The 'Peculiar' People.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 214, 7 September 1895, Page 12

The 'Peculiar' People.

Mr C. C. : Lewis held an inquest at the Liverpool Arms, Canning-town, on July 10th, on the body of two children, whose parents are members of the secb known as the 'Peculiar People.' The names of the deceased were given as Joseph Darkins, aged 23 months, and Edith Laws, aged six years. Rose Darkins, the mother of the tirst-named child, said she was the wife of a labourer, and reeided at 19, Star-street, Canning-town. The deceased firsb appeared unwell on June 28bh, when ehe noticed thab he was feverish. They did not call in a docbor, bub prayed to the Lord for aseistance.—The coroner : You neither had medicine nor docbor ? — Witness: No, sir. W,e gave him nourishment.—The coroner : Trusting in the Lord is nob sufficient: if your child is ill ib is your duty to geb a docbor. You live in this country and must observe its laws. The coroner remarked thab it rested with the jury to say whether they would adjourn the case for & post mortem examination to be made. After a discussion in private the jury returned a verdicb that the deceased died from natural causes, but expressed the opinion that if medical aid had been called in the child's life might have been saved. and they hoped thab they would take some steps to have a docbor in future. The coroner said he quite agreed with the opinion of the jury. If 'something was not done they would find soma day that they had a serious charge to answer, and they would be severely punished. The next case was then proceeded with, with a similar result.