INQUEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17327, 29 May 1918, Page 9

INQUEST

A BURNING FATALITY. ¥ r **- A. Young (coroner) held an in nuiry at the hospital yesterday touchint the death of Beryl Te Aroha Twyford, ] girl 16 years of age, who was admitted t( thu hospital last Sunday night, suiferim from severe burns Dr Bowie, assistant medical officer at th< hospital, said deceased was admitted t< the hospital at 9.45 on the 26th inst suffering from burns on the face, neck ani side of the chest, and tho right leg Ihe burns were superficial, but continuous iho deceased suffered greatly from shock and never rallied. She died at 11.30 p.m on Monday, death being due to shock foi lowing on the burns. Florence Sarah Jane Twyford, mother o: the deceased, said that about 7.30 p.m or Sunday sho told deceased to go to her bed but abont 20 minutes later saw her in th< passage with a lighed candle in her hand Iho deceased _ was wearing a flannelett< nightdress, which was in flames Witness picked up a mat to beat out the flames nnd threw some blankets around her Th< deceased was subject to fits, sometime* or.ee a week, and became irritable when tolc to go to bed. The deceased was irritabU on the night of the accident. The quili ami part of the bedclothes in deceased's room were burned. Witness found a bool on top of deceased's bed. Deceased's fits lasted only a few seconds; in all other reBp^,. the rl TO vpr y intelligent. William Edward Smith, railway employee residing next door to the Twyfords. said that shorty after 8 p.m. on Sunday he heard a scream coming from the direction of Twyford s house. He jumped tho dividing fence, and on reaching Twyford'e kitchen saw deceased lying on the floor, and efforts were made to beat out tho flames. Witness throw off his coat to smother a par! of the ilamcs, and afterwards applied oi! to tho burns. A doctor was rung up, bul declined to come, and another doctor callec was away from homo. Neighbours ther got medical assistance and the ambulance. Oii and cotton wool were applied to the bums, and Dr Cameron and the ambulance arrived on the scene and deceased was taken to the hospital. Arthur Twyfo.-d, father of deceased, who was not at home at the time of the accident, said that in his opinion deceased had a fit at the time of the accident. Tho Coroner said it was plain from the evidence th.it the deceased was subject to nts and while suffering an attack set fire to her olothes. A verdict was returned that, deceased died from shook caused by burne accidentally received.