INQUEST.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2033, 15 April 1890, Page 2

INQUEST.

At the Courthouse, Temuka, yesterday, before C. A. Wray, Esq-, Coroner, an inquest was held touching the death of Catherine, the infant daughter of Henry and Bridget Lynch, of Temuka, The following jury was empanelled : Messrs P. Coira (foreman), P. McGilligan, H; Plannery, J. Beri, G. J. Mason, and D. Stewart. The following evidence was taken• Bridget Lynch, sworn, said : I am the wife of Henry Lynch, and mother of deceased, who was born on Jan. 4, 1890. She was a healthy child. I took her to bed with me on Saturday night, about 12 o’clock. She had previously been lying in a perambulator. About 1 o’clock she seemed a little > fidgety. I packed her up, changed her clothes, and gave her the flreast. She slept quietly then- At about 6 a.m. I woke up. The child was lying a little away from me, in my nightgown. I told my husband, who said she had better not be disturbed, as she might begin to cry. After a time I went to move her and found her dead. My husband took her to the window, and we then thought she might be revived. The doctor was sent for, but when he came he pronounced her quite dead. Am sure the child was not left on my breast when I went te sleep. When I awoke in the morning my arm was not under her. I cannot form any opinion as to how it happened. Henry Lynch, husband of previous witness and father of deceased, gave corroborative evidence. There was not any heavy clothing upon the bed. About 1 o’clock he saw the baby sleeping comfortably.

William Blunden, duly qualified medical practitioner, residing at Temuka, said; I was called in yesterday, 18th, at about 7.30 a m. to see a child of the last witness. It was then quite dead. I should judge from appearances that it had been dead about two or three hours, as ri<*or mortis had supervened. There was nothing in its appearance incompatible with death from suffocation I noticed that the child’s clothes in front were quite wet, so much so that I asked if water had been thrown over it to bring it to life again. It was accounted for by the explanation that it was an overflow of milk from the breast. Such an explanation was feasible. I consider the cause of death to have been suffocation from the face coming in contact with the mother’s breast, and probably the bedclothes may have lain over its head

there were no marks of violence : the features were placid, the pupils of the eye semi-dilated, as in an ordinary death It was a healthy, wellnourished child. The coroner said that he thought the jury would have no difficulty in arriving at a verdict after having heard the medical evidence. The death was evidently accidental A verdict of “Accidentally suflocated was returned, and the iurv was dismissed. J .