WIFE NOW RETURNED HOME

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 258, 9 October 1931, Page 7

WIFE NOW RETURNED HOME

QUARREL WITH HUSBAND TRAGIC DEATH OF CHILD Mrs. Choquee, whose child died in Dunedin under tragic circumstances, returned home on Monday night. On that day an inquest was opened by Mr. H. W. Bundle, S.M., and adjourned. Evidence of identification was given by the father of the child, George Choquee, a labourer. Witness stated that the child was born on July 31 last at Nurse Ross’ nursing home. From about a week after birth, the child was under the supervision of a Plunket nurse, who visited her regularly. The mother had left home about 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 3, after a disagreement with witness, but he did not order her out. She fed the child before she went out, and witness told her that if she did not return in four or five hours he would not let her in, and would get someone else to look after the children. There were, besides the baby, three other children, aged seven, five, and three years respectively. Witness was angry when he made the statement and did not mean j it. He did not know where his wife j was going. He remained in the nouse j all day, but his wife did not return, 1 and he and the eldest girl looked after [ the baby. They had to give her milk and hot water two or three times, but the child would not take it, and it was left in bed all day. Its clothes w r ere not changed, and it was crying all the time. Witness went to bed at S p.m., the baby having dozed off a little before that time. The baby was in a cot by itself in. the room where the I other three children were sleeping, and 1 witness made up some milk and sugar and hot water and left it with the eldest girl to give to the baby if it could take it. Witness woke up about 3 ! a.m. on Sunday and thought he heard the baby crying, but he did not get up. He woke again at 6.45 a.m. He could hear no sound, and on going in to look at the child, he found it dead. He informed Captain Thom, of the Salvation Army, who attempted restorative measures, but these proved unavailing. The child had cried almost continuously from the time it was brought from the maternity home. Witness added that up to that time his wife had not returned home, and he did not know where she was at that parties!- - lar time.