NORMANBY’S FATAL FIRE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 13035, 31 March 1910, Page 5

NORMANBY’S FATAL FIRE.

INQUEST.

(Per United Press Association.)

' HAWERA, March 31. At the inquest concerning the burning fatality at Normanby, held to-day, there was no evidence to show how the fire originated. When .first noticed by a neighbour at 3 a.m. the house was nearly a mass of blazing , ruins. Mrs Coutts was crippled with, rheumatism, and from the position of her body it appears she was only able to struggle off the bed. The daughter’s remains were found near the back door, the girl apparehtly having almost succeeded in making her escape. Only the ashes of the bodies remained, the skulls crumbling, as soon .as touched. The ' Victims were the only Occupants of .the bouse ‘time. Mr Coutts is an inmate of a mental hospital. A violent gale Was raging at the time of the, fire, which, while deadening the sound from the burning building, caused it to burn furiously. The next door neighbour was unaware of the fire until the place was in ashes.