INQUEST.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2019, 22 April 1878, Page 4

INQUEST.

An inquest touching tbe death of William Somers, who was burned to death m Messrs Mendelson and Morris's bakehouse at Pleasant Point, on Weduesday laßt, was held before B, Woollcombe, Esq., Coroner, and a jury, at the Point Hotel last Saturday. Mr William Eamcs was chosen foreman of the jury, and tho following evidence was taken : — Charles Wedge : I am a baker, living at j the Point. On "Wednesday evening last, at about half-past 7 o'clock, I was iv a bakehouse near Mendelson'a store. William Somers was abo m tho bakehouse. I had done the baking work for the nest day, and I left William Somors undressed and m his bed, which was about two feet off the floor, ■with a chaff mntrass. There were colored curtains suspended from the ceiling hanging down below the bed. I left a candle m a candlestick standing on a box, with matches, and a pipe. 1 blew the candle out before I left him. There was no fire m the house, and had not been all day. I went to the Point Hotel and stayed till I heard the alarm of fire. I went over and found that the house m which I had left William Somers was on fire. I was present when the body lying here was taken out of the ruins of tho fire. I believe the body lying here to be the body of William Somers. The policeman Stauley was present when tho body was taken out of the remains of the fire. When I got to the fire the flames were coming out of the windows and through the roof. I could not gay where the fire commenced. The building

consisted of a bakehouse which the front door opened into. The OTen was at the back of the bakehouse. The bedroom was on one side of the bakehouse communicating vrith the bakehouse and with a door to tlie back. There was a bed alone the front side of the bedroom m which William Somers was sleeping. I had a bed alongside the partition between the bedroom and bakehouse. I hare been residing m the house burnt down about a fortnight. William Somers had been there previously. I do not know how long. When I Eaw William Somers m bed he wa* perfectly sober. William Somers was m the habit of smoking after going to bed. He often lit a candle at night. There was only one candlestick m the room. If two candles were lit one must hare been stuck up somewhere. His clothes were across the foot of the bed. The box on which the candle stood was close to the bed. William Somers had £2 m his pocket. I was present when Detectivo 2S"«il found some money close to where the bed stood that Somers was m. The hou«e was very,' dry, nnd was charred as if it had been on fire previously. I was not m the house when it was on fire previously. The liedroom was lined with paper and sacking. It would gi very quick if on fire. I do not know if William Somers had any quarrel or ill-feeling with anyone. Ho had a white shirt ■ on when I loft him. I caw the candlestick after the fire. It was near where I left it. The body was found across the bed. Somers and I had no dispute. I am certuin I left Somers at half-past seven o'clock. I looked at the clock ut the time. Griffith Roberts : I am storeman to Mendelson and Morris. On Wednesday last the bakehouse near Mendelson and Morris' was burnt down. I went into the bakehouse that evening about eleven minutes past eight o'clock. At that time William Sornors was lying across his bed with his trousers on. There were two candles burning, one was m a candlestick on a box covered with a bag. The other wns on the sime box. The second candle had been just lit. I cannot say how near the candles were to the curtains of the bed. I got the bags and left. Somers asked me the time and I told him. I went into the store for a short time and then went home. After I got home I saw a fire. I went to it, and found the bakehouse m which I left Soraers was on fire. The candle m tho candlestick was burnt down low. Both candles were alight when I left Somers. Ido not know that Soni»rs had a quarrel with anyone. When I saw Somers there were no appearances of drink about him. William Exell : I am a brickmaker living at the Point. I knew the bakehouse that has been burnt down. I was about fifty yards from it on Wednesday night. When I first saw smoke issuing from it a little before nine o'clock William McClellan was with me. We both went to tho house, calling out fire. When I got to the fire there was no one that I saw there. I went round the house. All inside was m flames. It had just broken out under the roof. I went to the back door and struck it with a spade, and the flames rushed out on me, and I could not get nenr it again. In a few minutes the fire burst out m all directions. In a quarter of an hour it all fell m. I l'einained there and saw the body m the flames. There was a well there, and people wero pumping, but the fire was too strong. Joseph Stanley : I am a constable of police stationed at the Point. William Somers cane from .England with me m 1875. Ho was about 44 years old. I know nobody belonging to him. I do not know whether ho was married ; he had no family with him. At about 9 o'clock on Wednesday night last I heard a cry of fire. I went to the premises of Mendeleon and Morris, and found the bakehouse on fire. It waß breaking out m tho roof when I got there. After the house was burnt to the ground, I found a dead body, and with assistance I conveyed it to where it now is. The body was so far burnt that it could not be identified. A!l the clothes were burnt off. Isaac Lewis Morris : I am one of the partners m the firm of Mendelson and Morris. The late fire wns on my premises, m a bakehouse. William Jones rented the bakehouse. It was not insured. Wedgo and Roberts are both m. my employ. I have never known any ill feeling between them and Somers. Somers was only about two months there. The place was on fire about 12 months ago accidentally j that fire was put out. I have no suspicion that the last time it was set on fire. The jury after a short deliberation returned the following verdict : — " That William Somers died through having been burned on Wednesday, April 17. 1878, but m what manner the fire originated there is no evidence to show."