Badly Burned Body Found In Bach

Northern Advocate, 30 May 1949, Page 7

Badly Burned Body Found In Bach

NOT UNDRESSED

CHRISTCHURCH, Mon. (P.A.).—The badly burned body of a taxi-driver was found by the police in a'tworoomed bach, at the back of a house at 79 Springfield Road, which was destroyed by fire early yesterday morning. He was: Mr Bruce Owen Edwards, aged 34. The fire was discovered by the police at 4.30 when a police patrol car was near Springfield Road. A glow was seen from the back of the house and the caf raced to the scene. By then the bach was ablaze from end to end. It was attached to a wash-house and storeroom at the back of the house. Constable W. S. Armstrong communicated with headquarters through a radio telephone on the patrol car and the lire brigade was informed. AN INFERNO Sergeant O. D. Wilkes and constables went immediately to the fire, but found that nothing could be done until the arrival of the brigade. The bach was an inferno, with red hot sheets of roofing iron falling into the rooms. The fire was soon brought under control by the brigade and it was found that the body of a man, fully dressed, was lying face downward on the floor. Only the walls of the bach were left standing, but the attached storeroom and wash-house escaped serious damage. Senior-Detective F. J. Brady and Detective-Sergeants G. W Alty and A. B. Tate made immediate inquiries. ! Later Superintendent J. B. Young and Inspector T. E. Holmes went to the bach and were joined by the coroner, Mr Raymond Ferner. S.M., Dr A. B. Pearson, pathologist, and Sergeant J. B. Kearton, police photographer.

A careful examination was made before photographs were taken and police took possession of the remains of two electric radiators,' a wireless and some electrical fittings. Mr Edwards returned to the- bach at about 2.30 yesterday morning after being at a party. He had apparently not undressed or taken his shoes off. He had been living in the bach for about five months. WDFF Meeting

The Tikipunga-Glenbervie WDFF, at its meeting on May 3, decided to send two food parcels to England every month. Mrs PawsOn .and Mrs Jeffery were 'appointed delegates to .the conference to be held at Wellington in July, and Mrs McLeod and Mrs Lillico to the Provincial to be held at WhangareL The meeting, held at Mrs Massey’s residence, was presided over by the president, Mrs Pawson,.