BADLY BURNED BODY OF TAXI DRIVER FOUND IN BACH

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 May 1949, Page 4

BADLY BURNED BODY OF TAXI DRIVER FOUND IN BACH

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night (PA).—The badly burned body of Bruce Owen Edwa-ds, aged 34. a taxi driver, was found by the liolice in a two-roomed bach at the back of a house at 79 Springfield Road, which was destroyed by fire early this morning. The fire was discovered by police at -2.30 a.m. When a police patrol car was neaU Springfield Road the glow was seen from the back of the house and the car raced to the scene. By then the bach was ablaze from end to end. It was attached to the washhouse and storeroom at the back of the house. Constable W. S. Armstrong, communicated with headquarters through radio telephone on the patrol car and ‘the Fire Brigade was informed. Sergeant O. D. Wilkes and other constables went immediately to the tire, but found that nothing could be done until the arrival of the brigade. The bach was an inferno with red hot sheets of rofing iron falling into the rooms. Two engines were sent to the fire, one from the St. Albans Station and the other from Central station. With two deliveries of water the fire was soon brought ) under control and it was found that the body of a man was lying face downwards on the floor. The body was fully dressed and was terribly burned. The bach was severely damaged, with only the walls left standing, but an attached storeroom and the washhouse escaped serious damage. Detectives were notified and SeniorDetective F. J. Brady and DetectiveSergeants G. W. Alty and A. B. Tate made immediate inquiries. Later, Su-_ perintendent J. B. Young and Inspector T. E. Holmes went to the bach and were joined by the coroner, Mr. Raymond Ferner, Dr. A. B. Pearson, pathologist, and Sergeant J. B. Kearton, police photographer. A careful examination was made before photographs were taken and the police took possession of the remains of two electric radiators, a wireless and some electric fittings. Under Dr. Pearson’s direction, the bodv was taken to the Christchurch Public Hospital morgue. Inquiries established that Edwards had returned to the bach at about 2.30 a.m., after being at a party. He had apparently not undressea, or taken his shoes off. Edwards had been living in the bach for about five months. The inquest will be opened tomorrow morning.