BIRTH IN BATHBABY DROWNED

Grey River Argus, 11 October 1949, Page 4

BIRTH IN BATHBABY DROWNED

Hawke’s Bay Woman’s Shocking Experience P.A. HASTINGS, October 10. To have given birth to a baby boy whil e taking a hot bath, and to have been unable to get advice of her misadventure to anyone for some hours, was the shocking experience of Mrs Sybil Edith Butcher. Before she could get out of the bath, th e baby was drowned.

These facts were revealed by Mrs Butcher’s brother, Silas Ruchworth Martyn, a single man, residing with his mother at the Waimarama Guest House, when an inquest into the death of the baby was opened this morning, and was adjourned sine die, aftei 1 evidence of identification. The witness told the District Coroner, Mr Geo. Ebbett, that his sister came to Waimarama from Kaka Point, South Otago, last May. She had fi’ro children, the two eldest of whom were at a boarding school. The middle child lived with Mrs Butcher’s mother, so as to be nearer school. Mrs Butcher was living in an old homestead at Waimarama Station with her two youngest children, aged 4 and 21 years. Witness stated he knew that another child was expected about the end of this month. Last Wednesday the youngest chi’d fell into a septic tank on the property, and Mrs Butcher jumped in Io save her, and received a shock. Early on Thursday morning, she had recurrence of cardiac pairs, and she took a bath to relieve them. While she was in the bath the baby was born, and before she could get out of the bath the baby was drowned.