INFANT'S DEATH

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 56, 8 March 1937, Page 11

INFANT'S DEATH

BODY FOUND BURIED

INCONCLUSIVE INQUEST

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

HASTINGS, This Day.

The inquest on the body of an unidentified female -infant found buried on premises at Hastings, one of the occupants of which was Mrs. Isobel Annie Ayes, was concluded this morning before the Coroner (Mr. Geo. Ebbett).

The inquiry was commenced on June 27 last when Dr. P. P. Lynch, Wellington, gave evidence that the child was premature but had breathed. There were no marks of violence arid he was unable to state the cause of death.

This morning Detective Jfj.^ciyharson stated that very exhaustive "pwteo inquiries had been made but evidence to prove the time or place or cause of death could not be obtained.

Isobel Annie Ayes was called as a witness. In reply to the Coroner as to whether she could give any information how the body came to be where St was found or as to the cause or date %f death witness refused to answer on the ground that the answer might incriminate her.

In giving his verdict the Coroner stated that his business was to determine when and where and by what means the child came to its death. On the evidence he could not fix with certainty any of these things nor could he establish the identity of the infant. It was obvious that it died at or immediately after birth and the presumption that it died at Hastings was very strong. The verdict was that the infant died at Hastings on a date between June 22 and 26, 1936, but the evidence was not sufficient to enable him to determine the cause of death.