DEATH OF A CHILD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 63, 28 October 1911, Page 5

DEATH OF A CHILD.

UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. (l\r Press Association.) Wanganui, October 27. Unusual circumstances surrounded the death of the four-year-old daughter of W. H. Wilson, carried. The child died very suddenly on September 27, and the inquest was adjourned in order to analyse the stomach contents. The inquest was resumed to-day, and the report of the Government Analyst showed that there were grains of sand and traces of arsenic still remaining in the stomach. The police enquiries had failed to elicit any information as.to how the child came by Hie poison. It seems the child and a playmate were making mudpies, and it is surmised that the deceased must have oaten sand and arsenic simultaneously. Dogs had been poisoned in the neighbourhood some time before, and owner of the place where the child was taken ill had three years ago destroyed “Rough on Rats” by burning it in a fire and throwing the ashes over the yard. One theory is that poisoned dop;s may have vomited on the place where the children were playing. The Analyst stated that arsenic was only slightly soluble, and in the case of “Rough on Rats” it was passible that some would remain on the surface of the ground for three roars, if it had escaped the lire by falling through the grating. A Verdict of accidental death by arsenical poisoning was returned. The Coroner stated that the. ease showed iiow careful people should lie in regard to such an indestructible poison as arsenic.