Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Thursday 26 January 1882, page 8


A WOMAN BURNT TO DEATH.

[BY TELEGRAPH.]

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. )

COLAC, WEDNESDAY.

A magisterial inquiry was held this after-noon before Mr. Edmund Cooper, J.P., upon the body of Ellen Gamble, a married woman, aged 55 years, who was burned to death last night in a fire which destroyed her cottage,

on the Colac town common. The evidenceof Mary Ann Gamble, daughter-in-law to the deceased, who resided in a cottage a few yards from that which was destroyed, showed that deceased called on her last night about 10 o'clock, being at the time not quite sober. Deceased wanted witness's husband, George Gamble, to go and drink with her, but he would not. About 11 o'clock her cottage was found to be in flames by Mr. William Heron, a resident in the district, who was passing by. He gave an alarm and broke in the door, but the house was quite full of flames. He called, but there was no noise, nor could he see deceased. After the fire, about 2 o'clock in the morn-ing, her remains were found amongst the embers of the fire. The head and limb were entirely destroyed, only the charred trunk and part of the thighs remaining. The evidence of identity was entirely circumstan-tial, as the remains were unrecognisable, ex-cepting that the testimony of Dr. Adam showed that there was no doubt of their being those of a woman of about deceased's height. Deceased, who was occasionally of intemperate habits, had for some time slept alone in the cottage, her husband having a little shop about a mile distant in the town, where he slept, The magistrates returned a verdict of accidentally burnt to death.

M. GODNOD has just completed a musical dramatic work .called Maître Pierre. The text ia by M. Louis Gallet. It is, however, not intended for the atage, but for represen-tation at concerts. The work consists of a number of dramatic scenes, which depict on the one hand the loves of Abelard and Hcloise, and on the other the conflict of this Christian philosopher with the dogmas of hia age. The work ia called Mailre Pierre because this waa the familiar name given to Abelard by his scholars.