A CHILD SCALDED TO DEATH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2766, 5 December 1887, Page 2

A CHILD SCALDED TO DEATH.

GROSS CARELESSNESS OF A MOTHER. Dunedin, December 3. At the inquest to-day, touching th e death of the child Violet Powell, the evidence of Maggie Douglas, 11 years oldi was to the effect that she was sent by the mother of the child for somo water in a bath, but the water was afterward put in a deep tin basin. Mrs Powell asked her if the water was all right, and she replied that she thought so. The feot of the child, who did not seem to be in a fit state, were then put in the water, and the child did not cry, but shook itself after bathing, Sometime after Mrs Powell noticed the skin coming off and she seemed very sorry, Some cold wattr was then put in, and the child bathed again. Dr Maunsell said when he examined the lower parts of the abdo--men, buttocks, and the lower half of the spine, and upper part of the spine were scalded, as also the soles of the feet, and lower portion of the calves. The cause of death, he would say, was severe scalding. The evidence of the mother was to the effect that as the child appeared to bo in a fit she went to put her in hot water. She had trusted to a girl, who said she had put her hand into the water. She did not keep the child many seconds in the water, and on finding when she put her to bed that a piece of skin had come off, she at once telephoned for a doctor. The evidence of Mary Douglas, stepmother of the girl who brought the water, was to the effect that Mrs Powell had told her that Violet was not her own child, but sho had got £IOO to keep it. 'The jury, after retirement, announced that their verdict was that the death of the child was caused by scalds received ! through the gross carelessness of the mother. The Coroner pointed out that this was equivalent to a verdict of manslaughter, The jury said that they did not intend to press for it, and, after further consideration, returned the following verdict That the death of the child was caused by scalds received through tho carelessness ol the mother in not seeing that tho water was at tho proper temperature, In answer to a question from the jury, the Coroner said that ho would take tune to consider what should be done, The case caused a good deal of excitement, as in October last Mrs Powell was charged with ill-treating and wounding a child, wlion alio was fined £5 and bound over.