DEATH OF CHILD FROM STAR VATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7786, 4 November 1886, Page 5

DEATH OF CHILD FROM STAR VA TION.

[BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Invercargill, Wednesday. An inquest was held to-day on the body of a four-mouths' infant, son of Arthur Russell, a gardener, residing in South Invercargill, who was alleged to have died through starvation. U itnesses deposed that the mother was scarcely ever sober, and that she left the child looked np in the house alone for hours together. The medical evidence went to show that the infant had been starved, there being no organic disease to account for deata. The body weighed four pounds twelve ounces. The doctor, to whom tbe child was shown by the mother, said that he told her the child was not gett ng sufficient nourishment and gave instructions for food to be given. The mother stated that she gave the child all it would take, and that it rejected the food ordered by the doctor, aud had diarrhoea after. She had appealed to the Charitable Aid Board for help, but her complaint at the office was chiefly that her husband had deserted her. She was told to call when the Board was sitting, but she did not attend, and waa intoxicated when she made the application. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the child had died from starvation, but they could not say who was to blame, it not being shown that the husband had not supplied funds for the maintenance of the child. The woman seemed always to bave money to spend on drink, and it was proved that she had bought several quantities of milk, but not continuously.