DEATH OF A BOY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 226, 18 June 1919, Page 9

DEATH OF A BOY

AFTER RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME TO AVOID PUNISHMENT By Teleerapli.—Press Association. Auckland, Juno 17. The circumstances of (lie deatli of a boy named Trevor Calder, aged 7.1 years, who was missed from his home for live days, and died in Auckland Hospital on Monday from tetanus and heart failure, formed the subject of an inquest by Mr. J. 10. Wilson, coroner. Angus Calder, tranicar examiner, said his wife was dead, and a housekeeper was in charge of his house, lie lmd a family of. three Jinys. and .ana girl, the deceased being the youngest ehild. When witness, whoso ' work, kept .him away at nights, arrived home on Sunday, Juno 1, lib was told that Trevor had got into'mischief, and had run away .for fear of being punished. He looked all round the district, with Ins other two boys, but' could liinl no trace of' the missing lad', lie reported the matter to the police on 'Wednesday. The coroner: Did you search in the meantime?—"l looked rbimd' each 'night and morning, aiid made a house-to-house canvass." •• Witness said the boy had run away once before. The coroner: Why should the. boy run away? I see by the police file here you stato that yon used to thrash him, but could nut mnki! him cry, and you then decided to dip him in cold water, and (hat'-lhis did more good' than thrashing.—"Yes, it had'more effect." How often had you done this?—" Twice. I ea'nmit say .when f last did it." Tho boy ' did not like these cold baths?—" No." . ' .

How long did you keen him in them?— "No time—l just dipped him in and out again. Ho was a good boy; mid there was- only ono thing I had .to punish him for."

■ Dr.-'Gould, house surgcou at the hospital, said ithnt'wheii the boy was admitted bis feet were severely frostbitten, aiid there were' several - superficial sorts on them, due to breaking? of the skin. lie was in a very weak state. Tlio condition of the feet gradually im>proved, but they were very septic. On June 13. the boy. complained of a. little stiffness of the -knee. ■ Tetanus- nomnienced.tn.inake its:appearance, and_the patient lKcanio steadily-worse, "he cause of death . was tetanns ard,heart failure, aggravated l).v the septic condition of the feet and the boy s low bodily health. ... The coroner-returned a \verdict in accordance with the medical evidence. He nddod that ho did not propose to make it part of his finding, but. it. seemed to him that punishment sucli us--Mr.'Cal-der was accustomed to inflict on the child was not'a proper : thing. . Jhe child was apparently .not amenable.. to ordinary punishment, but it was no good frightening' him by• extraordinary .punishment.