DEATH OF A CHILD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14973, 20 April 1909, Page 9

DEATH OF A CHILD.

INQUEST AT RANGIORA. The adjourned inquist touching the death of the infant child of Jane Burnett was held by Mr T. A. B. Eaiiey, District Coroner, and a jury at Rangiora yesterday. Mr Van Asch watched proceedings on behalf of the nioti:er of the infant. The inquest was opened 'at the Courthouse and then adjourned to the residence of Mr D. H. Booth. Sergeant M’Kay led evidence. Eiien Isabella Booth, wile of D. H. Booth, stated that Jane Burnett first went to her place two months ago and stayed about a fortnight.’ Witne3 then suspected her condition. At the end of the fortnight, she went to Mrs Beck, witness’s sister, in the Fernside Road. On Sunday, April 11, witness‘went to Mrs Beck’s house. She noticed blood in the back yard. She went to Mrs Wyle, a nurse, and asked her to see Miss Burnett and inform witness on her way back if anything was wrong. Mrs Wyle’s answer was not satisfactory when she returned. On tho following morning witness saw Miss Burnett in the kitchen. She had breakfast and dinner, did somoWashing and then went into the town. Witness and her sister went into Miss Burnett’s room and found what appeared to be the dead body of a child in a hat-box in a hamper under the bed. Tho body was tied up in a cloth. Witness and her sister went for Mrs 1 vie and later on witness asked Dr Yolckman to go to her sister’s. Miss Bur’-e+t left the

house at 4 o’clock and returned at 8.30 p.m. j To Sergeant M’Kay: Mrs Beck was ; confined on Thursday morning, April 1 15, and now had her child .with her. Mrs ‘Beck was. called, but it was found | that she was not well enough to give evidence. Annie Wyle stated that she was a widow, and a professional nurse. On Sunday, April 11, 6he saw Miss Burnett, who denied that there was anything the matter with her. On the following day Mrs Booth called for her again, and on going to Mrs Beck’s house she saw the body of a child as described by the previous witness. Next day she was sent for to nurse Miss Burnett, and, after seeing her, came to the conclusion that she had given birth to a child. Dr Volckman. gave evidence that on Monday, April 12, he saw the body of a female child at Mrs Beck’s house, as described by previous witnesses. There was a white mark extending completely round ,the neck, and corresponding in width with the umbilical cord. On the following day he saw Miss /Burnett and came to the conclusion that she had given birth to a child. He mado an examination of the body of the child, and found that it had breathed, but only for' a short time. It had died through being strangled by the umbilical cord. : To Mr Van Asch: The girl informed him that the child was born on Sunday, at about 2 a.m., in the back-yard, and she thought it was dead when she took it into the house. She stated that she severed the umbilical cord with a pair of scissors. He did not remember asking the girl whether the umbilical cord was round tho child’s neck. If she stated that he did so and she replied that it was, probably she was speaking the truth. , At 5.30 p.m. . tho inquest was adjourned until 10 a.m. on the following Monday. ’