AN INQUEST

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1927, Page 3

AN INQUEST

\ Coroner's inquest was hold at tho Police Station yjesterdny afternoon, AD' D. J. Evans, presiding, when the death of John Thomas Robinson. aged three years and eleven months, was investigated. The deceased was the elder son of Thomas ,Robin-lon/ cordial manufacturer. residing in Sewell Street. During Thursday the hid with a younger brother, 3 years, was playing about as usual. Ho had a hearty mid-day meal, hut did not cat much at tea. This was attributed to the eating of green gooseberries in the garden, though the hoys had been warned against doing so. Both lads who slept together, went to bed as usual. Soon after midnight, one of the hoys was crying, and Mr Robinson going to the room found the elder l>oy restless. He had vomited a litle watery fluid. After being made comfortable the lad sett led down and went to sleep again. At 4.30 there was another cry, and the lad was pacified and put on his right side when he wont to sleep. Half an hour later the younger brother came to his parents’ room, and was taken to bed. At the same time the father visited the other lad and found him asleep on his left side. He was tucked in and not disturbed till about 8 o’clock when he was found to be dead. Artificial respiration was tried '.unsuccessfully) and Dr Baird summoned.

Dr Baird pronounced the child to he dead, and found there had been further vomiting. The other hoy was ill. also, and upon examination his removal to the hospital was ordered. After '.consultation with the Police, and on the order of the Coroner, a post mortem examination was made by I)r Baird. The symptoms and general conditions pointed to death by convulsion, hut as there might ho other causes due to something which had been eaten, and as the other hoy was considered dangerously ill, it was decided to send the stomach and contents to the Government Analyst for report, and the inquest was adjourned accordingly to await the report, and further investigation as to the probable cause of death. The inquest therefore stands adjourned sine die.