MURDERED INFANTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1919, Page 2

MURDERED INFANTS.

TWO CHRISTCHURCH TRAGEDIES. It.'ER PRESS ASSOCIATION.— COPYRIGHT, j CHRISTCHURCH, June 16.

The Coroner, Air S. E. AlcCarthy, held two enquiries to-day regarding the deaths «f two male infants.

In the first case the inquest was regarding the body of a male infant, found on the bank of the Heatlicote River on A lay 25tli. The police stated that every effort had been made to ascertain who was tlio mother of the child, but without success. The Coroner, in returning a verdict that the body of the infant had been found near the Heatlicote River, had it recorded that the body of the child bore no marks of violence. It was enclosed in a bag, and had but little clothing on it. The child had lived and had been born ' healthy. “Whoever placed that child in the exposed position did not intend that the child should live.” The second inquest was in regard to the finding of the body of an infant in the Avon River, near Victoria Street Bridge, on Sunday. Dr Pearson (Patliologsit at the Public Hospital) said the body was in an advanced stage of decomposition. A thick string was attached to the body, around the neck and right shoulder, and across the chest, and under the left shoulder. The body was that of a now-born, full-time, male child, which had lived for short period, probably a few hours. The body bad been placed in the water after death. It had not been drowned. Tlie following verdict was returned: “I find that there was found in the Avon River, near Victoria Street bridge the dead body of a male unknown child, which had only lived a few hours after birth. I further find that the said child had been placed in the river by some person unknown, with a view to concealing it, and that it had been neglected by those responsible for its care, with a view to causing its death.”