Coroner’s Court Police Unable To Identify Baby

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31029, 7 April 1966, Page 9

Coroner’s Court Police Unable To Identify Baby

In spite of extensive inquiries by the police, the identity of a male baby whose body was found in a flour bag near Chertsey on October 23 had not been established, Detective Sergeant A. G. I, Rodgers said in the Coroner’s Court yesterday afternoon. The Coroner (Mr A, T. Bell) found that an unknown male child died on or about October 21, the cause of death being respiratory failure from intra-uterine pneumonia and subdural hemorrhage associated with incomplete expansion of the lungs. Detective Sergeant Rodgers said the body was found behind a tree near the Main South road about two miles south of Chertsey. Detective Sergeant R. A. Meikle, of Ashburton, had failed to establish the identity of the child or its mother. The body was wrapped In sheeting and pillow-cases, and had been placed in a flour bag. There were bloodstains of group O on the sheet Inquiries had been made for pregnant women who had failed to keep appointments with doctors, said Detective Sergeant Rodgers. CRUSHED TO DEATH Alexander Scobie McKay, aged 51, was found to have died on October 7 at Scarborough from shock and hemorrhage associated with multiple fractures and injuries suffered when a truck being reversed up a hill by Leo Joseph Fahey ran over his legs and the lower part of his body. Fahey, a truck driver employed by B. O’Shaughnessy and Sons, said that he was carting shingle from Sockbum to sewerage works at Sumner. About 10.45 a.m. he was backing up a hill slowly to deliver his load and had to swing out to miss a parked tractor. He went back on to the correct side of the road and then heard a scream. He stopped the truck, jumped out, and saw the rear wheels on McKay’s legs. He immediately let the truck run forward and called on the truck radio for an ambulance. Jack Orlando Thompson, a waterworks employee, said it appeared that McKay slipped on gravel on the bitumen and fell under the wheels of the truck. McKay was slow and awkward in his movements because of a back injury. Constable W. A. Cromie, of Sumner, said that no-one saw the accident. POWER-CYCLIST KILLED Andrew Charles Stechman, aged 43, was found to have died on November 11 at the Christchurch Hospital, the cause of death being lacerations and hemorrhages of the

t’ratn fractures of the skull suffered when the pow-er-cycle he was riding collided with a van driven by Russell James Rogers at the corner of Stanmore and River roads on the evening of November 3. Alma Mahalaha Byron, aged 60, was found to have died from multiple injuries suffered at the intersectian of Moorhouse avenue and Selwyn street on October 24 when the power-cycle she was riding collided with a car driven by Mary Alison Begg. POISONED Jack Burman Barnes, aged

58, was found to have died at 335 Manchester street on December 28, the cause of death being a combination of alcohol and barbiturate poisoning. WOMAN’S DEATH Phyllis Bethia Haydn, aged 44, was found to have died at her home at 151 OlMviers road on December 18, the causes of death being asphyxia from drowning and drag intoxication. SUICIDE Vernan Ernest Pollard, aged 48, was found to have committed suicide on December 21 by hanging.