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Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 14, 9 December 1863, Page 2

Yesterday afternoon, subsequent to asi tnining the foregoing particulars, the remi of the body were conveyed to the Police C racks, where an inquest was held by the Cc nor. Previous to examining the witnesses,

jury viewed the remains of the poor won which were horribly disfigured by theaclioi

the'fire. The whole of the flesh had \* burnt off the chest and ab-lomen, and; off the back portion of the body. The had consumed the greater portion of skull aud had entirely burnt off one of feet. The portions of the flesh which i adhered to the bones were in a half chat condition. The body was lying nea in the same position as when found — on side, with the legs drawn up, and the hi outstretched. Altogether the viewing of body must have been one of the most nioii ful duties which fall to the lot of juries, John Nicol Anderson, the husband of deceased, Lizzie Anderson, gave evMe which, in substance, was as follows^ — Ab half-past five o'clock on Monday afterno hs returned home, and found the ceased, — who had been out the grea portion of the day— lying asleep on the cm in the front room. After awaking her, finding she was somewhat under the influe ot liquor, he assisted her to bed. She mained there until about 9 o'clock, wl she rose and had some supper he had ] pared. He had a few words with her as tne drink she. had taken, when, after awl

she brought in from the back yard neari; bottleful of rum, which she said the won next door had given her, along with fourcj After some persuasion, and to please decea; witness took some of the rum He remaii in the house until about 12 o'clock, when went-over to the Union Hotel, opposite, get a couple of cigars. Deceased said would sit at the window and watch for return, as he said he would onlybetwomiiw As she was going to sit at the window, witi put out the candle before be left, in oi to prevent people from the street seeing waiting. When he went out he Hbcked front door, and took the key with him, as his usual practice on going^^^ at night, accordance with the wish of debased hers The back door was not locked. It was such cases, usually fastened from

inside with a nail ; but he was | awaie whether on that occasion it wa«i He remained over at the Union for lit more than three quarters of an hour, v\

he heard the alaim of fire. Accompanied Mr Smith of the Victoria Horse Bazaar, Cuff, and others, he ran out,. and saw tha was his house that was on fire, ltunn across, in the exctenent of the moment

forgot that he had the key of the front & when, either by the window or the door, could not recollect which, he got into house, severely scorching his hands and f in doing so— and searched in both of front rooms, without finding his wife. 1 flames drove him back, but he could not how lie got out, whether he was dragged by the bystanders, or not. By the Coronor— There was a fire in fiont room, close to which the deceased: seated on the couch when he went out. Ai he had the glassful of rum out of the bo

— deceased having made herself a very stro tumtelevful with water, and for which reproved nor— he took it away and hi behind two boxes in the bedroom, deceai asking him to put it behind the bed. W) he left her, she was rather the worse

liquor. She was not helplessly drunk. By the Jury — He was sorry to say 1 ceased was in the habit of drinking. Deceas before she went to bed, was often in the ha of sitting in front of the fire, and placing

r eet on each side.

Constable Darcy stated that about minutes past 1 o'clock on Tuesday moring, was on duty near Mitchell's store, in T street, when he heard the noise of burn wood. On running to the place whence sound proceeded, he saw flames coming of the end of Mr Anderson's house, rushed through the front gate, and tried open the front door, but could not. Find he could not get into the house, he sprung rattle for assistance, and ran over to Union Hotel, whence he returned with si

men, amongst whom was the last witn They succer'ed in breaking open the fi door ; but the last witness, who went .1 f stpps inside, did not succeed in saving wife. Witness wanted to go into the burn house, but the bystanders, saying that woman must be dead, and he would only danger his own life, prevented him. W on his be At, witness had passed the ho about twenty minutes before, when e« •thing was quiet and dark. By the Coroner— When he first saw thei the flames were issuing from the room, n the door of which the body was found.

George Smith, proprietor of the Victi Horse Bazaar, was one of those over at Union Hotel, when the alarm of fire ' given. When they came near the burn house, he heard the shrieks of a woman, •• a cry of '' Oh," which was repeate i sev times, as if from some one in graat p Calling to them to "come along." as ti ■was a woman in the house, he tried to bi* in the front door, but not being able to d<j he ran into the Horse Bazaar for an When he returned, he found they ha(P open the front door, but they had not * able to save the deceased. Anders* perfectly sober at the time. Robart Kennedy, a baker living ben Mitchell's stores, stated that when he i» the fiie, he found a number of jnen stanc in the front of the house. He^fcnt roum the back, and pushed open the back door, that time the flames were coming out of

house. When he pushed open the door, saw what appeared to be the body of woman, lying on the ground near the* leading to" the inner room. lie tried to i< his way in ; but the fire drove him t" The woman was lying with her face do wards, and appeared to be quite dead, Sergeant Major Chapman gave evident the finding of the * remains after the tinguishing of the fire. They were tb« the same position described by the ■witness. ,

The jury, after a few minutes' deliberal returned the following verdict : — " That deceased died from being in a burning « 0 ' and unable to get out."