DEATH DUE TO SUFFOCATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18644, 22 December 1928, Page 4

DEATH DUE TO SUFFOCATION.

INQUEST IS HELD ON FEMALE CHILD. “ That the deceased, Patricia Browne, died on December 7. 1928, from suffocation, due to a shawl accidentally covering her face.” This was the verdict returned by the coroner (Mr 11. A. Young) at an inquest held this morning concerning the death of a two-months-old child. Mary Browne, a married woman, residing at 284, Madras Street, Christchurch, said that she was the mother of the child, who was born in Sydney on October 17, 1928. She came to New Zealand on November 8, 1928, and boarded the child under Mrs Hocking, at No. 1, Dover Street, St Albans. Witness answered an advertisement from Mrs Cook that she wished to look after a child, and had placed deceased under Mrs Cook’s care. Lily Margaret Jane Cook, of 55, Dacre 'Street, Linwood, said that in answer to an advertisement she had arranged to look after the child. She had taken the child in her home at about 8 p.m. At four o’clock the next morning she had pulled back the shawl from the child’s face. At 7 a.m. she had found the child dead, the shawl being over the face. Witness had six children of her own. Dr J. F. Duncan said from appearances he judged that the child died from suffocation. It was a well-nour-ished, female child. She bore no marks of violence. The organs were healthy. All the evidence pointed to death from suffocation.