DIED OF STARVATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3773, 4 November 1886, Page 3

DIED OF STARVATION.

♦ A SHOCKING STORY. (By Tblkoraph.) Jnvekuaihiill, Nov. 3. At an inquest held to-day on the body of a 4 months old son of Arthur Rusaull, a gardener, residing at Smith Invercargill, who was alleged to have died of starvation, the witnesses deposed that tho mother was scarcely ever sober, and that sho left the child locked up in the house alone for hours together. Tho medical evidence went to show that tho infant had been starved, there being no organic disease to account for death. The body weighed fivo pounds twelve ounces. The doctor to whom tho child was shown by his mother, stated that he told her tho child was not getting sufficient nourishment, and gavo instructions for food to be given. The mother stated that sho gave the child ail it would take, and that it rejected the food ordered by the doctor, and had diarrhcei after it. Sho had applied to tho Charitable Aid Board for help, but her complaint at the office waa chiefly that her husband had deserted her. She was told to call when the board was sitting, but did not attend and was intoxicated when sho in ado the application. Tho jury returned a verdict to the effect that the child had died from starvation, but they could not say who was to blame, it not being clear that the husband had not supplied funds for the maintenance of the child. The women Beemed always to havo had money to spend on drink, and it was proved that she had bought several quantities of milk, but not continually.