SHOCKING BURNS

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19053, 18 September 1933, Page 6

SHOCKING BURNS

TRAGEDY AT HILLCREST WOMAN’S CLOTHES IGNITE DEATH ENSUES IN HOSPITAL. Severe burns, which were sustained by Miss Bessie Keith, aged 45 years at the home of Mr and Mrs YV. Nelson, of Hlllcrest, on Saturday morning, proved fatal, and her death occurred at the Waikato Hospital at i 2.20 a.m. yesterday. When Mrs Nelson returned to her house from the milking shed about 8 a.m. on Saturday she found Mi 33 Keith with the hair burned off her head and almost all her clothing burned. i 1 ' Miss Keith said she had been cleaning clothes with benzine, which ignited by flames from the kitchen range. Although she had quelled the flames by rolling herself on the grass outside she nevertheless was unable to prevent herself receiving shocking burns. Deceased was a daughter of Mrs Keith and the late Mr YV. Keith, of Mangatawhlrl, Pokeno. Her brother, Mr J. YV. Keith, is a farmer at Te Kauwhata. • At the time of the tragedy Miss Keith, who lived at Paget Street. Ponsonby,’ Auckland, was spending a holiday with Mrs Nelson, who was her sister. ACCIDENTAL DEATH. ' VERDICT AT THE INQUEST. DECEASED’S AWFUL END.

At the inquest this morning into the of Miss Bessie Ferguson Keith, the Coroner, Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., returned a verdict that the deceased died from accidental burns. Dr. M. J. Kelly, of the medical staff of the Waikato Hospital, stated that the deceased was admitted to the institution at 9,30 a.m, on Saturday, suffering from severe burns to the upper part of the body. In -his opinion death was due to shock following on burns. She died at 12.20 a.m. yesterday. 'John Waters Keith, farmer, of Te Kauwhata, a brother of the deceased, gave evidence of identification and also deposed that he and the deceased had been staying with their sister, Mrs Nelson, while the latter’s husband was ill. YVhen he and his sister returned from milking about 8 a.m. on Saturday they found Miss Keith in a back bedroom on the/ verge of collapse. Practically all her clothing and hair had been burned off. She said she had been cleaning a blouse, but she was unfit to give a full explanation. Apparently his sister had been cleaning clothing with benzine which had either exploded or caught fire. An empty benzine bottle was found nearby. Corroborative evidence was given by Fanny May Nelson, married woman, of Hillcrest, and sister of the deceased. „