INFANT’S DEATH

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3299, 13 August 1943, Page 5

INFANT’S DEATH

( ACCIDENTAL SUFFOCATION VERDICT OF THE CORONER. An inquest into the death of lan Peter Gifford, aged seven weeks, whose death occurred on August 8 at the residence of his parents, Dr. and Mrs E. H. W. Gifford, of Baillie street, Thames, was opened in the Thames Police Station Tuesday before the coroner, Mr W.. Bongard. The child’s father stated that the infant had been put in his cot at 10 p.m. on August 7, dressed in a singlet and nightgown and wrapped in a blanket. He had been laid on his right side. At 5 o’clock the next morning he warmed the baby’s milk and en-

tered the room, where he found the child dead with its face in the pillow. " The baby had been born on June 22. • In response to the coroner’s question regarding the type of pillow used for the child, Dr. Gifford said it was a chaff pillow, which was specially recommended for infants. The chaff allowed air to pass through the pillow. Dr. J. B. Liggins gave evidence that he had been called to the home of Dr. Gifford in the early morning of Aug- ■; ust 8. On examination, he found that the body was that of a well-developed baby. It had died from five to six * hours previously. Dr. Liggins said in his opinion death was due to accidental suffocation. The coroner returned a verdict that, in accordance with Dr. Liggins’ evidence, death was due to accidental suffocation. “This is a very regrettable instance for the parents of the child,” said Mr Bongard, “and I would ask Dr. Gifford and his wife to accept the sympathy of the Coroner’s Court.** Sergeant H. Hedley represented the police. A;