DEATH FROM BURNS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8457, 17 June 1913, Page 3

DEATH FROM BURNS

CORONER’S CAUSTIC COMMENT. Press association. CHRISTCHURCH, June 16. ‘ An inquest was held this afternoon on the body of Jane Veitch, an elderly woman who died at tlm hospital on Sunday as a result of injuries arising from burns.

Francis L. Scott, medical superintendent of the hospital, jaid deceased was admitted to the institution . suffering from burns on her head, chest, and arms. She was also suffering from severe shock from which sho did not rally. Thomaa Veitch said he lived with bis wife at 24, Manchester street. Oh Sunday he arose and got his breakfast. .Deceased was sitting by the fire and witness, after giving her her breakfast, wont hack to bed. After a short time he woke up to find smoke coming into the bedroom. Ho rushed into the kitchen and found his wife enveloped in flames lying on the floor close to where he had left her.. She sang out •‘Tom,'give.me a drink of cold water.” Witness could not account for her catching on fire. She was not subject to fits. ■■ The coroner:! don’t'understand tlii> at all. You: wont to'bed and had a sleep, and then found her lying in flames on the floor., Why did she not coll out to you 9 ... - Witness: I never heard a sound.

Coroner. Did you have any drink in the room f

Witness: She had a little whisky that morning. . Coroner: I thought so. In. reply to further questions by the coroner, witness said he had had no whisky. Deceased appeared sober when he went to bed. There was.about half a jug of whisky in the place that morning. Deceased was not in the habit of drinking, but took a little now and, again. , , . ■ The coroner recorded a verdict that deceased died from burns accidentally repeived, but in . what way there was no evidence to show.