A Woman Burnt to Death.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4339, 27 November 1882, Page 2

A Woman Burnt to Death.

(Pee Press Association.)

Nelson, This day,

A fatal fire occurred yesterday afternoon in an old house on the hill above Washington Valley, which caught fire in a manner unknown. It was occupied by a man named Thomas Martin, alias Bock Coddy Twoney aad his wife, better known as Margaret Fitzsimmons, whose former husband was in the 18th regiment at Auckland, a young man named Potter trod c and another man naused James Moriarty. were also living in the house. They were" all in bed, and the men quite sober, when the fire broke out. The woman was drunk. On the alarm "being given and assistance available Martin told a constable he did not know where his wife was, but she might be upstairs. It was then imposs ible to get upstairs. It transpired afterwards, however, that the woman was io the front room below. Moriarity says he tried to drag her out, but she was helplessly drunk. He says he stayed till his hair caught fire. The house was completely destroyed, and the woman's charred remains found.