FATAL BURNS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23221, 15 December 1938, Page 14

FATAL BURNS

ELDERLY WOMAN, CLOTHES CATCH FIRE CONTACT WITH RADIATOR ' ALONE IN HOME AT TIME [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN" CORRESPONDENT] NEW PLYMOUTH, Wednesday ' Burns she received when her clothing caught fire apparently from an electric radiator resulted in the death of an elderly woman in her home last night. The victim was:— Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Jones, aged 73. widow, of Salisbury Koad, Tuna, near Stratfprd. Mrs. Jones was the only one in tho house at the time. Her companion has been in the hospital recently and tho only other person living in the liouso was an employee, Miss Z. Taylor, who left early in the evening to go to a dance at Tariki. Mrs. Jones was then in the sitting room occupying the chair she usually used beside a radiator. House Full of Smoke When Miss Taylor returned early this morning the in Mrs. Jones' bedroom was on and the house was full of smoke. A neighbour, Mr. J. Bell, who was roused, accompanied Miss Taylor to the house and after a search they found the body of Mrs. Jones under the bed in her bedroom. Money was found beside the chair Mrs. Jones occupied and the radiator flex was disconnected from the socket. Charred Bank Notes It is assumed that the deceased counted the money and that her clothing caught tire as she leaned across the radiator to disconnect it. She then went to the bedroom, it is thought, to get a blanket to smother the flames, but collapsed. The money, which was in £5 and £1 notes, and the chair beside the radiator were charred. At the inquest to-day the coroner, Mr. W. Mclnnes, returned a verdict of accidental death due to shock following burns.