CORONER'S INQUEST.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 31, 7 February 1867, Page 2

CORONER'S INQUEST.

Yesterday the Coroner, W. W. Squires, Esq., held an inquest on the body of a child, named Alfred Spendlove, which had died in the gaol, and been buried without the Coroner's permission. The body had been exhumed by order of the Coroner... The follow ng Jury was sworn: — John Lockett (foreman), Emanuel Eider, H^ Phillips, Geo. Russell, Jos. EdAvards, Jos. Leach, F. Schumacher, G. Cook, Hugh Corrigan, H. L. N. Clarke, H. A. Levestan, F. Spencer, and J. S. Hollis. The Coroner stated the reasons that had induced him to hold the inquest. It appeared the child was born on the 20th January, aud died about ten days afterwards. The circumstance Avas, he thought, an unheard of one. His instructions were to hold an inquest on the body of any person who died within the gaol, the reference being clearly to persons and not to prisoners. The Jury Avould now listen to the evidence which would be adduced. The folloAving Avitnesses were examined : — Dr. Vickerman : I have seen and identified the body of a child lying in an adjoining room. It is ten days old. It died on the 30th or 31st January. I believe it to be that of Alfred Spendlove. I attended Mary Ann Spendlove in her confinement. The child was weakly from its birth, laboring under some defect of the circulating system. It appeared as if the blood was never properly aerated in the lungs. The child died from natural causes, and I gave a certificate to that effect, in order that it might be buried. I did not know the law relating to persons dying in gaol ; it has been explained to me since. lh«re Avere some dark marks, oAving to the peculiar circulation, but no marks of -violence. I caß give no reason as to why the 'Jiild was buried Avithout a post mortem. I consider the synosis to have been the cause of death. I wished to have a post mortem to verify my opinion, although satisfied the child died from natural causes. I think de-eompo*-ition would now prevent our ascertaining tlie cause of diaih. The child was constantly attended to from the day of its birth. Mr. Phillips expressed an opinion tliat a post mortem examination ought to have been made. Tlie previous career of the woman demanded this, as Avell as the fact that a medical man might be mistaken. The Coroner stattd that it was impossible anything wrong could have happened to the child, the woman having been so closely watched.

Elizabeth Tutty : I have identified the body of the child in question. I attended Mrs. Spendlove v/hen she Av as confined on the 20th January last. The child died on the 30th. It was Aveakly from its birth. I consider it died from natural causes. I told. Dr. Vickerman it would not live long. I saw discolorations on various parts of the body, and showed them to Mr. Clouston and Dr„ Vickerman. To the Jury : I am not a midAvife, but I have attended hundreds of females in the absence of medical men. The marks Avere on the back bone and spine. The inside of the child was never in proper action. I know nothing about the body being buried without nn inquiry. I nursed the child tbe Avhole time, and Dr. Vickerman paid great attention to it. Mrs. Spendlove suckled it to Avithin a feAv hours of its death, and expressed a strong Avish for it to live. The Coroner : The mother had no motive to ill-use the child, as Spendlove acknoAvledges he is the father. Dr. Vickerman, recalled by the Jury : The discolorations referred to by the last witness were caused by the defective circulation I described in my evidence. I might be mistaken, but could hardly be under these circumstances. The marks were not such as could be caused by violence. .', : Henry Clouston : I am acting gaoler, in Nelson. I have identified the body in question as that of Arthur Spendlove, who died on the 30th Janury. I saw it several times, during its life. It was very Aveak from the time of its birth. The mother is undergoing confinement for infanticide, for 18 months, I have no suspicion of the child's death being by other than natural causes. As I read the laAv affecting the death of persons in the gaol, I considered it referred to prisoners only. It is the 87th clause of the Gaol Regulations, 1858. It says " notice of the death of a prisoner must be given to the Coroner, and to the relations of the deceased, when they can be ascertained;" After this I did not think it necessary to inform the Coroner. To the Jury : 1 saw the marks all over the body. The husband registered the birth of the child. I went to register it about the 3lst January, but it had been already registered. * The regulations have not heen revised for Nelson gaol since 1858, chey have for Auckland and Wellington. The Coroner explained that his instructions Avere to hold an inquest on all persons who die in the gaol. He would have to write to Wellington specially respecting this case. The Jury immediately returned a vgrdiet of death from natural causes.