SDYNEY INFANTICDE CASES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2435, 8 December 1892, Page 4

SDYNEY INFANTICDE CASES.

The inquest on the body of the infant found with the remains of four other children in a yard at the rear of 25 Burren street, Macdonaltown, Sydney, began on the 3rd Nov., and was concluded on the 20th. The Coroner, in Bumming up, said if the jury believed the evidence they would be justified in finding that number four body was identical with Minnie Davies' child. Touching the cause of death, he said that according to the evidence Minnie Davies' child was a strong one at birth and perfectly formed. It had thrived extremely well on the food (Nestle's milk) which had been given to it. There being no evidence of any cause of death, would it not be most reasonsble and logical to conclude that the child had died from some form of starvation ? Dr Milford had said that no food or insufficient food would cause marasmus, which was really starvation. There was no doubt that the child taken to Dr Agassiz was Minni© Davies' child. The evidence showed that it was, and Dr Agassiz has said that the child was suffering from marasmus. If the jury believed the evidence they would be perfectly justified in finding that the cause of death was starvation ; if so, then they would have to answer the question whether it was wilful starvation, and if so, who was culpable 1 If the Makin's had not wilfully caused death, why had they told so many lies about the child? why had they said that the child's parents had taken it away? why had not a doctor's certificate as to the cause of death been obtained? and why had not the death been registered 1 Was it because there would have been a risk of some kind ? If the body had not been buried in the back yard at Burren street, where had it been buried ? If, as had been said by the Makins, an undertaker had taken the body away, why had evidence not been forthcoming to prove it ? Why had the Makins changed their name twice ? A failure of justice in such a case as the present would be a national calamity. He hoped that the case would put a stop to the chances of any further ghastly discoveries, and that it would increase the vigilance of the police. The jury, after a brief retirement, returned the following verdict:—-We find that the infant No. 4, is identical with the child of Minnie Davies and Horace Bottomley. We further find John and Sarah Makin guilty of manslaughter. There is not sufficient evidence before us to connect Blanche and Florence Makin with a guilty knowledge." John and Sarah Makin were therefore committed for trial, bail being refused, and the girls Blanche and Florence Makin were acquitted. As soon as the verdict was known Mrs Makin and one of the girls fainted, but were soon revived.