DEATH CAUSED IN A FIRE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4479, 17 July 1930, Page 2

DEATH CAUSED IN A FIRE.

INQUEST ON THE LATE GEORGE WIIDDOAVS. BODY FOUND NEAR, SEAT OF OUTBREAK. The circumstances surrounding the death of George Allred \\ iddows, the victim of the lire which, early on Sunday morning', destroyed tlie old Spiritualist Hall, Oxford Street, Levin, occupied by him as a dwelling', were inquired into before Mr. T. Brown, District .Coroner, at the Levin Courthouse on Monday afternoon. Tile evidence of Mrs. Clara Atkins, of Alamikuu, sister of the deceased, was that he was born in England and had resided iu New Zealand for the past 32 years. He was single, and a labourer by occupation. She last saw him alive on Monday, July 7th, at her home at Alanakau.

Alfred W. E. Winduley, a joiner employed by Mr. J. Harve/, and owner of the building', stated that the deceased had been in occupation of it since June 7th. The building was of wood, with an iron roof. Gas was laid ou, and there was an iron stove, with an iron chimney running, through the roof. Ernest William Day, a labourer, stated that he discovered the tire, close to where tie resided, and took steps to have the alarm raised. He had heard noises in the building, and ou looking out saw the flames. During Saturday evening there was no disturbance nor were there any noises on the premises. William McLennan, retired farmer, Bath Street, stated that the deceased was well-known to him. W;ilnoss met him in Oxford Street about 7.30 p.m. on Saturday; deceased was then coining to speak to him, but as witness was joined by hisi wife, the man passed on. As far as witness eouhl see, the deceased’s condition was quite normal

Evidence was given by Maurice Sutherland, Deputy-Superintendent of the Levin Eire Brigade that he received a call to the tire at 12.45 a.m. When the Brigade arrived, Hu* lire had a very strong* hold. Water was played on the building for a few minutes, extinguishing the lire. When, with other members of the Brigade, lie examined the inside of t lie building, he found the deceased lying on his back on the door, next, to the wall, with his feet towards the stove. The body was badly burnt. Witness assisted to have it removed from the building, and it was taken to the mortuary. From the appearance of the building, he was of opinion that the fire had started in the corner .where the stove was placed.' There was a bed in the room, but it was not occupied by the deceased, he had apparently gone lo sleep where he was found, as some of his clothes were folded lip lo make a pillow. The skirting-boards where the deceased was lying were not burnt, showing that his body had protected them from tire. From all appearances, Widdows had died as ihe result of the lire.

Thomas W. Mudgway, a member of the Brigade, stated that- he had known the deceased about 25 years. Witness -was with the Brigade at the lire, and as soon as it was possible lie went into (lie room and fell in the bed, but there was no one there. He came back along the wall, found deceased, and tried to pick him up, but he slipped out of witness’s hand.’ Witness then had lo gel out. because of the smoke, lie bail no doubt that the body, which lie assisted lo put on a stretcher, was that of George Widdows, although so completely disfigured b\ the fire.

-Constable J. Bagrie stated that lie a I tended the fire, and, on hearing one of the fireman sav that Widdows was in the building, he. went inside and, with the aid of a torch, saw deceased lying along the wall, with his feet towards the iron ■stove. All the clothing appeared to have been burnt off the hod}’; the limbs were badly burnt and the body charred. lie removed the body to the morgue. He had known the deceased for over 15 years.

A verdict was returned that deceased tost his life in a fire which destroyed the whare in which he resided. The Coroneit expressed his appreciation of the way in which tiie members of the Fire .Brigade and those who assisted them in removing the remains of the deceased from the scene of the fire to the morgue, performed a very painful and difficult task.