DEATH OF BABY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20139, 8 January 1940, Page 5

DEATH OF BABY

SUFFOCATED BY CORD PLACED IN SLEEPING BAG Death from accidental suffocation was the verdict returned by the act-ing-coroner, Mr. A. E. Bcdl.rd, .at .... conclusion of an adjourned input.-,, into the death in Waiwnka South on Christmas Day of Keivan James Hale, adopted 15-nionth-old son of Mr. anil Mrs. E. T. Hale. Albert street. Hastings. i Joyce Janet Hale, the child's mother by adoption, said that, on the morning of the tragedy the child was put ij bed after breakfast in a sleeping bag on a single bed to which the four corners of the bag were pinned. Later a girl she sent to look at the . child her he was asleep blit hanging over the side of the ocd. Witness tound him in tnis position with his throat against the cord of the bag. She placed him back on the bed but could not gdt the knot of the cord i. ndone. It was cut to release the child and artificial respiration was tried before the doctor came. Asked by the coroner whether it was the general practice to put children to bed in suen a bag, witness said a Rlunket nurse had told her it would be a good idea, as the child was exceptionally lively and would not sleep unless tied down.

Medical evidence was given by Dr. W. D. Fitzgerald, who said the child had died about an hour and a half before witness arrived. Deatn was .w result of suffocation caused by the mechanical arrest of the process of respiration. From his examination he would say that everything possible had been done to save the child "■ life.

Witness said it was not unusual to use a bag of lire type in question to encourage children cf a lively temperament to sleep.