AN INFANT'S DEATH

Otago Witness, Issue 3348, 15 May 1918, Page 25

AN INFANT'S DEATH

LACK OF PROPER ATTENTION. The adjourned inquest into the circumstances of tho death of a child born a fortnight ago to Oiive Coughlan at Musselburgh was held in the Magistrate's Court on Friday afternoon before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M. Chief Detective Bishop represented the police. Sergeant Hodgson said that on April 25 Dr Linden had reported this case to him, and he visited the mother at Mrs Bennett's house in High street, Musselburgh. She wi.s taken away in an ambulanco to the Forth Street Home. Dr Evans reported the result of an examination of Olive Coughlan and of a post mortem examination on the body of tho infant. The mother said it wa3 bom about midday, and cried. She saw it under the clothes, and when sho looked at it again it was dead. She did not call out because there were boarders in the house. The body of the child was well nourished and developed. He was of opinion that the child was a full-term child, that complete respiration had been freely established, and that the cause of death was asphyxia. The only marks were those usually expected in cases of suffocation, and there was no indication of violence or injury. The mother's explanation was sufficient to account for asphyxia-. Julia Minnie Bennett, of High street, St. Kilda, said that Olive Coughlan had been boarding with her since the beginning of December. Ivliss Coughlan had been working at Ross and Glendinings, but had not been regularly at work prior to giving birth 'to the child. On the morning mentioned Miss Coughlan complained of b(*ing ill, and witness brought her medicine. Early in the afternoon witness discovered that something serious was tho matter, and called in Mrs Maybee. They sent for Dr. Linden, and no one interfered with the child till his arrival. Miss Coughlan was a hardworking girl, and very nice about the house. Dr Linden stated that he had found the child lying face downwards. Its body was warm, but its lips were blue and it was dead. Apparently nothing had been done sinco the birth of the child. Witness applied restorative measures to tho child. The mother said she heard a noise and looked down, but everything was still. Olive May Coughlan stated that she was a single woman, 21 years of age. She ; had been keeping company with Albert Banwell, who went into camp in January. He was the father of the child. He knew her condition before he went away, and wanted to marry her, but she refused. She had two brothers and two sisters older than herself in Dunedin. iShe did not interfere with the child in any way after it was born.

The Coroner said the medical evidence supported the girl's statement that the child had not been interfered with at all after birth. The circumstances were quite sufficient to account for the death. The verdict would fee. death from asphj'xiation through want of attention at birth.