TRAGIC DEATH OF INFANTS

Southland Times, Issue 23166, 6 April 1937, Page 7

TRAGIC DEATH OF INFANTS

PARENTS FAIL. TO RETURN ABANDONMENT AFTER QUARREL (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) LONDON, April 4. “These two mites died a death of which it is too horrible to speak,” said the prosecuting counsel during the hearing of a case at Feltham (Middlesex), where a married couple, Percy and Lilian Davis, were charged with the manslaughter of their two baby sons, aged three years and 19 months respectively. It was stated that after quarrels in which separation was discussed the husband left home for work, while the wife packed up her clothes, put the children to bed and left a note for the husband, saying she would not be returning. She went to a married sister and got a job, while the husband, after his day’s work, took lodgings and did not return to the old home until 14 days later, when he found the children dead in the bedroom, which was in disorder. By a coincidence the wife called at the house 'the same day to see the children. When told they were dead she is alleged to have said: “But you can live for 14 days without food, can’t you?” The children had been without food or water and a post-mortem showed that they had died from exhaustion due to starvation and neglect, the opinion being expressed that the younger child died after eight days, and the elder one the following day. The couple will be tried at the Old Bailey.