm as the town clock was striking. ' The Coroner stated, in reference to the reported delay of the brigade in getting to work, that he was satisfied with the Superintendent's statement. There had been no delay ; of that he was satisfied. In announcing the verdict, Mr. Riddell drew attention to the fact that the witness Bolton had admitted that he was smoking when he left the house, and that he had been smoking in the front room. It was a coincidence that the fire had apparently originated in that room. He was not prepared to say that the fire had been caused through the carelessness of Bolton, but the inference was there. It was an extraordinary thing that Morrison, who was asleep upstairs, v/as able to escape from the fire, and that Martin, who, so far as the evidence went to show, was out of bed, should not escape. The verdict was that Martin was burnt to death in the fire, but there was insufficient evidence to show how the fire originated.