CORONER'S INQUEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 1127, 25 June 1867, Page 6

CORONER'S INQUEST.

A coroner's enquiry was held at the Star Hotel, Albert-street, yesterday afternoon, by T. M ' Philson, E=q , M.D., touching the death of a child named John Bell, who was found dead in bed on the previous Saturday. A jury was sworn, Mr. Alexander Chapman being the foreman. The jury having viewed the body, the following evidence was taken :— John Bell, sworn, deposed: I am a stonemason, living in West Queen-street, and father of the deceased child, a male infant 5 weeks old. It was a healthy thriving child. He was brought up at the breast, but occasionally fed. On Friday evening last when we went to bod, between 8 and 9 o'clock, the child was in its usual health. I have never known deceased to be ill, and it had no medicine or sleeping drops whatever. Upon going to bed I took the child into my arms ; it had been fed with corn flour about half-past sis o'clock. Upon my wife going to bed I handed the child over to her, and it soon afterwards wont to sleep in her arms, the child lying between lis. There was no light burning in the room, neither were there any other children in the bed. My wife got up about threo o'clock, and awoke mo ; upon which I struck a match and lighted the candle. I then noticed that the child was lying far down in the bed. Upon my wife getting into bed again, I told her that she had better lift the child a little higher up. She did so, and I remarked that there was something strange in its appearance by tho face being discoloured, and blood running from its nostrils. I felt the child and found it cold, upon which I exclaimed, " Good gracious, the child is dead !" It was quite stiff, the hands being contracted, and one arm raised towards its face; it was lying on its left side, with the face towards the mother. There was a little light froth issuing from the child's mouth. By the position the child was lying in, I am certain the bed-clothes must have been over it. My wife took deceased in her arms, and I at once went for Dr. Pierce, who came about sir o'clock, and pronounced the child to be dea'l. (Some of tho neighbours had come in before that, and said the child was dead. My opinion is that the child died either by being overlain by my wife, or smothered by the bed-clothes. It may have died in a fit. I have never seen it in a fit. and very seldom cried. We have buried three children be r ore this one ; they were all dead born. I was perfectly sober when I went to bed on Friday night, and so was my wife. Jessie Bell, sworn, stated : I am wife of the last witness, and mother of the deceased infant. The child was quite well and hearty when we went to bed on Friday night last. I cannot say where the child was lying when I went to sleep. When I .awoke in the morning and my husband struck a light, I noticed tho child was far down in the bed, aud upon our raising it we found it dead. lam almost assured, from its position, that I must have overlaid tho infant. Dr. r. D Pierce, deposed: lam a M.R.C.5.,E., practising in Auckland. On Saturday morning last I was called to see deceased, and upon my arrival at tho house, I found that the child had been dead at least four or five hours previous, it was cold and stiff. Blood was issuing from the mouth and nose, and tho whole of the lelt side was very much bruised and discoloured, as if it had been laid upon by some heavy pressure. There were no fractures or indications of convulsions or spasms. My opinion is that the child died from being overlaid or smothered. Mrs. Henry, a next door neighbour, gave corroborative testimony to that of the father and mother, tier opinion was that the child had died by being overlaid, and Mrs. Bell had told her the same. That beiug the whole of the evidenco, The jury came to the following verdict: "That deceased came to its death by being overlain in bed, without any blame attaching to either father or mother."