BLACKS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 671, 26 February 1875, Page 2

BLACKS.

—o—(Communicated.), An inquest was held before W. L. Simpson, Esq., coroner, on Monday', the 22nd inst., at Blacks, on the body of the infant child of Mr S. Lcask, Blacks, No. 1. The inquiry was held in consequence of Dr Niven intimating to the Police his suspicions of foul play. The evidence wont to show that the child was horn on the 12th inst, Mrs M’lntosh acting as nurse. Dr Niven was subsequently called in, and expressed his satisfaction with the nurse. On the 19th inst. the child appeared to catch cold, and Dr Niven was again called in, and he treated the child until the 21st when it died. The nurse was in attendance all the time, and Dr Niven expressed his satisfaction with the nurse to Mr Leatk, and said that all hail been done that could. Subsequently to death spots came out- on the body of the child, whereupon Dr Niven went to the Police and expressed his suspicions. Dr Niven in his evidence said that the child should have died of bronchitis, but from the appearance of the spots he suspected foul play by the nurse, because sho had expressed herself against the mother, but what she had said, or when or where she had said it he could not say ; and, further, because in his experience he had known nurses to have killed children. Fa had no difference with Mr M Tntosh, but Mr M'lntosh appeared to have with him. Other evidence was taken, female witnesses in particular being of opinion that Dr Niven was not sober during the 19th and 20th insts. Dr Allan, Resident Surgeon of tho Dunstan District Hospital, who made a post mortem examination, was present during the whole inquiry, and stated in his evidence that death was cause 1 by inflammation of the lungs, or bronchitis, and explained that the marks described by witnesses, which appeared on the body of the child after death as natural, and that he had found no marks on the body of the child except a lividity behind the neck and ears, which was to bo expected. The Jury returned a verdict of death from bronchitis in a natural way, and in a rider stated that Dr Niven had no grounds for expressing his suspicions of Mrs M'lntoshthe nurse.