Inquest.

Manawatu Herald, 4 August 1898, Page 2

Inquest.

An inquest was held on Taesday afternoon at the Court House, by the Coroner, E. S. Thynne, Esq., " on the death of Charles Alfred Harvey Koapp, the son of William Kn.ipp. Messrs A. Speirs, J. F. Over end, J. W. Walsh, A. Heasman, and D. H. Pauie were sworn in as a jury, of which Mr Pattie was chosen foreman. The following evidence was taken. William Knapp, being sworn, de-po-ed — I am a labourer residing at Fox ton ; the deceased is my second son and was seven years old on the fifth of last February ; I last saw him alive at a quarter to twelve yesierday morning ; he waa laying on i he yofa; he was sick; Ido not know whit was the matter with him ; tn wis sick last Wednesday and Tnirsday, but got better again till yesterday morning; before he was ten months old the deceased was sick and he was taken to Dr Ewarfc at the Wellington hospital ; my wife told me that he waa suffering from consumption of the bowels, and it •vaa unlikely he would live over seven years, but if he did he would be better than the other children ; the child ha 3 bed proper attention and has always had enough to eat and drink, and has had clothing; I do anything I can get for a living ; I do not get a full week's work every week ; I give all the money I earn to my wife, and she finds all the food and clothing required ; my wife does not do any work at present, but she has done so ; I spend very little of my money in liquor; I get the money I spend in drink from my wife ; at times of an evening people com? to my house and ask me to get a bottle of beer which they give me the money for, and which I take home and they drink some and give ma some at my house ; I very seldom get tight ; about two months »go I waa bad up for being drunk and was let off with a caution ; no person who has been prohibited has been to my house to get a drink ; all the symptoms the deceased showed of being ill was loss of appetite. By the Constable— The child never complained of any pains; the deceased was out la t Sunday on the racecourse road ; the deceased complained of being cjld on going home; Sunday was rut a vary nice day to take the child out. Susan Miry Kaapp, biing sworn, deposed - I am the wif.j of the last wifcaess &w\ mother of the deceased ; Th? chill Charles Alfred Harvey died ye. : t-rd:ty at a quarter past twelve in the morning. I was standing alongside of him white he was lying on ibe sofa, and ho died so quietly that I did not know he was dead." I wished to move him and called to him when as be took no notice I fouud ha was dead; He wa^ conscious up to the last ; He never complained till a quarter to twelve whpn he complained of his stomach ; I sent his father for a doctor who brought Dr Jones but he wa* dead when they arrived ; The . hil Irvn have always had sufficient foo-i and clothing. My husband'd earning-; have not been for the last mouth more than eight shillings and sixpence a week, and I have not earned anything myself the last m >nth : I have not had any money by ma ; For the last month I have not given my husband any money for drink ; I have not had it to give ; He does get drunk sometimes ; I very seldom have any drink ; I saw D. Etvart when the deceased was ten months old and he told me to give him all milk food, not potatoes, but anything else he fancied; He said he child had consumption of the bowels, and said with care I might raise him to seven years, but. he did not think he would live longer ; He said the child should be kept warm when he did nob seem well ; He gave me powders ; During any time the deceased was bad he never complained, but lost his appetite ; My husband U3ed to have visitors of an -vening at times who have sent him for bst-r, which he brought back to th« house ; I would rather, not say who those visitors were. By the Con3table — I wa3 outside when the deceased fell off the -sofa yesterday ; It was about quarter of an hour before he died ; His father put him back ; He appeared to vomit be* f >re he fell off the sofa ; 1 was out with the children last Sunday ; The deceased seemed far better on (Sunday he bad eaten a good dinner ; I am in the habit of waiting outside of an hotel when my husband has gone into one of a night. ; By the Foreman — When Igo out and my husband goes out I put the children to bed and they are always i?!eep before I go. John Porster, being sworn, <3eposed — 1 am the constable stationed at Foxfcon ; about one o'clock yesterday William Enapp reported to me that hi 3 child was dead ; I went up to tha house and saw the deceased lying on the sofa ; the body appeared very emaciated ; there was a bruise on the right side of the temple, fresh; I asked the mother if she