BOY’S DEATH AT SUMNER

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25537, 3 July 1948, Page 4

BOY’S DEATH AT SUMNER

CORONER’S VERDICT

The Coroner, Mr F. F. Reid, held Inquests into the deaths of seven persons yesterday afternoon. The death of Leslie James Boswell, who died at Clifton, Sumner, on February 9 this year, was found by the Coroner to have been caused by severe lacerations of the right cerebral hemisphere of the brain, following multiple wounds penetrating the scalp and fracturing the skull, inflicted wilfully by William Eric Cooper on February 9, 1948. Heart Failure James Farr, aged 60, was found to have died suddenly on April 28 from heart failure. Baby’s Death at Lyttelton The inquest into the death of Bruce Paul McConchie, aged nine weeks, who died at Lyttelton on April 26, was adjourned to be heard at Lyttelton on July 6. Evidence was given by Florence Margaret Sullivan, a registered midwife, that the baby was healthy when born and weighed 51b 15oz, the witness said that owing to the mother’s indifferent attitude, and her failure to appreciate her responsibilities in the feeding of the baby, the baby had to be fed on several days in the nursery. On discharge from the nursing home the baby weighed 51b 121 oz. Mrs Una Teresa Clarke said that Mrs McConchie asked her to care for the baby on April 24 while Mrs McConchie went to a wedding. She thought the baby had lost weight since she had seen it five weeks before. The baby was very light and had poor suction when being fed. She told the mother, who said he was always like that. Dr. A. B. Pearson, pathologist at the Christchurch Public Hospital, said the cause of death was toxaemia due to broncho-pneumonia and associated with malnutrition. Found Dead in Bassinet Graeme Percival Cliff, aged three months, died suddenly on February 9. Mrs Fae Elizabeth Cliff said she put the baby in a bassinet after feeding him at 6 a.m. on February 9. He was asleep • when she saw him at 7.45 am. At 9 a.m. she found him lying face down. She ' turned him over, but there was no sign i of life. Dr. D. T. Stewart, a pathologist at the Christchurch Public Hospital, said the cause of death was due to asphyxia. A verdict in accordance with medical evidence was returned. Other Verdicts Gertrude Grace Watsop aged 57, a single woman, died suddenly on April 27 from acute oedema of the lungs following myocardial degeneration due to coronary artery degeneration.

Samuel Peake Webster, aged 63 years, a sheet metal worker, died suddenly on May 15 from heart failure associated with coronary artery degeneration. Vernon Rafael Hatcher, aged 45, a railway employee, was killed on May 12 when he was run over by railway waggons during shunting operations. Evidence was given by William Andrew Traue, railway employee, that he was working with Hatcher on a stationary rake of trucks when it was struck by a moving rake. He saw Hatcher fall over the end of a truck, a long, flat one, on to the line and between two trucks.

Dr. J. B. MacGlbbon said he examined Hatcher at the Christchurch. Public Hospital. One arm was badly damaged; he was crushed about the chest and he had other injuries. Death followed shock, arising from these injuries

A verdict that death followed shock following multiple injuries received by Hatcher when he was accidentally run over by railway waggons during shunting operations was returned.