INQUEST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4284, 25 November 1892, Page 3

INQUEST.

An inquest on the remains of Kathlesn Natusch was held before Colonel Boberts, E.M., District Coroner, at tbo Court Houao, Maaterton, this morning at 8.80 a.m. Tho following jury was empanelled: William Cullen (foreman), T. Hood, A, A. Elkins, A. Henderson, Walter Perry and A. E, Copping. After viewing the body, the evidence of Samuel Cooper Wright wbb taken, corresponding with the statement published by as yesterday. Mr Walter Perry asked how the iomatos escaped. C Witness: Some of them down tbo others by the balcony, • Mr Perry: Was there time to return upstairs? Witness: I returned once to the top, but the smoke was so dense I had to go back. Dr. Spencer F. Beard, the next witness called, said the body of the child waß found at ten minutes to four In the morning. Iwaspresontat the time. Frominformation reoeived from Miss Spencer I direoted the Captain of the Fire Brigade to where the body would be likely to bo found. It was found near the cavity of the chimney on the left side of the house, Tho body was a good deal charred, On my suggestion the body was removed to the morgue. I have no reason to doubt tjwfc the body found wai that of

Kathleen Natusch, i mightadil that 1 saw the fire at once after the firebull rang, and it was in ut blaze. SeeIng it was Mr Natusoh's house and knowing he had a iot of children, I dressed rapidly and wont to'the! scent) of the fire. I was there within sofon minutes from when the bell rang, Somebody told me there was a child in the house and I made a rapid scrutiny of the building and saw that it was impossible to enter the house to rescue the child, I might say, to show tho rapidity .of the tire, that it seemed confined to the left-baud corner of the back ■•of the houso—looking frotu Perry-street —when I first looked out of my window, and when I arrived tho whole was in flames.

Iu reply to the Coroner, Dr Beard said it would liavo been impossible to have rescued the ohild with a. ladder when ho arrived,

Constable Mattin Cashion stated: I was on duty in llall-street on the morning of the 24th inat., at 12.15 a, m. I observed the glaro of fire in Hall-street, and proceeded to give the alarm. I then immediately ran towards the scene of tho fire. It was not more than three minutes before I arrived after first noticing the glaro, All the inmates of the house who were saved were outside when I arrived. Tho spreid of the fire was very rapid, A moment after my arrival I was told the child was missing. It was then an impossibility to attempt a rescue. Unsuccessful efforts were made to get into the houso by tho back way, Tliis was all the evidence called, After a few minutes' consideration, the jury leiurned tho following verdict "The deceased, Kathleen Natusch, met her death accidentally at the late fire,"