20th April 1946
Inquiry opens into naked, burned motorist
News of a curious death in Jersey quickly spread to the mainland papers. George Dreux had been found naked and seriously burned close to St Mary’s Lane. His car, which was close by, was still on fire when police arrived and a petrol cap, but not the accompanying can, was later found in his house.
Dreux, who was 31 and unmarried, died on his way to hospital, but an examination of the scene of the burning – and his position when he was found – suggested to police that he had been trying to reach a nearby stream, indicating that this was not a suicide case.
There were very few clues for them to go on, aside from a petrol-soaked singlet at his house and a note on which someone – presumably Dreux – had written three names.
The coroner recorded an open verdict at the subsequent inquest, declaring that the victim had died of shock following burns, but the significance of the three names was never revealed.
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Other events that occured in April
Corbière lighthouse is lit for the first time
- Corbiere’s 19m-tall lighthouse sits on a tidal island, which lifts the light a further 17m above the high tide mark. It was first lit in 1874.
- Read more…
Inquiry opens into naked, burned motorist
- A man was found naked and burned to death in Jersey in unexplained circumstances in April 1946. An open verdict ruling was given.
- Read more…
A crane falls into St Helier Harbour
- A 25-year-old crane operator drowned when his crane fell from Victoria Pier into St Helier harbour.
- Read more…
Draft law introduced to give women the vote
- The fight for Jersey women's right to vote began in October 1918, when Caroline Trachy called for women's involvement in running the island.
- Read more…