SHOCKING ACCIDENT AT ELLERSLIE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10515, 7 August 1897, Page 4

SHOCKING ACCIDENT AT ELLERSLIE.

AN OLD WOMAN BURNED TO DEATH. Yesterday afternoon the Auckland polipi authorities received a telephone mUMg* from Elleralie that a Mrs. McGratb, widow, aged 80, living in Ellerslie Road, had been found burned to death in her house. Mounted Constable Moffat and Oonetefcle Markle, of the Newmarket police-station, went oub to Ellerslie to investigate to» circumstances. From their reports it *l> 4 pears that the old lady was living alone '■ a four-roomed house. Her daughter,Wj7 Monaghan, had seen her last at nineoclo* in the morning, but the granddaughter Kate Monaghan, had been accustomed w take over food to her every day, «w yesterday wenb aboob quarter to three t> usual. On reaching the house ihe «* smoke arising from the dwelling, and g»*j an alarm, when two men, Messrs. Edwart McMahon, a warder in the Avondale Atf' lum, and Ed. Smyth, of Mount Albert came to her assistance. On entering t>ll house, which was full of smoke, they f«n» Mrs. McGrath lying on her right eiae 19 front of the open fireplace in the kitcntßi dead. Her face, hands, lees, and trunk" the body were considerably burned, ira examining the place, in was evident tJW deceased had either been eating near tn« fireplace or cooking, and that her clotbW? had accidentally caupht fire. There wtf no damage to either honse or furniture. « inquest will be held to-day at the Ellen'" Hotel. <v