DEATH OF AN INFANT.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15095, 11 June 1919, Page 4

DEATH OF AN INFANT.

An inquest was held by the Coroner (Mr. J. ;>. Evans) yesterday afternoon on a three-months-old male illegitimate child, whose death occurred at Mrs Newport's residence, Nile street, on Monday morning.

Senior Sergeant Barrett represented the police.

Dr. S. A. Lucas deposed that hewent to Mrs. Newport's, in Nil© street east, between y and 10 o'clock on Monday morning, and found the body of a. male infant, which had been dead two or three hours. Dr, Johnston had been called in about 8 o'clock, and witness went later at the request of Dr. Johnston, on behalf of friends. Dr. Johnston told him that he considered death was due to convulsions. He could certify that death was due to natural causes. The child was delicate, and there was some doubt for several days after its birth whether it would live or not. •

Eliza Jane Newport, of Nile street, deposed that she took in the deceased child about two months ago at the request of the child's mother. It -was. very delicate, and remained so all along. At 2 o'clock on Monday morning she gave the child a bottle, and it took all its food. The child was in a pram alongside of her bed. She went to feed the child again at 6 o'clock, and saw that it was in a convulsion.. She took up the child and nursed it, and on putting it down it died. She sent for Dr. Johnston, who canio later. The mother, who was 20. years of age, was very fond of the child, and saw it regularly. ' The mother slept at the place at which she worked and at witness's place, going from place- to plac© at night. . : ■■■ ■ Dr. Johnston stated that he went to Mrs. Newport's about 8.30 a.m. on Monday, and found a child lying in a pram, dead. He had no doubt that the cause of death was convulsions.

The Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, that the child died in a convulsive fit.