THE WAITAPEKA SENSATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13136, 21 November 1904, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE WAITAPEKA SENSATION.

o THE IK QUEST CONCLUDED. The inquest on the bodies of the infants who were born at Yi'aitapeka on Sunday, October 23, and who were afterwards found dead in a carpet bag being carricd by their mother, was resumed at the Courthouse, BnlcluSha, on tho Sth inst. before Mr J. S. Fleming, J.P. (acting-coronor), and tho following jury:— Messrs J. W. Wilson (foreman). E.Mason, C. J. Wood, W. Guest, John Low, and John Crawford. Inspector O'Brien appeared on behalf of the police, and Mr D. Stewart appeared to watch tho proceedings on behalf of Susannah Wainwright, tho mother of the children, who was present. Thomas Guyalt, settler, residing at AVaitapeka, a widower, said that Susannah Wainu right had been housekeeping for him during tho past seven months. She left him on 23rd October last at about 0 o'clock. On that morn-ing-she woke witness about half-past 5, saying she was going away. He asked her where she was going, and she replied, " I'm going lo Clutha." He asked her what sha was going to tho Chitha for, and she said she was going for good. Witness dressed himself, and remonstrated with her for leaving him in such a hurry. He tried to persuade her to slop, but she would not stop. Witness then said, "If you go, you go without your wages, us I have none to pay you." She. replied that she did not want any moiley. Witness thou went back to bed. Ho far as he could see. she was fully dressed, but he did r.ot take particular notice, lie got out. Nt bed again be! ween half-past 7 and 8, and after breakfast and feeding tho fowls he went to the stable to feed a foal there. As soon as lie went in lie saw signs of a confineineni. The stable had an earthen floor with straw on it. AYitness then went to his neighbour, Mrs Kojerson, who resided about 2,'io yards from his house, and at his request she visited the place. Mr Stewart said it might shorten the proceedings and the necessity of going into details it ho admitted the birth in tho stable.

Witness (continuing): When she called witness she appeared to he in her usual health. Between six week", and two months previously witness asked her if she was in trouble. She, said: "No, there is nothing wrong with me; I'm nil right. - '

To Mr Stewart: From what witness l'ound in tho stable, she had made no effort to conceal anything in the stable. Andrew Stonhouse, duly qualified medical practitioner, residing at Biilclufhu. said that on Monday, Oetcbcr 21, he saw Susannah Wainwright at Mrs Barrett's nursing home in Halclutlia, She was much exhausted and btwil-dered-like, and simple-minded in appearance, and seemed to he very anxious lo gel away to Invereargill, Witness asked her about iier coudltion. She said she had had a confinement on Sunday morning in Mr Ouyatt's stubie. Her clothing, especially her outer clothing was wet, and she was not too warmly clad. She gave witness the b:ig. which he found to contain the bodies of two ncv.'ly-born infants and a quantity of rags of white clothing. The hag and contents Constable Matthews immediately took charge of. An examination of the woman showed signs of recent confinement. Afterwards, on the same day, witness made a post morlem examination of the two bodies. The general outward appearance was Hint of death from exposure to cold, but not markedly so. On detail examination of the finger-nails and weights, and oi the bones, witness concluded that the bodies were those of infants prematurely horn by at least a month. Both infants Were males, The navel strings were well fieri with tape, and the bodies showed they had been partially cleaned and cared for. internally, the lungs wore 'airly well inflated, showing the infauls had breathed. The stomachs contained a certain amount of frothy mucus and one of them a small amount of milky material. Found no signs of violence externally or internally, or of drowning, sulfocation, etc. Death, in his opinion, resulted from prematurity, together with probably cold or exposure. Tho internal organs were an healthy as lie would expect to find. He had known eight months single children lo live to a good age. His experience of twins was that they had not the flume vitality, especially prewuture, as single children. Even children of lliat ase mi»ht live '.villi proper earn, depending on the vitality at birth. Considering tho mental and physical condition and the surrounding circumstances ho thought she did all she could for the children.

Kvideneo was also given by John Findlay tita.rw.rx), Thomas M'Kec (storekeeper), and Isa.bel:a Barrett (keeper of a nursir.g homo at Hufcliitlia).

Susannah Wainwright said she was a single woman, and was in the employment of Mr fruynU for sevon months up to October 27. She told (riiyalt a week before that she was leaving, and again told him ou the morning of her leaving. She expected to be confined about a month alter, and proposed being confined at Invereargill. She bad couic from Invercargill to (luyall's. She intended going to ft Mrs Stewart's in Invereargill. She did not arrange, hut she thought she had plenty of time. Her illness occurred a month earlier t|ian she expcctcd, AfteT the confinement she gol some clothing, took the babies in her arms, and started for Balclutha. She had two night dresses, a shawl (a small one), and some other clothing. It was a fine warm morning when she started. She rested herself several times on the road. She rouiembered Mr Findlay speaking to her; the babies were still alivo then. She did not get to Waitapeka. She was dejd beat when she got near the Blucgunn. She first fell ill on Saturday, but as she ,iud not been well for some time she took no l'otice of it. She sat most of the day, The raiii came on about 8 o'clock at night. When she fell asleep last the children were both alive. She had them on her knees lying against her tody, with nightdresses and somo other light clothing on, and a small shawl and her dress over them. She offered them the breast, but they did not take any. When she woko up they, were both dead. She could not say what time it was; it was moonlight. When she found they were dead she put them in the carpet bag. Then she made for ICakapuaka. station. Witness had nothing to est from tea on Saturday night tnl Monday morning. The Jury thou retired, and after an absence of 22 minutes returned

The Foreman: \Ve find that the death of tho infants was caused by prematurity of birth, accelerated by exposure and cold; the mother, Susannah WajpwrigMi being in. Eucb a physical and mental condition at the time that she wps not responsible .'or her actions. OHAHGE OF ATTEMPTED CONCEALMENT OF BIRTH, The woman Susannah Wainwright was afterwards arrested on ot manslaughter and attempted concealment of birth and remanded till Wednesday, jpgt., light hail being allowed—two sureties of £25 cacli, in addition to her own. The ahirges were heard beforo Mr G. Cruickshauk, 8.M., on the date named, when the evidence at the inquest was practically repeated. The magistrate dismissed both charges.