FATAL BURNS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 16 January 1931, Page 5

FATAL BURNS

INQUEST ON VICTIM

A CONSTABLE’S EVIDENCE

(By Telegraph—Pres« Association)

AUCKLAND, This Day. The death of John Murphy, of Onehunga, who was fatally injured in a fire at his house on 25th December last, was investigated by the coroner, Mr Woodward, S.M. ' Constable Ilinton said that at 7.30 a.m. on 25th December he went to the bouse of Murphy where he found deceased lying on a bed suffering from burns on his limbs and body. Deceased told witness that he had been burned in a fire at his own house. He did not know what caused the fire, as lie was drunk. At the same time in the presence of deceased, Mrs Weiss, junr., informed witness that she and Murphy were living in deceased’s place. They arrived home from a, party at about 1.30 a.m. on Christmas Day, and on entering the house she lit a candle and put it on a candlestick. After she had extinguished the light she fell asleep. Some time afterwards she was awakened and noticed that the place was on fire. She at once woke up John Murphy, who rushed to the flames and fell over into the fire. About twenty minutes afterwards she saw him in the bush in the garden. She joined deceased after she had unsuccessfully tried to put out the fire. Continuing, Constable Hinton stated that the building in which the fire occurred was a shed 12 feet by 6£ feet, made of weather-boarding on uprights and was badly burnt. There was a nrd on the floor and the fire appeared to have started in some newspapers nea. l . the bed. Murphy was taken in an ;m----bulance to the hospital. A verdict of death due to burns accidentally received was returned ny the coroner.