DEATH OF A WOMAN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13103, 17 June 1913, Page 8

DEATH OF A WOMAN.

(Per Press Association.)

OHRISTCHURCH. last night. An inquest was held this afternoon on the body of Jane Veitch, an elderly woman, who died at ths hospital o;i Sunday as the result of injuries arising from burns. Francis L. Scott^ medical superintendent of the hospital, said deceased was admitted to the institution suffering from, burns on her head, chest, and arms. She was .also suffering from severe shock, from which she did not rally. Thomas Veitch said he lived with his wife at 24 Manchester street. Ct.i Sunday he arose and got his breakfast. Deceased was sitting by the firo, and Avitness, after giving her her breakfast, went back to bed. After a> s--hort time he woko to find smoke coining into the bedroom. He rushed into the kitchen, and found 'his wife enveloped m Hames. lying on the floor close to where h-e had left her. She sang out : '"Tom., give me a drink of cold water." Witness could not account for her catching on fire. She wiis not- subject to fits. " The coroner : T don't understand this at all. You went to bed and * had a sleep, and then found her lying m flames on the floor. Why did she not call out to you? Witness : I never heard a sound. The coroner : Did you have any drink m the room? Witness: She had a little whisky that morning. The coroner : I thought so. i 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 m the place that morning. Deceased was not m the habit of drinking, but took a little now and again. The coroner recorded a verdict that deceased died from burns accidentally I received, but m what way there was no evidence to show.