ACCIDENTS, INQUESTS, &c.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 7927, 2 August 1886, Page 5

ACCIDENTS, INQUESTS, &c.

* AT ADDINGTON. On Saturday morning at 11.30 o'clock, Mr Beetham, Coroner, held an inquest at the Star Hotel, Addington, on view of the body of Paul Cassin, an infant two months old, a child of Kate Cassin, who resided with her father at Pigeon lane, Addington. It had been reported to the police that the child died suddenly on Thursday morning last. Mr John A. Hansmann was chosen foreman of the jury. The evidence of the child's mother was to the effect that on Wednesday night last she went to bed with the child, which was then in perfect health. She was roused at 5.30 a.m. on Thursday morning, and the child was all right then. She went to sleep again with the child resting on her arm, and when she awoke again at 7 o'clock, it was dead. The bed in which the mother and child slept was an extremely narrow one, so that it was very likely that overlaying had occurred. Mrs Hamilton, a widow, living next door to the Cassins, said that she saw the child frequently, and knew that it was kindly treated. The mother was fond of. the child, and very attentive to it. This witness saw the body shortly after the mother awoke, and had no doubt in her own mind that it had been overlain. Inspector Pender said there were other witnesses who could give corroborative evidence, but the Coroner did not think it necessary to call them. One of the jury called attention to the fact that there was no medical evidence. The Coroner said it was not required in this case. There had not been the slightest reason to suspect foul play, or, of course, there would have been medical evidence. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the child had died through being accidentally overlain. AT THE PROVINCIAL HOTEL. Another inquest, before Mr Beetham, was held at the Provincial Hotel, corner of Cashel and Barbadoes streets, at 2 30 p m. on Saturday, to ascertain the cause of death of Mabel Lear, a girl twelve years of age, daughter of Mr J. S. Lear, licensee of the hotel at which the inquest was held. Mr B. J. Leahy was chosen foreman of the jury. The jury having seen the body, the following evidence was tskwn :-. John Guthrie, a legally-qualified medical practitioner, deposed: I madea post-mortem examination of the body of deceased. There were no external marks of violence, and the body was well nourished. Ihe organs of the chest and abdomen were healthy. The blood-vessels on the surface of the brain were gorged with blood, and about two ounces of blood lay in the skullcap as it was removed. I attribute death to congestion of the brain. I think it probable that the child might possibly have been straining at stool, and that this brought on the fit of which she died. I was called on the evening of July 29 to see the child and made efforts at artificial respiration without success. James Stephen Lear: I am father of deceased. She had just turned twelve. On Thursday, July 29, deceased was found in the water-closet by Miss Parsons, a young lady staying here, in a fit as we thought. I brought Dr Guthrie to see her directly, and we tried all the means the doctor could think of to bring her round, but we did not succeed. She was breathing when she was found. She had been very healthy previously, and never had any fits. On the Monday previous she had complained of a slight headache. When about #ight years old, deceased had been scalded badly on the head. Inspector Pender said there was some evidence of deceased drinking from a bottle shortly before death. Mr Lear said that deceased was in the habit of carrying a small bottle of water, which she sometimes sweetened with sugar or lollies. Matilda Simpson, a young girl, stated that she saw deceased drink something out of a bottle on Thursday evening. Maud Parsons gave evidence as to the finding of deceased in the closet about 7 p.m. The Coroner remarked that if there had been anything deleterious in the liquid deceased had drunk from the bottle, Dr Guthrie would have found indications of it in the post-mortem examination. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased had died from natural causes, in accordance with the medical evidence. [Per Pbbsb Association.] OAMARTJ, August 1. A child named Pygall fell into a well this afternoon, in the absence of its parents, and was drowned. DUNEDIN, July 31. The body of John Hancock was found floating in Lake Wakatipu. He had received news of money having been left him, and about three weeks ago left Kawarau with the intention of going Home, but was not heard of again till his body was found in the lake. He had ,a watch and about £7O in money when last seen, but the watch and money were gone when the body was found. Tnere were no marks of violence. Suspicions of foul play are entertained.