FORMAL VERDICT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20056, 30 September 1939, Page 6

FORMAL VERDICT

INQUEST CONCLUDED

DEATH OF rWAOTU CHILD

IXA('< ESSIED/ITY OF ENTRY

A verdict in accordance with medical evidence was returned by a jury this morning when an inquest into the death of Lucy Orupe. aged 5 years, who died at Whatatutu on Thursday, was held. Mr. C.' Blackburn, J.P., was the acting coroner.

The foil owing jury was empanelled:—Victor Leslie Ensor, foreman, Charles Mead. Raymond George Hogarth, and Thothas Leslie Welsh.

Dr. IT. Angell, said that as a result of a post-mortem examination held this morning he was of the opinion that the cause of death was toxaemia, arising from Pyelitis and a perinethritic abcess of the right kidney. Kerc Orupe. father of the deceased, said that on September 22 his daughter took ill, complaining of stomach pains. On Saturday and Sunday of last week she was in bed for part of the time, but after Sunday last, she was in bed until the time of her death as the weather was wet and cold. Condition Became Worse The child appeared to be getting worse all the time, out witness did not at that time summon medical assistance. On Thursday morning the child was becoming worse and witness got in touch with the district nurse at Te Kanaka and explained that the child was sick. The nurse asked him to bring the child out to Mr. Dods’ homestead, but the witness said that as it was raining heavily he would advise the nurse to come into his home. The road between witnesses’ residence and Mr. Dods’ homestead was a clay one and the nurse said that she was unable ( to travel over the road as it was too rough. Witness replied that; owing to the weather, he could not bring the child in to the homestead. That night, when he returned home, he found that the child was dead. Previously, the child had been strong and healthy.

Answering the foreman of the jury, the witness said that on the day the child died he visited Te Karaka, returning the same day and found that the child was dead. The district nurse did not go in to see Hie child at witness' home.

Evidence was given by Constable Greggan, Tc Karaka, and Lucy Whitu Orupe, mother of the deceased. Constable Greggan said that the child had not been seen by a doctor or by the district nurse. He had made inquiries regarding the parents of the child and found that they were parent who gave their children every care and attention. He had no reason to believe that any neglect on the part of the parents had been one of the causes of the death of their daughter.

Answering the (foreman of the jury, witness said that it would be very difficult to get into Orupe’s home during ,the week. The only way the nurse could have got in would have been for her to ride a horse.