INQUEST ON A CHILD.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13227, 22 September 1908, Page 4

INQUEST ON A CHILD.

Tho inquest concerning the death of a female child named Margaret Gallagher was resumedat the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr H. W. Bishop, District Coroner. Bridget Ellen Gallagher, a single woman, the mother of the child, said .hat she was twenty-six years or age. Sho did not suckle the child, because she was in service, and could not take tho child with her., The Coroner: According to the doctor you spoilt tho only chance tho child had of living. Witness, continuing, said that before the child was born she advertised for some person to take charge of it. She received three replies, though she did not ofier a premium, and among the letters was one from Mrs Sewell. Witness explained to Mrs Sowell how she was situated, and Mrs Sewell agreed to take the child. Mrs .Edwards, the name witness took, was a haphazard one. Tno child was born at Mrs Manning's home, and later witness went to Mrs Seweli's, where she remained a fortnight. Sho offered Mrs Sewell £50, which the father of tho child had provided, but Mrs Sewell did not want to take the money, and later witness left it on the table iv Mrs Seweli's presence. The birth of tho child was registered by witness during tho timo she was living with tho Sowells. Sho told tho Registrar she was a married woman, and gave tho name of Edward Sewell as that of her husband. She did not know any better.

Tho Coroner: ltubbish! You must be innocent. Witness further stated that the child was re-pstered as Margaret Sewell, and she told the l.e__istrar her own name was Margaret Sewell. Mr and Mrs Sowell were no parties to this. Sho got the child exempt from vaccination, and guvo the same names. Sho had no object whatever in concealing her proper name. Sho had never boon in trouble before. Tho child did not strike her as being delicate. Mrs Be well was to keep it for ever. The Coroner: Very well. All you wanted to do was to get rid of tho child. Witness said she opposed adoption, because sho did not wish to give the name of the father of the child. To Mr Salter (who appeared for Mr end-Mrs Sowell): Mr Sewell objected to "Th.** payment of money. The Coroner said that there was one matter ho wished to draw tho attention of the jury to, and that was the evidenco of Dr. Fenwick, who made the post-mortem examination on September Isth. The doctor said that the weight of tho bedy was only 51b 14oz. He pointed out tlhat tho average child at birth weighed 7_llb, at ono month B_lb, and at two months 10_b. Death, in his opinion, was duo to marasmus (infantile atrophy). The Coroner, continuing, said uhat the child at death weighed only s_b 14oz, which _howed that it never had a chance to live. Marasmus meant that the child could not aasimilato its food, which arose entirely from tho lack of proper food. Unfortunately, it was a very common cause of death. Owing to the position of women .wit— illegitimate children, they wanted to get rid of their trouble, and could not afford to suckle the child for seven or eight months, and suckling was necessary in a caso like this one. There was no .suspicion attaching to Mr and Mrs Sowell in regard to lack of care, ; as they had done all that could reasonably be expected of them. If they had doho anything that was a breach cf the law, then they would be- answerable to that law. and tip his mind they had acted in ignorance. The law'prohibited the taking of money ui.le__ the child was legally adopted, or those who took charge of it were registered under the Infant Life Protection Act, and he thought that tihis , fact should be as widely known as possible. The mother had made herself liable to prosecution on two charges—for a breach of the Registration of Births, Marriages, and Daaths Act, in giving the child's i__e as. Margajretr »seweil; and ji breath of the PubHc Healtih Act, by getting an exemption from vaccination in the name of Margaret jSeweU. It was astonishfnis haw she could be t» foolish. Sho themght she could cover up . her tracfes by handing over the child .to Mrs Sewel'l, but nm she had advertised her position, and inst by her foolishness. The jury returned)- a verdict that death was due to marasmus. . Subsequently Bridget Efllen Gallagher was charged with a "breach of the Public Health Act and the Births, Marriages, and _>oaths Act. Mr Salter appeared for accused. : On the application of tho. police, she was' remanded till to-morrow.-. Bail •was allowed accused, it being r fixed at £50, and one surety of £50.