A PITIFUL CASE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13946, 4 July 1907, Page 7

A PITIFUL CASE

DEATH OP AN INFANT.

(Faou Ocp. Own Cormspondxnt.)

CHRISTCH U RCH, July 3. A pitiable case was brought under the notice of tho police at Lyttelton this morn-

On tho arrival of tho steamer Mokoia from Dunedin the policc were sent for, and were informed that during the night one of the passengers—a single girl, 18 years of age—had given birth to a, fullydeveloped female child. There was no medical man on board the steamer, but tho girl was attended to by two stewardesses and a lady passenger. Everything possible was done for the girl and the infant, but the latter died yesterday • morning shortly before tho vessel reached Lyttelton. The girl herself was in a bad state, and immediately the steamer readied port Dr Newell was sent for. Ho attended to tho mother, who was at once taken ashoro and removed to a nursing home. An inquest was held at Lyttelton this afternoon before Mr Y. G. Day, coroner. Evidence was given by Kate Hpnvood, stewardess of the Mokoia, who stated that the mother of the clii.ld \va6,a second class passenger by the steamer. About 6 p.m. witness heard her cry out, and on going to her found she was ill. The child was horn about 10 p.m., and everything possible was done for the mother. 1 The infant died between 3 and 1 a.m. Tho mother informed witness that she was a single girl, aged 18 years. She had left home to go to Auckland in order,- when the child was born, io bo away from people who knew her. Tho child never breathed properly after it wivs born. ■ It seemed at about 2 a.m. to have convulsions.

Dr J. A. Newel] staled that he had examined the body of the child. He attributed death to congenital weakness. He did not think it would have made any difference if a medical man had been in attendance when it was born.

Sergeant Rutledge stated that ho had interviewed tho mother of the child. She told him she was a single eirl, and that her parents lived in Port Chalmers; the father of the baby also lived in Port Chalmers. She had left home with her mother's consent to go. to Auckland to bo confined.

The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence. Mr Day said the stewardess was deserving of great credit for (he able manner in which she had taken care of the girl and had attended to her.