SHOCKING CHRISTCHURCH TRAGEDY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3960, 17 June 1913, Page 6

SHOCKING CHRISTCHURCH TRAGEDY.

OLD WOMAN DIES FROM BURNS. _ vv£"ltiß*.©i-J6l]

[PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM] CHRISTCHURCH, June 16. Ail inquest was held This afternoon on the body of Jane Veitch, an elderly woman, w'ho.died at the hospital on Sunday as the result of injuries arising from burns. Francis L. Scott, medical superintendent of the hospital, said deceased was admitted to the institution suffering from burns on her head, chest, ail'd arms. She was also suffering from severe shock, fropi which she did not rally Thomas Veitch said he lived with his wife at 24 Manchester Street. On Sunday he arose and got his breakfast. Deceased was sitting by the fire, and witness, after giving her her breakfast, went back to bed. After a short time lie woke up to find smoke coming into the bedroom. He rushed into the kitchen and found his wife' enveloped in flames lying on the floor close to where he had left her. _ She sang out: “Tom, give me a drink of cold water.” „ Witness could not account for her catching on fire. She was not subject to fits. The coroner : I don’t understand this at all. You went to bed and had a sleep, and then found her lying in flames on the floor. Why did she not call out to you? Witness; I newer heard a. sound. The coroner: Did you have any drink in the room? Witness: She had a little whisky that morning. The coroner: I thought so. In reply to further questions by the coroner, witness said lie had bad no whisky. Deceased appeared sober when ho went to bed. There was about half a jug of whisky in the place that morning.- Deceased was not in the habit of drinking, but took a little now and again. The coroner recorded a verdict thatdeceased died from burns accidentally received, but in what way there was no evidence to show.