Fatal Fire at Kuripum.
INQUEST. I An inquest mi held at Mrll.j Vaugban's house; West Bush road, Upper Plain, yosterday, on' tiie body of Winifred Evelyn Cameron, iu'faiit daughter pf Charles Q. Cameron, before Colonel lj'oberts, coroner, am) jury of six, of whom Mr A. Phillip's i v/as cbosou forouiau.
The jury having viewed the body Dr JJihie w called, and raid he was sent for on Sunday about 9 o'clock to seo deceased, and arrived about 9.80. He found Shu child in a dying condition, from the effects of burns recently received. The neck and trunkwere severely burned. The child died iu about a quarter of an hour after his arrival. The child was past all help when ho got there. Mary Evelyn Cameron, wife of Jharles George Cameron, contractor, stated the deceased was her daughter aged 2 years and 8 months. About a quarter past seven o'clock on Sunday night she put her daughter to bed at the same time she put her M months old hoy to bed iu a separate cot in the same room. Vtont into the bedroom about 7.80 to see if they were asleep. Left no caudle burning in the room when they were put to bed nor any light or fire of any kind. It was daylight at the time. Finding (hey were asleep witness looked the house and went over to her sistor-in-law's not a quarter of a mile away. Remained there about twenty nnu. utes and returned to the house. Before reaching homo saw a light in the front bedroom where the children wera left asleep. Witness hurried on, unlocked the door, and rushed into the bodroom, and found the bed on lire. No other part was on fire in the house, immediately picked up tho boy from the cot and put him in tho perambulator. The little girl was in the badroom on the floor and appeared to be unconscious. Lifted her into the perambulator and brought them both outside the house. Screamed out fire and ran down to Mr Yaughan's, a neighbors, leaving the backdoor open, Did not notice anyone about the premises when leaving the house to visit her sister-in-law, rior on returning, Had no strangers about during tho day. Mr Cameron was home up to about four o'clock on Sunday afternoon. Left no matches about the house within roach of a child the age of deceased. The matches were kept in a cupboard in a back bedroom. Had no light of any sort iu the house after putting the children to bed. Thoro was no lire in the kitchen after 5 o'clock. No log fires were burning anywhere near tho premises. Could not give the slightest idea how tho iiru took place. It was all in the bed. Did not strike a match in the bedroom on going to see if the cbiltlreu were asleep, It was quite daylight," ovoniiig light." Think deceased must have fallen out of the bed on to the floor. The bedroom window was unlatched but not open.
To the i'oroman: The head of the bed was burnt. There woro no hangings to the bed. The side of the wall was burned where the bead of bed touched it.
To the Coroner: The child in the cot was asleep when takenup.
To the foreman: The bed clothes were considerably burnt and tho child's clothes also. Was of opinion the child was burning before it awoko. All tho doors were locked, although any person so minded could enter the house through the window from the verandah, To tho Sergeant; Ilad not frequently left the children alone. Charles George Cameron, contractor, father of deceased, said lie was working about 10 miles from Masterton, Came home on Saturday and remained till about 4 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, when he returned to his work. Was sent for late the same night. Did not lay down in the bedroom on Sunday with his clothes on. Did not soe any strangers about that day near his place. When lie left everything appeared right, as usual, There was a small lire in the kitchen, just a few embers, but no tiro anywhere else, Never know the decoased child to touch a match or play with fire. No matches were kept in tho bedroom and what were in tho kitchen were on the shelf out of roach, Was accustomed to smoke occasionally, hut did not smoke on Sunday afternoon at all, Mrs Cameron bad a lire outside the house at tho back under a boiler. That was before dinner. Was pretty cor. tain it was quite out at an oarly hour, All his effects that wero in the house were destroyed by the fire, There was no insurance on them, Cound give no idea how the five could occur without a candle was used. The children wen? often put to bed early without a light. A candle was used at times in putting the children to bed, but not on light evenings.
The Jury having reviewed tho e ovidenco returned a verdict that dcn ceased came to her death accidentally |f frumthe effects of burns received on Sunday night, November 17th, at a , fini in Westbrook's Koad, Uppjr ; Plain.
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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3364, 19 November 1889, Page 2
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869Fatal Fire at Kuripum. Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3364, 19 November 1889, Page 2
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