Death from Burning

Horowhenua Chronicle, 3 August 1915, Page 2

Death from Burning

. AT MASAIvAU. On Saturday last an inquiry into the cause oi a Maori woman's death was held by Mr W. C. .Nation, coroner, at the pa, Manakau. The evidence showed that Mrs .Xgawaino itanginui, a widow, aged about 51) years, Uied through burns received on Tuesday night in her own house. Hangi WaanU'i said the deceased was his cousin and they lived in the same house. On Tuesday night, about 8 o'clock, he was awakened by a noise and he saw Xgawaine in flames m the middle of the room. He ran out and got some water which he dashed ovoi her and quenched the lire. Her clothes were all burnt, and hor arms and stomach badly burnt £00. Witness put some clothes on her and got her into bed. She would nbt listen To him She had wrapped herself in a blanket and -went to sleep by the side of a hre. How she got burnt witness could not say. and he only saw her when she was standing in the middle ot the tiooi burning. She did not say Tiow she caught fire. Some ol the women at--tended her until she died. "Wha Kingi deposed that- she wenc to the house of deceased on Tuesday night and found her Tying on the floor, badly burnt. Witness wanted to send for a doctor, but deceased would not agree, saving slie*was all right. She did not know how she caught fire. Sh-> was sensible up to the lasf. Constable Satherly, ot Otaki. said {hat he received a telephone message that deceased died that morning at 11 o'clock. He -was soon on the spot and examined, the body. The right arm from the elbow up. the stomach on the left side, and the : knees were badly burned, the' skin "Being -peeled off. Deceased was a widow, about 50 years of age. Three years ago her husband committed suicide by sfiooting himself. . , The coroner, entered up a verdict '>t "accidental death through burning.",