DEATH OF A CHILD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20432, 12 June 1928, Page 6

DEATH OF A CHILD.

TO TOT EDITOR. gut,—With regard to the above heading in your issue of to-day (Saturday) I feel compelled to write, in spite of the old saying that fools rush to print, but the wording of the report of the inquest might lead one to infer that I was on trial. Also, the coroner’s verdict hurt, not in what he said, but in what he left unsaid. Yet I am fully that he could give a decision only on the evidence he had before him. Had I done the post mortem examination, then I would have been at the inquest, but I had previously intimated that I did not care to do post mortem examinations, and consequently it was not necessary for me to be at the inquest. I wohld like those who may have been interested, after reading the report, to know my part in the case. First, I did not know that any people called Bain or that a boy named M'Donald resided in Macandrew road, South Dunedin, until 6.25 on Thursday morning—the time at which I was called on the telephone. I found the boy dead at 6.45 a.m. All I know about the illness I learned then from Mr Bain, who told me “ that at 6 o’clock on the previous evening he rang up my house, and was told that I was not then available to speak, so he decided to go home and_ try castor oil. He left no message. Again, at midnight;, he came round to my house. The place was in darkness, and he failed to get into communication ivith me.” But this does not tally. For at 11.30 on Wednesday evening I was attending to someone who had been sufficiently unfortunate to be the victim of a motor accident, and this person did not leave my surgery until close on 12.30 a.m., during which time there was a motor car standing at the gate, and the place was well lighted up. The door was open. After the patient had gone, I did not leave the surgery for a little while, being occupied in clearing up. Finally, I retired to bed at 1 o’clock. There are five or six people who can vouch for this statement. My first knowledge of the case, therefore, was at 6.30 on Thursday morninv. when I got up and visited the case, though I confess I did not feel over keen to turn out after having only 54 hours’ sleep. Those are the facts as far as I am concerned. I make no comments. —1 am. etc., E. H. L. Lindon. South Dunedin, June 9.