FATHER’S LOSS

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 November 1929, Page 3

FATHER’S LOSS

CHILD DROWNED IN BATH.

SYDNEY, November 16. A pathetic story was disclosed at the City Coroner’s Court yesterday < during the investigation into the death i of Frank David Jones, an invalid child, i who was found drowned in a bath on ■ November 6 by his father, Joseph John < Jones. On Thursday the father awoke to find his house filled with smoke, and. the building was burnt to the i ground' within an hour in spite of the efforts of two fire brigades to ex- ; tingujsh the’ blaze. When Mr. Jones, appeared in ■ court. yesterday he was : much affected by his misfortune. The father said he had been out of work foi’ some time, and had been left alone in his home with his two sons, as the mother was ill in hospital with ; a new-born child. He had difficulty . in providing for the children, but con- . stantly sought work. On November i 6 he left his home to get some endowment forms so that he might obtain food for his two children. As he could not take the children ; 'with him, and there,, was no one to take care of them, he locked them in .his cottage. When he. returned he found’ the younger of the two playing in the street, but there was so sigh ■ of Frank. Jones then went into the house, and was horrified to see the child lying dead in the bath, which : was brimming with water. The Coronei' (Mr. May), in return- ; ing a verdict’of accidental death, said . that the case was a very sad one, and the father, although he had little i choice, had acted a little unwisely. “If there had been a fire the children. : would have been caught like rats in b a trap,” said the Coroner. “Mr. Jones • would have been well advised to have ' left the children in the care of neigh-. , hours while he was away. No father , should leave two young children lock- ■ edl in a weatherboard house.”