MAN BURNED TO DEATH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 69, 12 September 1911, Page 4

MAN BURNED TO DEATH

CARRIXGTOX ROAD TRAGEDY. Word was brought to town just before one o'clock this morning that a man had been burned to death in a cottage on the Upper Carrington road. There was 110 one about at the time, so how the fire was caused must lie left to conjecture. A man named Harrv Leader, employed on the breaking-down .bench at Mr. T. V. Simons' sawmill 011 the Upper Carrington road, has a holding of land about two miles beyond. Recently his brother returned with him from Masterton, intending to spend a holiday here for the good of his health, which had been precarious for some time. Both men lived at the mill. Yesterday the deceased, who was a married mail, went oil' to to hi* brother's house, saying he would 1 ight some fires and do some cleaning up. As he had not returned in the evening Harry Leader followed, and was shocked when he got there to find the house burned to the ground, and his brother nowhere to be found. He returned to the mill about nine o'clock, and his mates accompanied him back to the ruined home, where they found the charred remains o the man in the debris. The unfortunate man, who was about 35 years of age, had evidently lain down 011 a bed in the house, and it is surmised that he fell asleep or had a seizure whilst smoking, and that his lighted tobacco set the place on lire. A constable was despatched at daylight this morning with a conveyance, lie will make the necessary enquiries into the circumstances and bring the body to Xew Plymouth.