A HORRIBLE DEATH.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 10479, 8 December 1896, Page 2

A HORRIBLE DEATH.

Gisborne, Monday. A partly demented Maori woman named Akenlha Keating, wife of ft European, met with a horrible death at North Gisborne. Her husband said be gave her her dinner on Saturday alternoon; he had to feed her, aa she wai helpless, and when she sat or laid down be had to lilt her up again. Sbe had been in that state for the past two years, but had been worse for the past month. He then left for Gisborne, aad returning home at 5 o'olook missed her. He looked around, and seeing smoke in the orchard rushed down there and found her lying oa ber baok and tbe grass on fire all round her. Sbe was dead, lying in a dry trench a few inohes deep, The grass was long and dry and would burn very quiokly, but he could not account for It taking fire. Be supposed sbe was smoking and threw a lighted mat^ripto the grass. She was in the habit' of ' smoking, and was frequently ln the orohard. She was about 65 years oi age. A neighbor gave evidence that the grass was ou fire for an acre round her. The deceased waa dreadiuUy burned on the left side and both arms, and the hair was burned off her head. Her arms and lege were extended up both sides of the trench as if she had fallen frora a distanoe into the trench In that attitude, The woman's mouth and ' nose were covered with blood. The clothing had not been burned below the waist. A verdlot of accidental death by burning was returned, Eight or ten years ago deoeased's mother was burned to death within a few yards of the same spot by her whare catching fire.