The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-10-19 00:00:00

A CHILD SMOTHERED BY ITS MOTHER.

Au Inquest was hold on Tuesday evening lee. at Ihn old.
nub-mow of the Wths Hari. by R. N. Howard. RN
Cunene-, on the hely of an infant a John Hanger. The
jury were—Moak James Heiken, Thomae Hibbs. It. T.
ttax!er, H. 8. Moore. W. Risley, B. C. Lareuinhe, J. D.
flaniways. E. D. Leon, J. R. Barbidge. A. flardhng. W.
Albino, and W. J. Newton. Mr. Barbidge wee the fore-
_

—§ah Hangar, of Harmony-court, grandmother of the
little girl, said her daughter.in.law. Elisabeth, had a child
last Thursday night. It was • difficult time, and besides
the midwife, Dr. Calmer was fetched. The child was well-
developed, and went on well until Sunday morning when
on her husband carrying up • cup of tee, the mother had
the baby in her arms. Witness went do en and got
breakfast, when the baby was left in its mother's arms.
Witness .aid—' Put the baby over the other side, lift
peneselt end try to get up and hare your breakfast.' She
put the babe on the pillow, and witness left her to eat
bar breakfast, the baby being left on the pillow. Her son
was left in the same room, and witness went to her
breakfast; but hadn't drank • cup of tea before her eon
called her to come directly. She went, and the son had
the baby in his arms, dead, but warm ; it bad just gone
ba .
Her daughter told her the by frothed at the mouth and
nose, and she had wiped it oil She was Ming bitterly.
She sent directly for Dr. Colmer, who came in the middle
of the day. The mother was very fond of the child; she
had made all preparations for its birth. Witness had
been mother of IS children, but could not amount for the
child's death, sole's it was a fit
Dr. (1 A. Colmer confined the mother, and thought it
was • difficult time, he left both doing very well indeed;
the mother suckled the child. Oa Sundae, about nine, he
received • message that the child was deal, called cad
examined it; but found no marks of violence, but • great
deal of lividity °VW the arms and lees, the lips were livid,
but the fee quite placid, and • little miens on the lips.
Believed it wee asphyxiate I or mothered. Should my the
child was accidentally smothered' there was no trace of
its having been lain on, pinball), it was •pruseed too close
to the bmmt, or bY being covered with clothes which
stopped its breathing. It would hays been ahimlutely
impossible to have compressed the throat without leaving
some marks. The mother appeared very fond of the child
and much distressed at its death.
. . _ .

_
—7ol7;llanirer spoke to hit wife putting the child on her
left side whthe they had their breakfest, when bid wife
said—" Jack, I think the child'. dying, it froths at the
aims and mouth," and she wiped that off. She gave Man
the child. and he shook It and found there woe no life in
it, called for his mother, and said it was dead. 0 mid not
say how the chill was laying on the pillow, for he
tlok it. T a mother had said how pretty the child wee
getting, and she seemed much upset about the death.
In answer to a question from • juryman, Dr. ()Amer
stated that from the appearance of the child, suffocation
wee not the result of internal stoppage.
The Coroner pointed out that erety preparation was
made for the child. and they had not only the experieneed
grandmother, who had had 15 children. • midwife, but
also a inelieal man, a) that all took every care that tba
child should be properly barn. Then both parents having
their breakfast in the ram. eel the mother saying—" now
Pretty the chill is gett;ng,"ehoeo. d that the parent/ were
fond of the child, and be sucge4e4 ti at the mother took
a little over care, and caused the death by covering to,
eareful'y with clothes. Ile considered thie • very proper
enquiry, and agreed with the medical mop for not taking
upon himself to give • certificate, but loavirg the matter
to an Inquest.
Verdict—" Accidental Death."