DEATHS IN A GARAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21224, 2 July 1932, Page 3 (Supplement)

DEATHS IN A GARAGE.

DEADLY CARBON MONOXIDE. GAS THAT GIVES NO WARNING. Death by misadventure, due to carbon monoxide poisoning," was the verdict returned by the jury at the inquest at Merstham, Surrey, on May 20, on George Herbert Freeman, a London solicitor, and his wife, who were found lying dead in the garage of their country house, Tollsworth Manor, Chaldon, near Caterham. The evidence at the inquest emphasised tliei grave peril to motorists from a gas which is both colourless and odourless. Only one part of carbon monoxide in a thousand parts of air makes a poisonous mixture.

Police Inspector, H. H. Rendell, . said that the garage was the most airtight shed he had ever seen. Mr. Freeman lay face downward at a distance of 19 feet from the doors of the garage.

The doors, said another witness, were open. His head was at least four feet from the exhaust pipe. ' Mrs. Freeman lay in a crouching position. Dr. Walter Weir, said that death was ,caused by carbon monoxide poisoning in both cases. The poisoning was the-kind to cause a person in a ccftifined area to collapse probably before being able to get into open air.

Mr. T. T. Davis (for the relatives): Was the position of Mrs. Freeman consistent with her having tried to help her husband, and then having been overcome in doing so? Witness: Yes. I formed that definite conclusion.