SINGULAR DEATH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1410, 18 November 1886, Page 2

SINGULAR DEATH.

The following ia a detailed account of the circumstance in connection with the singular affair recorded by us veeterd«y is happening In Wellington. M- Benr> Andrews, employed in a drapery and clothing establishment In Wellington was admitted to the Hospital on Saturday night Buffeting from extensive burns on the chest, stomach and other parts of the body, and he lingered until eleven last night, when he died. From Mrs Crispin, with whom deceased lodged, the f flowing particulars have been obtained:—On Tuesday, 9 h Inst, Mrs Crispin, with her family, went out to spend the day, and upon returning home about eight o’clock in the evening she met Andrews going down Majoribank’s street. On asking him how he had spent the day, he replied that he had been sleeping during the afternoon, and did not feel very well. Andrews came home between ten and eleven o’clock and went to bed, h(s rom being also occupied by Mrs Crispin’s son Next morning he said he fel s iff and sore, as he had teen out riding thr previous day. He, however, went to his business, but returned early in the afternoon, saying he was unable fo remain any longer In the evening he wentjto bed bnt, did not complain of being i'l. On Thursday he did not get up, remarking ihat he was very sore and would like to have some oil to rub on his body. This was procured for him. He remained in bed till Friday evening without saying anything more abont his indisposition, but later on told Mrs Crispin’s son what had happened He said that on the Tuesday afternoon he was smoking a cigarette in bed, and the valance and hia shirt took fire and burnt him severely. The skin was in fact peeling off his body in great flakes. Mis Crispin becoming aware for the first time that Andrews was seriously ill, sent at once for Dr Pemberton, who shortly arrived and ordered the man’s immediaie removal to the Hospital, saying that if ha was not taken there without delay he would be a dead man! Andrews said he would next day (Saturday), and he. was conveyed thither in a o»b during the morning. ‘The result has been stated. From Tuesday evening to Friday evening, Andrews, who must have suffered agonising pain, never said what waa really the matter, and. aa it subse* quen>ly transpired took every precaution to keep his mishap a secret. The valance of the bed has been found wrapped in a towel in his portmanteau, and a fragment of hla shirt slightly burnt, and evidently purposely torn off, waa hidden In another place. The remainder©! the shirt Is nowhere to bo fonnd. Mrs Crispin says there were no signs of anything having been set on fire when she returned on Tuesday evening. She did not miss the valance, and the bedding was not even singed. Indeed, only a small hole was burnt In the former. Later In the week there was an overpowering smell about the room, bat Mrs Crispin was unable to guess at its cause till Andrews said what had happened. The odour arose apparently from the extensive and festering sore about the person of her lodger. Deceased, who was ocoash naliy intemperate, was in the habit of drinking brandy in his room, and it is thought he took too much liquor on the day of the mishap, and went to sleep with a lighted cigarette in hia month. Deceased was a single man about fortyfive years of age, and a native of Bristol.