FOUND DEAD IN CAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22517, 7 September 1936, Page 12

FOUND DEAD IN CAR

CHRISTCHURCH TOBACCONIST ENGINE RUNNING IN GARAGE [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] Sunday Mr. Albert George, tobacconist, was found dead yesterday morning sitting in the driving seat of his car in a garage at the back of his home at 309 Tuam Street. Evidence was given at an inquest that the engine of the car had been running, and consequently would have been giving off deadly carbon monoxide fumes. After evidence of identification had been taken, the coroner, Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M., ordered a post-mortem examination and adjourned the inquest sine die. The only witness heard was Ernest Charles Aldridge, an engineer's turner, employed at the Addington workshops, who said he shared the house in Tuam Street with the deceased. At 8 o'clock on Friday night George was suffering from a mild attack of influenza. About 6.45 yesterday morning witness was called by Mrs. George, who told him she had found her husband in his car in the garage. She thought he was very ill. Witness found George sitting in the driving seat of the car. He was reclining peacefully, and witness realised that he was dead. Three of the doors of the car were closed, but that at the front on the left-hand side was open. Witness added that the side door of the garage and the two front doors were wide open. There was a trace of petrol fumes in the air in the garage, and there was also a slight smell of fumes in the car. He did not notice anything unusual, except that the car had been running. The radiator and the engine were both warm, but lie could not say whether or not the ignition was turned on when he went to the garage. There was a certain amount of petrol in the tank, consequently he considered the engine must have been stopped.