INQUEST OPENED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 32, 6 August 1941, Page 8

INQUEST OPENED

HUSBAND'S EVIDENCE

(P.A.)

AUCKLAND, This Day.

The husband told a tragic5 story when the Coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, opened the inquest today. He said that when he and his wife retired at 11 o'clock a coke fire was still burning slightly in the breakfast-room grate. The^ bedroom was alongside the breakfast-room.

"I was awakened by a crackling noise and found tha room full of smoke," he said in evidence. "The ceiling, blinds, and curtains were burning fiercely. I jumped out of bed and pulled on the light switch, but the light would not come on. On going to the/ bedroom door I found the hall full of smoke. 1 aroused my wife, who was fast asleep. We were both nearly suffocated by smoke. I helped my wife to the front door, but found that the lock had slipped and I was unable to open the door, I attempted to get out of the house through a spare room and out of a window. I told my wife to wait in the passage by the door of the spare room so as to be ready to follow me when I got the window up. I got to the window and opened it, and then heard my wife call. When I called back to her I received no answer. So I returned to the hall, which was a mass of flames. I was choking and had to get out of the house to get my breath. I did not see my «wife again. > Neighbours' efforts to enter the house were unavailing owing to the flames. Because of the fact that my wife was found in the bedroom I am of the opinion that she returned there to get some clothes and was overcome by the smoke and flames."

The inquest was adjourned sine die,