WAITRESS’S DEATH IN FIRE

Evening Star, Issue 23526, 15 March 1940, Page 9

WAITRESS’S DEATH IN FIRE

INQUEST IN HOTEL CASE THE NAILED WINDOW [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, March 14. A verdict that Kathleen Olive Matthews, aged 17, a waitress employed at the Hotel Lloyd’s in Cuba street, died of as the result of a fire which occurred in the premises early on the morning of February 10 was returned by tho coroner (Mr J. Emslie) at the inquest to-day. Evidence was given of two tires which broke out in the building that morning. Matthews, it was stated, retired/ to her room on the fifth floor at 11.30 p.m. After the second outbreak of fir© her body was discovered in a room used for storing bedding next door to her bedroom. In the opinion of a medical witness death was due to suffocation.

Mr 0. C. Mazengarb,, representing the girl’s relatives, examining the hotel proprietor, It. S._ Wilson, said_ it was stated at a meeting of the Fire Board that the _ window of the girl’s bedroom was hailed. Wilson said he did not know previous to the fire, but was told afterwards, that tho window was nailed. Two nails were on ono side of the window. They would go in about an eighth of an inch, hut would not hold the window. Two fresh nails had been put in since the fire. Before the fire there were only two old nails on one side of the window. He did not know what the nails were there for. They were not put in with his permission.