A CHILD’S SUDDEN DEATH.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2228, 27 June 1908, Page 2

A CHILD’S SUDDEN DEATH.

THE RESULT OF VIOLENCE.

THE JURY’S VERDICT,

[Press Association.]

OHR IST CHURCH, June 26. An inquest- was held to-day before Air. H. AA T . Bishop, Coroner,' on the body of a child'about'thirteen months of age, named Eric Joseph Edmund Brown. It had been an inmate of a foster-homo, and died suddenly yesterday morning, and Air. Bishop had ordered a post mortem examination. The inquest was held under the Infant Life Protection Act.

Airs. L. Parkins, tlie keeper of tlie home, stated that she had four other children, all boys, to attend to, the oldest being three years -and six months. Slie had not left the children for longer than five minutes. It was a healthy child, and she thought it had died from convulsions. Dr. Orchard stated that the child had died from laceration of the brain, and the injury had been caused probably that morning by serious violence. It could not have been caused by a mere fall. The child had probably been knocked down bv another child.

Lady officers appointed under the Act- stated that- Airs. Parkins conducted the home on good lines, and was kind and callable. The Coroner said - that death was due to the fact that Airs. Parkins had too many children, to attend to. Five boys were too many for one woman, even when assisted by her daughter, as in the present ease. He would make strong representations to the Education Department on the subject. The jury returned a verdict that death was clue to an injury on the brain, and added a rider that unless there was more supervision the number of inmates ut the home allowed by the license should be reduced.