THE WELLINGTON BURNING CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7799, 19 November 1886, Page 5

THE WELLINGTON BURNING CASE.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Thursday. At an inquest on the body of Henry Andrewe, who died yeeterday, Dr. Pemberton stated that he was called to see Andrews on Saturday. In reply to witness' query, deceased stated that he had been burned, and he then exposed the injured parts. Witness found to hie astonishment that the man had received very extensive barns about the lower part of the abdomen, extending round the buttocks, and embracing the inner side of the thigh. Witness saw that no praotioal treatment had been adopted, and was astonished at the way in which the deceased made light of his "iujary. He seemed to tnink that he could be cured in a week by the most simple treatment. Witness explained to him the serious natnre of his injuries, and advised him to go to the Soipital, whither he was accordingly taken next morning. die statement aa to how it had occurred was very vague, although he appeared to be perfectly clear. He said that he had struck a match and set fire to the valance of the bed, and been burned in that way ; but he afterwards spoke of having gone out riding and thus chafed him* self at the injured parts. I his seemed to witness preposterous, aa the injury from the burns was so severe and extensive that witness could not conceive how a man suffering so acutely could ride at all. Witness had no hope for his survival after having examined the deceased, for he saw that the man was almost certain to die from suppuration. Frank Grespin, son of the deceased's landlady, deposed that Andrewe on the Prince of Wales' Birthday complained of soreness. On Thursday he repeated his previous complaints as to stiffness and soreness, and witness obtained for him carbolic oil and a puff box, with which to apply Fuller's earth. On Friday deceased was no better. In the evening he got out of bed in witness' presence, and witness noticed for the first time that his nightshirt was covered with some kind of matter. Witness insisted upon an explanation as to the oause of his sufferings. Deceased then said, "I'll tell yon, but I'll not tell anyone else, as I am afraid that your mother would be vexed about it." He then explained that when he returned from hie ride on the afternoon of the Prince of Wales' Birthday, feeling very sore, he rubbed some vaseline over him. While he was undressed he struck a match to light a cigarette, when the head came off and ignited the valance of the bed, and also caught his shirt. He then lost all presence of mind, and was not quick enough to put it out before it had burned him severely. At witness's request he showed the extent of his injury, and witness told him he ought to consult a doctor at once. Deceased treated his injury lightly, and witness applied carbolic acid and ointment to his wouuds, which he repeated twice during the night, when he also gave him water. He appeared to be enduring great pain, though he would not acknowledge it. On Saturday morning he still said he did not think it was necessary that he should see a doctor, and at midday said he was somewhat easier. In reviewing the evidence the coroner said the case was one of the most wonderful that he had ever met with. He would scarcely have thought it possible that a man could have endured such suffering aa deceased must have undergone without making more complaint; but it could be understood that a man who was given to secret drinking, and who lived with a family ao strict ia its way, should, after injuring himself through carelessness, become shocked and frightened of exposure that he would bear up against a great deal of suffering. He (the Coroner) believed that having injured himself in this way, deceased though suffering frightful torture had still, for the aake of his character and good name, borne it without complaint. His agonies must have been like those of a martyr, but the inducement being very great, he had kept the matter to himself. All possible attention had been shown to him by the people with whom he lived, and the oause of death could not have been other than accidental. The jury returned a verdiot to the effect "That deceased met hie death from the effects of burna accidentally caused by him* self."