CHILD’S TRAGIC DEATH

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1051, 15 August 1930, Page 1

CHILD’S TRAGIC DEATH

BREATH SMELLED OF LIQUOR

INJURY TO BRAIN Special to THE SUN WHANGAREI, Today. A child of three, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Van Houtte, of Ruatangata West, died in, tragic circumstances last night. The little boy’s breath smelled strongly of liquor and after he had been attended by *a doctor it was discovered that his brain had been injured. Yesterday morning, when Mr. and Mrs. Van Houtte were returning to the house from the milking shed, they were met in the yard by their little son. His behaviour was extraordinary, and on closer inspection the child’s breath smelled of liquor. The parents thought that he had drunk the contents of a bottle of brandy which was in the house. They put the child to bed, thinking that he would sleep off the effects of the brandy. Later in the day, w'hen the boy did not wake, medical aid was called, and it was discovered that the child’s brain was injured, probably as the result of a fall. In the afternoon, when the child i seemed to grow worse, he was brought : into Dr. Walker’s private hospital in | Whangarei, where he died during the | night without regaining consciousI ness. An inquest will be held.