A CHILD'S STRANGE DEATH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14785, 18 March 1910, Page 7

A CHILD'S STRANGE DEATH

Mi' 11. Y. Widdoivson, S.M., held an inquest yesterday at the Magistrate's Court touching the deaili of ll.'uel Esnica Harrison, aged eight years, who died on Wednesday morning as the result o[ a peculiar accident. Aaron Harrison, mill worker, residing at No. 42 Athol placc, .faid deceased was his youngest daughter, aged eight years. The latter died at 6.10 a.m. on Wednesday morning. Sho met with an accident the previous evening whilst playing near tier home, and up to that time had been a very healthy chil<l. He was first informed of I lie accident about 7.30 p.m. by a lit tie girl, who said accused had taken- a fit. He fonnd hor in the company of two little girls, and she was crying. On being asked how it happened, deccnscd said she had struck a post, and witness concluded she bad sustained an ordinary fall, and that it was not serious. Uc took her inside, and iho injured part was bathed with hot water. Witness laid her on a couch, and half an hour later she was put to bed. She seemed better, and witness went out, returning about 9.30 p.m. Shortly afterwards he heard hor kicking, and thinking she was in a fit, sent for Dr Butemont, wlio came in a short time. Sho was then unconscious, and remained so, and his wife sat up with her until 3 a.m. At that hour deceased soemed to bo sleeping quietly, and his wife lay down beside her to re.-.t. Sho called witness at 6.40 a.m., and told him the child was dead. Dr Butemont was at onep summoned. .Witness was quite satisfied that tho injury was causcd by collision with either a lamp-post or telegraph post at the corner of Athol plaeo and Hanover street.

Queeni© Anning, a little girl eight years old. living in Athol place, said sho saw dcccasod skipping near tho corner and running after another little girl. She saw Hazel Harrison _ slip, and as she fell hot head struck against an iron lamp-post. Sho got up, and tlien fell down again. Dolly Wallace mid witness ran up to her, and sho ooeincd to faint. TJiey lifted her up and assisted her a little way,* and sho sank down again, and another girl then informed Mrs Harrison. Whilst tlioy were assisting deceased homo Mr Harrison came and took deceased to her home.

Dr Butemont stated that ho was callcd to flco dcccascd on the evening of tho ISth, and saw tho child in bed. Sho seemed to have difficulty in breathing, and he discovered signs of injury on tho right side of tho hoad near tho ear. 110 concluded that she was suffering from severo concussion of the brain, accompanicd wtih some interforenco with tho respiratory functions. This ho assumed to be duo to tho injury she had sustained by her fall, ns she appeared to be perfectly healthy otherwise. Nothing could be done for hor except to await developments, so he arranged to visit her again in tho morning, but 1m received a message from tho parents to say tlioy thought tho child was dead. He saw the body at 7 o'clock next morning, and noticed all the evidences of rigidity, deceased having apparently died from asphyxia, duo to injury to tho respiratory centre as a consequence of concussion. The child appeared to have been well looked after. A blow such as bad been described might, cause the injury.

A vcrdict was returned that the cause of death was asphyxia, due to injury to tho respiratory centre as a conscqucnce or concussion, deceased having accidentally struck her head against an iron post whilst playing.