TWO BURNED TO DEATH
Married Man And Baby
(P.A.) WHANGAREI, May 26. A double tragedy occurred at Punakitere, 15 miles from Kaikohe, at 11 o’clock last night when a young married man and his infant son were burned to death. The victims were John Barker, aged 27, and Kenneth John Barker, aged six months.
Mrs Barker, aged 29, suffered severe burns on tire hands and arms and was admitted to the Kawakawa Hospital today. A daughter, Marlene Barker, aged two, escaped uninjured, as did Mrs Helen Cope, and her sister, Miss Inez Mail.
The tragedy occurred when the sixroomed house occupied by the Barkers caught fire and was completely destroyed. Mr Barker and his son were trapped. Mrs Barker escaped after suffering severe burns. The other occupants, who were in a different part of the house, were enabled to escape before the building became enveloped in flames.
The origin of the fire is believed to be the living room. An inquest was opened at Kaikohe today. The Barkers came from Ngatea about 12 months ago, Mr Barker being a Taranaki hockey representative.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST19420527.2.24
Bibliographic details
Southland Times, Issue 24754, 27 May 1942, Page 4
Word Count
182TWO BURNED TO DEATH Southland Times, Issue 24754, 27 May 1942, Page 4
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