CARGO DOUBLE BURNING FATALITY

THE INQUEST.

The District Coroner (Mr. P. F. A. Kinna) held an inquest concerning the death of John Joseph Carmody and his wife, Marian Carmody, who were incinerated in the fire which consumed their hotel (the Post Office Hotel, Cargo), on the morning of the 21st February.

Constable Wilding deposed: I have known both the deceased for 25 years. I went to the fire, but it was impossible to get into any part of it. It was 9.30 a.m. when the remains were first seen in the cellar. On Monday, 23rd February, we recovered the bones and other things, from the ashes. The brooch produced was found in the cellar, and I have often seen it, or one similar, worn by Mrs. Cnrmody. The magnifying glass and two tin matchboxes produced are similar to those used by Mr. Carmody. I could not discern two bodies when I first saw the remains. About two hours after the fire I saw what I took to be two stomachs burning. That was where I found the bones. Some of the bones were in the cellar, and the other articles were found after sifting the debris. I found a cash box where deceaseds’ room stood, and in it were the remains of what I took to be a £5 note and other notes and some cheques. I cannot say who were the drawers of the cheques. There was only one entrance to the cellar, viz., from the verandah in the main street. The cellar extended under the bar. Deceaseds’ bedroom was away from the cellar. In my opinion they were trying to get to the main bar door which opens on to the main road, when they were overcome.

William Arthur Webster deposed: I know where Mr. and Mrs. Carmody slept. I went to the window; It was open; there was no one in the room, and there was no fire there. I came back out through the window and returned to the front of the building, where I saw May Carmody, a daughter of the deceased. I said, “Where are your mum and dad; are they up?’* She said, ”Yes, they called us.” As far as I know the fire started in the bar or cellar, but I do not know how.

May Carmody, aged 13 years, daughter of deceased deposed: I was sleeping on the verandah with my two sisters. About 4 o’clock my father said, ”Get up; fire! Take the two children.” Father was partly dressed. I ran to the back with my little sisters to mother’s room. Mother said, “Got back.’ I could see mother’s elbow at the windows. Mother then threw two skirts out. She had a white blouse on. That was the last I saw of my mother and father.

James Carmody, second son, deposed: I am 19 years of age. I slept with my brother Pat in a room de-tached from the main building. On the morning in question I was awakened by the fire and the singing out of the children. Got up and went to my parents’ room. It was black with smoke. I could not see anything. I went to bed about 10.45 the night before the fire, and father locked up. The last time I saw my mother was just after tea the night before. She said she was going to bed early. Father was over 49 years of age and mother was about 40.

J. J. Carmody, another son, deposed: My father called me, and sang out, “Fire,” and then rushed past me, I got up and followed him round the back of the hotel. He tried to get into the building by the hall door, but could not, as the fire was there. He went in through mother’s window, and I went in through the next one, into the room where my two sisters used to sleep, but there was no one there. I then got out through the window, I did not see my mother at all, and did not see my father after he got through the window, l heard my mother sing out. She sang out like a squeal. She must then have been in the hall leading to the bar. My mother had recently come home from a hospital, and was in delicate health.

Frank Lewis deposed: I went round the back of the hotel and Patrick Carmody said to me, ”Mother and father are missing.’ Patrick Carmody kicked the billiard room door in and James picked up an old wrapper and wrapped it round his mouth and tried to reach his mother’s room down the passage, but was beaten by the smoke. I did not see either of the deceased.

Dr. Douglas, Molong, deposed: I have examined certain bones, the subject of this inquest. They are undoubtedly human remains. I was able to ascertain that they are the remains of two persons. One set of bones was smaller than the other— the smaller bones are probably those of a female. The cause of death was incineration.

The coroner recorded a verdict to the effect that John Joseph Carmody and his wife, Marian, died from the effects of being burnt by a fire which took place at their residence, Post Office Hotel, Cargo, on the morning of the 21st February, 1920, but whether the fire originated accidentally or otherwise, the evidence adduced did not enable him to say,—Molong Argus.”