BROOMFIELD TRAGEDY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 108, 9 May 1934, Page 8

BROOMFIELD TRAGEDY

VERDICT AT THE INQUEST. T Per Press Association. 1 DANNEVIRKE, May 8. At the inquest into the death of Mrs. Ellen Franklin and Miss Ellie Ntighton Smale, who perished in the fire at the Broomfield homestead on Sunday evening, the evidence disclosed that they were last seen in the diningroom late in the afternoon having tea. A fire was burning in this room, dry totara wood being used. Constable Moss, who assisted in the search, advanced the theory that the fire started in the dining-room by a spark or cinder falling from the fireplace setting fire to the carpet or chesterfield while the women were in the kitchen washing the crockery used for tea. When they discovered the fire they attempted to put it out and were overcome by smoke and flames, which resulted in their deaths. There were nc suspicious circumstances. The verdict of the jury was that death was due to being unable to escape from the burning building. The fierceness of the fire was indicated by the fact that the bodies were almost completely destroyed, the remains consisting of only a few hones.