DEATH OF A CHILD.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 305, 24 December 1926, Page 9

DEATH OF A CHILD.

CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER. FATHER COMMITTED FOB TBIAL. FEAK OF AN OPERATION. (By Telegrapli.—Otvl CorresDondent.) RAETIHI, this day. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, Kairimu Henare was charged with manslaughter through omitting to obtain medical aid during the. illness of his son, Wao Nuiatata, aged sis, years, whereby the death of the child was caused. Dr. K. J. Boyd said the deceased was brought to him on November 9. The child was seriously ill, suffering from an abdominal trouble which required an immediate operation. He advised that the child be taken to the Public Hospital, and mentioned that an operation was necessary. After the death of the child he made a post-mortem. He found the body in a very wasted condition. The primary cause of death was appendicitis, which had developed into peritonitis. There was no doubt that the child had been neglected. The only chance of saving the child's life was by having an operation performed. Dr. Kronfield said that cm the date mentioned the accused came to the Public Hospital with his wife and child in a taxi. Hβ had everything prepared for the child's admittance, but the accused and his wife would not let the child leave the car. He made a rough examination of the child, and found that deceased was suffering from an acute abdominal condition. He recommended strongly to the parents to allow the child to be operated upon, and told them the only possible chance was an immediate operation, but it was of no avail. Hβ then told the parents that if they took the child away, they did so at their own risk. He was definitely of the opinion, that the only chance the child bad was that of an operation. Constable McCowan said that, on making inquiries concerning the child's death, he found that it had been sick and had not received either medicine or medical attention. He interviewed the accused, who said that he had taken the child to §cc Dr. Boyd. The child had also been taken to the hospifal, but it had not been left there, and had been taken home. The child remained home for nine or ten days, when it was taken to Tira's house at Ruatiti. The child was getting worse all the time, and three days later it died. The child had not received any further medical advice, nor. had it received any medicine, because it was under Ratana treatment. When accused was questioned as to why he did not leave the child at the hospital, he said he didn't like it, and his wife did not agree to it. The matter was then reported to the district coroner who held an inquest. Dr. Boyd was to have performed a post-mortem examination the iame day, but when he arrived he found a number of natives had assembled for the tangi, and would not allow the tody to be touched under any circumstances. Instructions were given before leaving that the body was not to be touched in any way until they were fur-1 ther communicated with. The doctor returned" the next day, and, after a lapse of about two hours, he was allowed to enter a tent where the child lay, and a post-mortem was" made. The T>ody was' in a frightfully wasted condition," in la'ct, just a skeleton. The accused, said the, child was crying and suffering for a month prior to its death. He had agreed to have the operation performed, but his •wife would not. • In pleading not guilty, the accused said he wished to make a statement, but did Dot wish to be placed on oath. He said that, as the child had been sick, for some time, he thought he had better take it to a doctor. He was really under Ratana, but he thought he had better take it to a doctor. He brought the child in to see Dr. Boyd, and his wife said she was frightened at the idea of an operation. The Maoris have been for a long time, and are still, frightened of operations. Dr. Boyd had instructed him to take the child to the hospital, and said_ it was no good giving the child medicine, as it wanted an immediate operation. He took the child to the hospital, and, when Dr. Kronfield said that the child should be operated upon, his wife started to cry, and she would not agree to an operation being performed. He then told her it was one of two things, life or death. On account of his wife being so cut up and distressed, Tie decidrrl to iake the child home. Accused wae committed for trial at the Supreme Court at Wanganui, bail heing allowed in a surety for himself of £200, and two other sureties of £100 each.