GREY FIRE INQUEST

Hokitika Guardian, 5 June 1931, Page 3

GREY FIRE INQUEST

VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH The adjourned inquest into the deaths of Edmund Ryan, William Dnlrvmle Haddock, Frederick Isbester,, and Patrick Laughlin Phelan, resulting from the fire on Sunday morning last at. the Union Hotel, was, resumed yesterday by Mr W. Meldrpm, oner. At the opening of thy inquest on Month'v :h e. deuce the licensee,. James Collogan, ;was heard. Senior-Sergeant C. E. Roach cpiuluctetj the inquest, while Mr J. represented the .j., The Coroner returned a verdict as follows: .di “That the deceased men,.. Patrick Laughlin Phelan, David h rederiok Isbester, William Dalrvmpln, Haddock nnd Edmund Rvan. came tp their deaths in the Union Hotel, Greymouth "n the inoriiiuti of May 31- 1931, from burns and suffocation, resulting from the accidental burning of the hotel. The ev : 'Voce shows that it was lmpos«!Me to do 1 -ov ■ than was dme to save the lives of the deceased men, who appear to have boon overpowered by smoke and flames before the Fire Brigade arrived. The evidence also shows that the own-in 0 f flic fire was on t'roly accidental.”