ASPHYXIATED COUPLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1024, 15 July 1930, Page 10

ASPHYXIATED COUPLE

NO VENTILATION WAS GRAVER DANGER INQUEST ADJOURNED That grave danger to life would exist when a gas radiator was burned in a small unventilated room, was the opinion expressed by an inspector of the Auckland Gas Company at an inquest opened before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., today, concerning the death of James Ebenezer Kimm, a tailor, aged 7S, who died at the Auckland Hospital on July 12. Mr. Kimm and his wife were admitted to the hospital on the morning of July 12, presumably suffering from the effects of asphyxiation. A gas inspector said he had examined the room wherein the couple were found. There was no escape of gas from the heater, which had five burners, ar.d was in good order. "Ample ventilation is essential,” said witness, who stated that all the doors and windows had been closed. The oxygen from the air would be consumed and cause grave danger to life. The smell of gas in the room was caused by faulty combustion. Charles Flanders Johns, a builder, of 37 Grange Road, Mount Eden, identified the body as that of his father-in-law, James Ebenezer Kimm, an old-age pensioner, 7S years of age. who resided with his wife in a small cottage at the hack of witness' residence. On Friday evening, July 11, witness called into see Mr. and Mrs. Kimm. They were both sitting in the livingroom and were quite well and in good spirits. They were reading and had a small gas radiator alight, this being their only means of heat. “Some time after leaving their house I noticed the light was still burning in their room,” said witness. “Mr. Kimm had a new wireless s;t and was very interested in it." At 6.15 a.m. the following day, Saturday, noticing the light still burning, witness said lie went into the cottage and found Mr. Kimm lying back in an easy chair with his right foot against the gas heater. He was in a sound sleep. Mrs. Kimm was lying on a couch apparently sleeping heavily. Witness then noticed that Mrs. Kimm' had been ill and realising that there was something seriously wrong, he rang for a doctor, Ur. Tewsley arriving at 6.45 a.m. After examination, both Mr. arid Mrs. Kimm were removed to the Auckland Public Hospital by ambulance. “It was the custom of Mr. and Mrs. Kimm to keep their doors and windows closed,” said witness. "The gasheater was still alight when I entered their room on Saturday morning. There would be no fresh air entering their room during the night, although there was a three-inch vent over the top of a gas stove in another corner of the room." ! The inquest was adjourned sine die.