BURNED TO DEATH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 189, 12 August 1931, Page 12

BURNED TO DEATH

PARAPARA ROAD TRAGEDY EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. (From Our Own Correspondent) RAETIHI, August 10. An inquest concerning the death oi George Francis Edwards, larmcr, who lost his life when his dwelling nouse on Parapara Road was destroyed by lire on Thursday morning, was held at the Rae tihi Magistrate s courthouse by Mr. W H. fcsandford, district coroner. Constable kmesnutt represented the ponce. The inquest was opened on Friday ano adjourned to Saturday. Robert Henry Howard, residing on tho Parapara Road about one and a half miles past Sullitt's old mill, said he was returning from a dance at Raetihi at about 2.30 a.m. ou Thursday. When passing the house of the deceased he saw dense smoke issuing from the front. He gave an alarm and tried to get in the front door but could not on account of the smoke. Just as he broke the door open Hames came out of the room which the deceased usually occu pied. He tried to get in at the other door, but could not. He went round the house trying to attract attention and Wilfrid Edwards, son of the deceased, came out. The two of them went for assistance and roused some neighbours but they could not do any thing. He helped the police to get out the remains of the deceased from the j debris. Wilfrid John Edwards, aged about 19, son of the deceased, related how he went with his father to the house of Mr. Howard and returned home about 11.30 p.m. on Wednesday night. They both retired to bed about midnight. His father occupied the front room as usual and he a back one. They each took a < candle. His father’s candle was in a carton used for packing honey and was ; tightened in with paper.. The candle J extended about half an inch above the paper. He heard nothing until aroused 1 by the former witness. He would say 1 the fire started in his father’s room. ‘ His father was not in the habit of read- 1 ing in bed and usually put the candle J on a chair at tho side of his bed ami his clothes on the back of the chair. The home on their own property was burned down twelve months previously. Another house occupied by the family was burned down about seven or eight years ago. As far as he was aware his I father did not have any liquor that I day. He had arranged to do certain ( work next day and again on tho fol f lowing week. His father was in his usual health and wa§ not subject to fits. c There was a room between their bed- f rooms and he did not hear any noise from the time he went to bed until { aroused by the former witness. Henry Charles Howard, farmer, Para- c para Road, said he lived two miles from the house where the fire took place. Deceased recently shifted into that house.

but for some years previously he lived nearer -witness. About 9.15 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5, deceased and his son visited witness, leaving about 11.15 p.m. Deceased appeared to be very tired, but had not had any liquor that day.

About 6.45 a.m. next morning witness' son came home and told them about the fire. The remains had then been removed to the morgue. Deceased was in his usual health and joined in singing the old songs with the gramophone. He was perfectly sober. William John Smith, firewood cutter, occupying one of tho old mill huts said ho was awakened at about 2.30 a.m. by someone singing out ‘fire’. He got up and saw tha f the home of deceased was ablaze. He saw Wilfrid Edwards running to one of the huts for assistance. He went at once to the fire and saw one of the Howards trying to get into the burning house, by the back door, but could not owing to tho heat. Witness tried to get in by the back door but was unable owing to tho heat and flames. The son. Wilfrid, said his father was inside. The flames were too strong to allow any attempt at rescue. He saw the deceased at about 8.30 a.m. on Wednesday and he was then apparently in good health. He would say the fire started in tho deceased’s bedroom. in the front of the house. 3he remains of deceased were found on the wire portion of the mattress. Constable Chesnutt gave evidence of arriving on the scene about 3.30 a.m. The walls and roof of the house had collapsed and were still burning fiercely. About 5.30 the Are had died sufficiently to enable a search to be made and the trunk of the bodv recovered on a wire mattress. He thought deceased had been stupifled or that he had not awakened from his sleep. Less than twelve months ago deceased, while then living by himself had been burned out. The Coroner returned a verdict! hat the deceased met his death by burning, caused through the dwelling house catching fire, the lire being caused by the improper use by deceased of a cardboard carton and paper packing as a candlestick. ,