MAN DEAD AMID FLAMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 828, 23 November 1929, Page 1

MAN DEAD AMID FLAMES

CHARRED BODY IN RUINS DISCOVERY AT SWANSON The charred body of George F. Thurgood. a poultry farmer, of about i •iO, was found lying amid the ruins of, his blazing home in O’Neill’s Road, Swanson, shortly before mid-day veslerday. A discharged double-barrelled < shotgun lay beside him. A note feund by the police in the fowlhouse ! indicated that he intended to commit! suicide. He hud been suffering from Eternal trouble for some time. Mr. Thurgood had been living alone for the past three weeks or so. his two sons having gone to Pokaka. He was seen by a neighbour at about S o’clock yesterday morning when he appeared to he in good health. He was then Preparing to go to town, but apparently changed his mind. Shortly after 11.39 o’clock, Mr. H. Wanklin. who lives: close by. heard a shot and saw flames j issuing from the house. The fire had too strong a hold for him to go inside. 1 out it is thought probable that Mr. Thurgood was already dead. Mr. j Wanklin is sure the blaze had begun before the shot was fired. Countable Rushton. of Swanson, was I summoned ami he discovered the body. | "hich was too burut to show if any gunshot wound had been inflicted. Mr. Thurgood had been poultry farm ing for about six years, during which Period he had made many friends in the district He was formerly in the timber industry near Ohakune.