FIRE TRAGEDY AT HALCOMBE

Chronicle (Levin), 23 October 1947, Page 7

FIRE TRAGEDY AT HALCOMBE

BODY FOUND IN ASHES OF DWELLING The chance diseovery of human re: mains 'midst smouldering ashes and heal twisted iron representing all' that xemained of the three-rooined dwelling oi George Finlay. Hutton, labourer, o± Halcombe, yesterday morning, created a sensation m the settlement where tUe midnight lire had been the news of the monient. Det.-Serg. J. G. Long, of Palmerston North, in company with Sergeant Craigie and Coustabie Hansen, oi Feilding, pr'oce'eded to the scene and were later.joined by a pathologist froin Palmerston North and it was soon established that a tragedy had occurred. The. small cottage was located about half a mile along the road from Hal combe towards Kakariki. Towards oue o'cloek yesterday morning the occupani of the nearby dwelling, Mr. Petersen, was awakehed by the sudden glare 111 his room and qiiiekly realised that the 'dwelling where Mr. and Mrs. Hutton fesided was in flames. The lire at tlus , time had the cottage enveloped and there was little Mr. Petersen could do but to concern himself with protecting his own property. A high wind was blowing-at the time and the cottage was quickly eonsumed by the fierce flames. . It was when looking over the ruins early yesterday morning that Mr. Petersen found reason to communicate with the police who, on arrival, confirmed the fact that human remains were among ihe ashes. •* The police remained on duty through out yesterday as the task of malcing a thorough examination could not proc-eed beeause of the heat, until the afternoon when it was established that someone jiad suft'ered a tragic end. Although the police were unable to malce any announcexnent there is a strong presumption that George Finlay Hutton, husband of Gladys Hutton, was the victim of the fire, Efforts to locate him yesterday were unsuccessful and from information obtained from his wife it is known that Mr. Hutton was at the house on Tuesday night. At a sitting of the Feilding Magistrate's Court on Tuesday Mrs. Hutton guccessfully applied • for separation, maintenance and guardianship orders against her husband. The guardianship order was in respect to one chiid. After the proceedings it is understood that Mrs. Hutton returned to her home at Halcombe and that some time durmg the evening her husband arrived at the house. Mrs. Hutton immediatelv departed to the home of her mother, Mrs. Moran, where she remained for the night. The subsequent moVements of Mr. Hutton are not known. He was apparently not seen afterwards and the fact that inquiries yesterday failed^ to give anv clue as to his whereabouts it is presumed that he lost his life in the fire.