Killed by Swallowing a "Squeaker."

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 5, 18 June 1887, Page 4

Killed by Swallowing a "Squeaker."

Mr Wynne E. Baxter held an inquest at the Prince of Wales’ Tavern, Arbour Street, Mile End, recently, touching the death of Percy Wallace, aged eight years, late of 30, Grosvenor Street, Mile End. Miss Theresa O'Brien, pupil teacher at the Trafalgar Square Board Schools, stated that she was in the High Street, Stepney, when she saw the deceased standing in the road. He was putting his fingers down his mouth, and was stamping with his foot. Witness saw his lips turn blue, and immediately took him into Dr. Houchin’s surgery; Mr Edmund King Houchin, L.R.C.P, of High Street, Stepney, and that, after deceased was brought into his surgery, he gave one gasp, and died in about two minutes. Witness afterwards made a postmortem examination. On opening the wind-pipe, he found a “ squeaker,” with an indiarubber air-ball attached, tightly wedged in the windpipe. The ball was no doubt suddenly drawn be- • tween the vocal chords, thus forming a most perfect plug that could possibly be produced, shutting out all the possibility of the entrance of air into the • ntngs. “ Death from suffocation ” was the verdict.