A CHILD POISONED BY EATING MATCHES.—INQUEST.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 502, 19 August 1871, Page 2

A CHILD POISONED BY EATING MATCHES.—INQUEST.

An inquest took place yesterday afternoon, at tho Suffolk Hotel, College Road, before Dr. Philson, Coroner, and a respecfable jury, upon tho body of a child named Bertha Morgan, aged nineteen months, who came to her death on the previous day through eating lucifer matches. Several- witnesses were examined, but the following are the substantial facts of 'the case. It/ appears that both the mother and father (who reside in a street off College Road) of the deceased were at the Thames on Thursday. Their family consisted of three children, viz., the deceased and a girl named Lydia Ellen, and a boy about five years old. In the afternoon, about three o'clock, Lydia, who is nearly sixteen years of age, and who was left in charge of the house and children, saw the deceased playing with lucifer matches in a tin box on the verandah. She had sucked the heads off some of the matches, and Lydia took them away, and soon afterwards gave the child its tea, not thinking it would come to any barm ; but after tea the little thing was taken xrvj ill, and Lydia becoming alarmed, sent for a neighbour named Mrs. Pinnan. Upon her arrival, the unfortunate child was dead. Mrs. Dinnan immediately sent for a medical man, and Dr. Baynton arrived about seven o'clock, but, oi course, his services could be of no avail. Still he put the body into a warm bath, and tried oilier remedies, but without avail. The police were then communicated with, and the parents telegraphed for from the Thames. The witnesses examiaed at the inquest wero tho mother of the child, tho girl Lydiii, Dr. Bayuton, and Constable A. Clarke. The jury returned a verdict that the child was accidentally poisoned through eating lucifer matches; and they added a rider, cautioning all parents and guardians to leave their children under proper care during their absence, and to take every precaution to keep matches out of their way."