THE FEATHERSTON FIRE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 2 April 1913, Page 3

THE FEATHERSTON FIRE

INQUEST. OX THE VICTIM. SOME INTERESTING EVTDENGB.. Yesterday morning, at the Featherston Courthouse, the inquest touching the death of Peter Jacobsen, who was burned to death at his residence, Revans street, Feather ston, was resumed by the Coroner, Mr J. T. M. Hornsby. Evidence was given by Mr D. 'Regan, who was the last person who saw Jacobsen alive. The witness said it was about 1.30 in the forenoon of the 28th March last when he saw Jacobsen, and the old man was then standing at the four' cross-roads on the way to his house. Deceased seemed to want to speak, but as the witness was driving a spirited horse ho could net pull up, and so passed on. When returned a few minutes afterwards, the old man was gone, jacobsen had in hi-s hands, when witness passed, a paper parcel—there seemed to be something soft in the parcel—wrapped in white paper. Ernest El lev, a butcher's assistant, said he served Peter Jacobsen with some moat at about half-past seven in the morning of the 28th ult. The meat was wrapped up in white paper. Jacobsen, at that time, did not appear to have had any drink. ,The Coroner said it was evident that deceased had remained away from his home from> 7.30 to 11.30 a.m. oru the ■2Bth nit. at anyrate. Where he had been during that time, could not be ■gathered. ; It would be necessary for hi mi (the Coroner) now to proceed to G.reytown "Hospital, and there take the evidence of Patrick Oqssev; the man rescued firoiu the fire bv Constable Baker and Joseph A report of what had been done by the rescuers would be. sent to the authorities,, and the Coroner said lie desired to have it known- that representations would be made'by him to the Royal Humane Society as to the way in which Croasey was rescued by theconstable and IMr Baggisoh. The rescue was a splendid act of heroism, I and was deserving of every praise, j The inqueot was then adjourned to jGreytown, at the Hospital. | Patrick Oi'ossev, a.n inmate of the , Hospital, having* been duly sworn, said that he remembered very little of what had taken place, and his head was yet in a whirl at timet*. He had had a couple of drinks the day previous,' hut none on the day of the 'fire. Constable Baker reminded Crossey that the doctor had stated that he (Crossey) smelled strong of liquor when admitted to the Hospital. The Coroner then examined Crossey closely, and elicited the fact that the witness had, on the day of the fire, consumed half a bottle of whisky, or. more. The drink had been planted away from him, but lie- found it and drank the lot. , . The Coroner returned a verdict that 'Peter Jacobsen was burned to (death in his own residence, but how the fire occurred there was no pvidenoe to show; but that both men were drunk at the time erf the outbreak of lire.