INQUESTS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4303, 12 March 1901, Page 5

INQUESTS

An inquest was held, toy the Coroner, (Mr James Ashcroft) at the Newtown Hotel yesterday morning on the body of an infant who had been boarded out under the Infant Life Protection Act. Medical evidence went to 'show that the child died from insufficient attention in feeding. The person who last had charge of the child has been acquitted from blame. Thef jury brought in a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, adding a rider to the effect that in its opinion the Government- should provide an institution for the support inf such infants, and compel the fathers to pay a proper contribution for their maintenance. The inspectors under the Act reported that at present great difficulty was experienced in finding the right kind of nurses for such children.

Later in the day the Coroner held an inquest at the Hospital on the body of the man Henry Bottom, whose death was reported in: our columns yesterday. The officers of the Salvation Army Home in Buckle street, where the deceased had resided, gave evidence that the man was subject to fits. During one of these he fell into a hot bath and received injuries which caused his death. Sergeant O’Donovan rendered first aid to the man until the arrival of Dr Scott. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, which was that death was caused by- shock. Deceased was twenty-three.years- of age, and had beeiTlrosident in the colony, about ten: months. It is not known whether he had any relations'here.