Man Found Dead in Burning House

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 230, 17 December 1927, Page 1

Man Found Dead in Burning House

SUFFOCATED BY SMOKE

LITTLE DAMAGE BY FIRE

(From Our Oicw Correspondent) WAIHI. To-day. The death occurred at an early hour this morning under tragic circumstances of Mr. Thomas E. Midgley. Smoke was seen issuing from his residence in Union Street about 7 o’clock, and on the fire brigade forcing an entrance to the house Mr. Midgley was found dead on the floor of his bedroom, dressed in his night attire. Apart from a burned wicker chair and a hole in the flooring, very little damage had been done by the fire, and Mr. Midgley had evidently died from suffocation. It would appear that the unfortunate man had dropped off to sleep leaving a lighted candle on the chair. This burned through, and the fumes had evidently awakened Mr. Midgley, who, from the position of the body, had probably tried to escape through the window. Mr. Midgley. who was a widower and lived alone, was about 70 years of age, and was a well-known musician. For over 15 years he had been organist at St. James’s Presbyteri m Church, Waihi. and previous to this was organist at St. Paul’s Church, Auckland.