ACCIDENTAL DEATH.-INQUEST.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 239, 14 October 1870, Page 2

ACCIDENTAL DEATH.-INQUEST.

Yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock an inquest was held at the Eden Vine Hotel, to i> Squireinto the cause of death of Jane Costello, a child of two years old. . A jury having been sworn, and having viewed the body, the evidence of Bridget Costello, the mother of the child, was taken by the coroner at her bedside, the witness being too ill to leave her bod. She stated that on the previous day, after having settled up the kitchen, about 10 o'clock, she placed a four-gallon kerosene can, about half-full of water,on the water. The child was lying .on the floor. When the water boiled she took the tin off the fire to empty it into a tub, in order to wash some clothes. In order to lift the tin, which had no handle, she placed a towel round the itop of it., and in trying to move the child with her foot she lost her hold of- the tin,.,and let it fall, nearly the whole of the water falling on the child. She carried the child into the front room, and on stripping off. its clothes, some of the cuticlo was turn off. The child did riot scream much. She dressed the scalds with flour, and afterwards with rags steeped in olive oil. The child' died 'about three hours and a half-afterwards.-ifHer brother-in-law, Bernard -Martin, was lying on the sofa in the kitchen, at tjie time of the accident, and was the only pefsoti £a tne ' house beside herself.—Bernard;?"Martin's "evidence was next taken, and wasiexactlyto the same effect as that of.^he.previous, witnes^. He had on; several occasions 'eeeh Mrs! Co?tello using the kerosene tin for,, boiling . waiter _ in. . Mrs.; Costellb'is very pbdr, and has' to support herthree 'remaining •' children by washing. —, Samuel' Brown, one of the hospital-uui-s&t, and brother-in-law of Mrs. Costello; gave, evidence. ' Ho received, the; news ! <?f -the! accident ;about halfipast ten o'clock.; He .at once, ran .-off, wiQi'/dressings to the place, ancj on.his arrival found tVie child lyingin bed'stripped. Part'of its face was scalded,; as was also the chest, belly, backy-and legs." Most of the cuticle was stripped off the scalded parts. He dressed the wounded parts with the usual liniment, but he had no hope of its recovery, ./iffifejvas tne whole o£ the evidence, aud.the jury.returned, a verdict that the deceased JaAe' Costello was accidentally scalded to death. ' ,