TWO CHRISTCHURCH TRAGEDIES

Taihape Daily Times, 19 June 1919, Page 3

TWO CHRISTCHURCH TRAGEDIES

THE SECRETS OF THE RIVERS ' CHRISTCHURCH, -June Y 6 H The Coroner (Mr. McCarthy) held; two enquiries. to-day regarding the deaths of two male inf-ant.<. In. the first case, that of a male infant found on the bank of ths’Heathorcote river, on May 25, the police stated that. every efi”ort had been made to ascertain who was the mother of the child, but with our success. Tie" coroner, in returning :1 Verdict that the body of the infant had been found near the I'l(.‘:li‘ll(’Oi'C- river. had it recorded that the body of tl'i'é child bore no marks of Violence. It was enclosed in 1: bag. and had but little clothing on it. The child had lived and l1zl(l‘l)€0l1 born healthy. Whoever placed that child in the exposed position did not intend that the child shouTd live. In regard to the ‘finding of the body of an infant in the Avon river, near the Victoria Street bridge yesterday, Dr_ Pearson, pathologist, of the public hospital, said the body was in an advanced stage of decomposition. A thjt-,k string was attached to the body round the neck and right shoulder and aeros.\- the chest, and it was tied under the left shoulder. The body was that of a newborn full—time male child, which had lived for a. short period. probably :1. few hours. The body had been placed in the water after death. It had not been d'rown"ed The following verdict was returned: ‘‘l find that there was found in the Avon river near Victoria Street bridge the dead body of a male unknown ciiild, which had only lived a few hours :Ifi'el' birth. I further find that the said child had been placed in the river ‘by some person 11nk11oW1T"witl1 a View to concealing it, and that it had been neglected by those responsible for its care with a. \'i(‘\\' to causing its death.”

An unusual incident occurred in the Coroncr’S Court at Wellington on Monday during an inquest on a case of suicide_ A relative of the deceased, who appeared verb’ hnxious to prevent any report appearing, tried to prevent any report appearing, tried to persuade the reporters not to handle the case, assuring them that he had “al'l'ange<l it _with the papers.” Upon their refusing, he sat down beside them, and tried to distract their attention, He then Went away, and the I'(‘pOl'tel‘s left their seats and copy f(‘,mpO]'al'ily "to go into another room. On returning they found their inter--locuto- had disappeared, likewise their notes. The man was foliowed and detained. Here the story becomes rather incoherent, but apparently he kept possession of his Ibooty, and it is mentioned that the police are interesting themselves in the affair.