EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 224, 4 January 1911, Page 5

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST.

Wellington, Last Night. At the inquest on the victims of the fire, John Jackson, proprietor of the Wellesley boarding-house, deposed that the seat of the fire was near the dining room, in the recess used as a linen closet. He could not warn all the inmates, owing to the rapidity of the flames. A watch produced, bearing the name of P. Meban, was found in. the room occupied by Meban, who was 25 or 28 years old. The fire escapes, of which there were four, met with the requirements of the City Council. Charles Kenney, a grocer, who shared ft room with Cromhie, said the latter retired between 10.30 and 11, and was then under the influence of liquor. On the alarm being given, he woke Crombie, who did not seem to understand, and did not get up. Witness pulled Crombie out of bed, and put him on his feet, telling him to follow. He got through a back window on to a lean-to, thinking Crombie was following. Superintendent O'Brien of the fire brigade said Crombie's body was found face downwards on the floor. There was some clothing on the feet, as if deceased had been in the act of pulling it on. In this room was a window facing the back wall. The second body was discovered in a passage not far from a window leading to the fire escape. This corpse was on its side, face downwards, and unclothed, close to where the watch engraved with P. Meban's name was found. The body, about the identity ol which some doubt exists, was that of a man sft Tin in height, and of stouv build. It had brown hair well over the head, and a brown moustache. Threw teeth were missing from the upper from jaw, and two from the lower. There was nothing on the body by which it could be identified. A verdict of accidental death was returned.