INQUEST.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5380, 25 June 1878, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the Morgue yesterday afternoon, before Dr. Johnston, coroner, touching the death of John McKenna, an infant nine months old, who was found drowned in a bucket of water on board the Rangatira. The Coroner remarked that he had no doubt in his own mind that the deceased met his death through an accident. After the jury had been sworn in, and had examined the body, James T. Alien, cook on board the steamer, deposed that he saw the deceased child alive on board. The mother, deceased, and two other children shortly afterwards went to bed. Witness was the first to take the child out of the water. The time would be about half-past three o’clock m the afternoon. His attention was called to tne fact of the child being in the bucket by deceased’s brother, who cried out, “ Come and see the baby; he’s in the bucket. The baby’s head was downwards m the bucket, which was standing by the berth. There was about three quarts ol water in the bucket,.

Witness took the child out. There was no sign of life. He then tried to wake the child’s mother, who was asleep in a berth with her daughter, about eleven years old. The child was aroused first. It was a good four minutes before he could wake the mother. Witness then sent for the stewardess. By the time she had arrived he had the child nearly undressed. He then got a hot water bath, and placed the child in it, and did all he could to restore it, but it showed no signs of life. The steward, stewardess, and witness all rubbed the child for about 20 minutes, but the body only got colder, and they then gave it up la despair. > John Smith, steward on board the Bangatira, deposed that he saw the deceased baby after it came on board at Napier. The mother, deceased, and two other children were sitting on the fore hatch. About three-quarters of an hour after they were on board, witness helped the deceased’s mother down the fore-cabin. The mother was the wor.-e of liquor, and not in a fit state to look after the infant. Another woman on board teok charge of the baby and put it to sleep. The mother had gone to sleep previou-ly. The deceased baby was then put in a bunk with its sister. A bucket was placed for the sister to vomit in. The baby was never placed in the berth with its mother. Shortly afterwards witness looked to see how they were getting on, and found them both fast asleep in the same position as he left them. The baby was awake, playing at the back of its sister with her clothes. He did not see it again alive. It would be about nine months old. The rest of the evidence was corroborative of the last witness.

The Coroner said he did not consider it necessary to call any other witnesses. There could be no doubt from the evidence adduced that the affair was accidental. It might be thought, perhaps, that the mother was morally responsible for the safe keeping of her infant, but it must be remembered that during the whole of the time on board the infant was never in her charge. The jury, without retiring, returned as their verdict, “ Accidental death.”