MAN’S BODY FOUND AFTER BACH DESTROYED BY FIRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27093, 30 May 1949, Page 4

MAN’S BODY FOUND AFTER BACH DESTROYED BY FIRE

PA CHRISTCHURCH, May 29. The badly burned body of Bruce Owen Edwards, aged 34, a taxi driver, was found by the police in a two-roomed bach at the back of a house at 79 Springfield road. The bach was destroyed by fire early this morning. The fire was discovered by the police at 4.30 a.m. When a police patrol car was near Springfield road a glow was seen from the back of the house and the car raced to the scene. By then the bach was ablaze from end to end. It was attached to a washhouse and storeroom at the back of the house.

Constable W.. S. Armstrong communicated with headquarters through the radio telephone on the patrol car, and the Fire Brigade was> informed. Sergeant O. D. V/ilkes and other constables went immediately to the fire, but found that nothing could be done until the arrival of the brigade. The bach was an inferno, with red hot sheets of roofing iron falling into the rooms. Two engines were sent to the fire, one from the St. Albans station and the other from the central station. With two deliveries of water, the fire was soon brought under control, and it was found that the body of a man was lying face downwards on the floor. The body was fully dressed and was terribly burned. The bach was severely damaged, with only the walls left standing, but the attached storeroom and washhouse escaped serious damage. Detectives were notified, and Senior Detective F. J. Brady and Detective Sergeants G. W. Alty and A. B. Tate made immediate inquiries. Later Superintendent J. B. Young and Inspector T. E. Holmes went to the bach and were joined by the coroner, Mr Raymond Ferner, Dr A. B. Pearson, pathologist, and Sergeant J. B. Kearton, police photographer. Careful examination was made before photographs were taken, and the police took possession of the remains of two electric radiators, a wireless and some electric fittings. Under Dr Pearson’s direction, the body was taken to the Christchurch Public Hospital morgue.

Inquiries established that Edwards had returned to the bach about 2.30 a.m. 'after being at a party. He had apparently-not undressed or taken his shoes off. Edwards had been living in the bach for about five months. An inquest will be opened to-mor-row morning.