WOMAN FOUND IN BURNING HOUSE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22508, 16 September 1938, Page 12

WOMAN FOUND IN BURNING HOUSE

DEATH FROM ASPHYXIATION

CFBESS ASIOCIATIOS TBLEaaAX.)

WELLINGTON, September 15. A finding that Eileen Nora Mackie, a waitress, married, aged 34, was accidentally asphyxiated during break of fire at 55 Tmakori, road on September 12. was given by the Coroner at an inquest in Wellington this Constable Douglas Allen Almond said that on the night of September 12, he was on duty in Molesworth street. At about 11.20 p.m. he found that the rear of 55 Tinakori road ’ was burning fiercely. There was no light in the house. He went to the door on the north side of the house and knocked, but received no reply. He went into the street to give the alarm, but returned to the door about half a minute later, when he found that the alarm had already been given. He knocked on the door again, and on receiving no reply forced it open; but was unable to enter the house because of the smoke. He received no answer in reply to calls. He then went to the front door and knocked. It was locked and he was unable to force it. The door was forced by firemen who arrived shortly afterward.

The firemen brought out a woman who was fully dressed except for her shoes and hat and applied artificial respiration without success. Artificial respiration was also applied in the ambulance all the way to hospital. The witness added that though it was full of smoke there was no fire in the room where the .body was found. The Government pathologist (Dr. P. P. Lynch) said that death was caused by asphyxiation as a result of inhaling §moke. . i