INQUEST.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2052, 21 September 1880, Page 3

INQUEST.

An inquiry was held at the house of Mr John Boberts, Wilson street, Ferry road, yesterday afternoon, at three o’clock, before Dr. Coward, coioner, and a jury, of whom Mr Walter H. Filliett was chosen foreman, touching the death of Frederick Boberts, an infant about twelve months old, who was found dead on Friday last, on the return of his father from work.

The Coroner having explained the case to the jury, they retired to view the body. On their return the following evidence was adduced—

John Boberts, deposed—He was the father of deceased, who would have been a year old had he lived till the 23rd of this month. Noticed the child was alive and seemingly well when he went to his work on Friday afternoon at two o’clock. On his return at half-past five that day he saw his wife standing near the back door. As he entered, she said, “ The child is dead ; go in and have a look at it.” On going in he found the child dead in its cot. It looked tbe same as now. The mother hod laid it out without any assistance. He asked questions of the neighbours, but they knew nothing about it. The mother had always treated the child kindly. Have five other children. His wife was always a kind mother to the children —indeed it was impossible to bo more so. She had been in the asylum for about nine weeks, shortly after the deceased was born. This happened about three months after its birth. She left the asylum about six months ago. After her return home he found that by taking her out for a walk every day she got better. He engaged a person to bo in tbe bouse to take care of her, but she wished to be in her house like other people. He could always see since her return from the asylum that she was not altogether as she was before her last confinement. She had never shown any disposition to injurs any of the children since her return.

By Inspector O’Donnell—My wife gave me two or three accounts of how it had happened. First that the child had slipped down from its chair, but when the doctor questioned her she said that she threw it down on the mat. She said to me, “ You know the child has never been well, and had to die.” She talked different ways about it. Deceased was weak ia its back, and could not walk. We never quarrelled, but have always lived happily together. Will not be sure whether my wife said the child slipped down or fell down. Ellen Boberts. the mother of deceased, deposed—On Friday morning the deceased child did not seem wrong, he had not been very well, or taken his food well for a week. On Friday last, between two and three o’clock he was in bis chair in this room. Took him out and put him on the floor. Did not notice that he looked ill then. Took him then into the bedroom, and wsshed him ; after that laid him on his bed. Left him on the bed, and came out of the room. Beturned again shortly afterwards, and found ho was dead. He had a fall one day in the week. He was standing up against a chair, and he fell baok on his head. He cried for a short time, not very much. She did not notice any marks when she found the child was dead. Did not do anything till her husband’s return. She could scarcely tell if she was surprised it was dead. Did not look for its death, but always knew the child was never strong. By Inspector O’Donnell —First noticed in the bedroom that it was dead. Did not notice anything the matter when she took him into the bedroom. Think he was alive when taken into the bedroom. Cannot remember if it was alive or not. Fut it down on the floor, and it fell baok whilst she was gone for water to wash it. Did not know why it died, or what was the matter with it. She put it carefully on the mat, and it fell back on the back of its head. This was on Friday. John Morton Ollivier deposed—Had seen Mrs Boberts several times since her return from the Asylum, Have noticed on more than one occasion that she has not been of a sound mind, or free from the complaint for which eho went to Sunnyside. He could speak positively because he had known her for the past cloven years. Never knew her to injure the children. She had always behaved kindly to' them. Both husband and wife had always lived happily together. He never heard of their having a word. By a Juror—She is rather wild at times, gets excited, and runs about the house. Had noticed a vacant expression when she was being spoken to. He never saw her in a passion with her children ; indeed she only exercised properly ordered motherly correction towards them.

James Irving, M.D., deposed that he was called to see the deceased a little after six o’clock on Friday evening last. He was dead, and nearly cold. The left side was cold, the right aide nearly so. Noticed a small blue mark on the forehead, as though bruised a day or two before. It was on the right side of the forehead. Have since made a post mortem examination of the body, and found the organa of the abdomen and chest quite healthy and natural, but on examining the head > found the bones fractured and overlapping behind the right ear. There was no black mark whore the bones overlapped. On removing the scalp, he found a large clot under it, but on the spot where the bones were overlapping dissected away the cellular tissue in which this clot was found, and found

liquid and clotted blood and brain substance escaped. On removing the bones, found a clot within the skull corresponding with the clot outside, and a wound in the brain substance corresponding with the portion of the ' skull (overlapping. The brain appeared to be perfectly healthy. He had no hesitation in saying that death resulted from the injuries described. Such an injury might result from a fall, but it was very improbable. By Inspector O’Donnell—He thought the injury happened that day (Friday). Asked the mother of the deceased how it happened. She replied, " I do not know, unless I took it out of the chair, and throw it on the floor.” That was all she said. By a Juror—The child was not born like it. The bones were fractured ; they wore heard distinctly to grate. Am of opinion that Mrs Roberts is not responsible for her actions. It is quite possible that a fall from the child’s high chair (chair produced) would cause the injuries to the child’s head as described. This being all the evidence, the coroner addressed the jury, who returned the following verdict The jury is of opinion that the deceased, Frederick Roberts, whose body lies within, came to his death by a fracture of the skull, but how the injury was received no sufficient evidence has been adduced to show.” The Coroner remarked that he concurred with the verdict.