Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1875-12-16 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SUDDEN DEATH OF A CHILD AT STOITTON.  On Monday evening, Mr Coroner Settle held an iromest at the Town Hall, Stockton, on the body of Charles Frederick Benner, an infant whose death occurred on Sunday. Evidence was adduced as follows:—.Emma Benner said :1 am the wife of Geo. Benner, plasterer, who is now in Durham gaol, and will comple e a sentence et six months' imprisonment. He hail attempt.. dto kill me, and also tried to commit suicide. He was bound over to keep the Peace six months, but, unable to find sureties, had to go to prison. I fare one child living, aged four years. The dee, seed child is siva ten months. I have had six children altogether. I am 27 years old. During the time of my husband's imprisonment I have been living at the house of William Henry Duck, a widower with three children. in Yartn-lane. Deceased was not born a healthy child. I Dever suckled it. I have nevi r been able to suckle any of my children. I found deceased dead in its cradle beside my bed yesterday aft. moon at half-past one o'clock. I and my two children slept in that room. I got up on Sunday morning at eight o'clock, and I gave deceased a bottle of mit to suck from. Dr Tarleton's assi-tsnt saw deco teed four months ago. He said that it had an enormous stomach, and he thought it had consumption of the bowels. He said was to feed it on boiled milk. I have done so. I had been up in the room between half.past eight and half-past eleven, and saw it in the cradle. I thought it was asleep, but did not go near enorgh to notice whether it was breatbin,e. lest I shou'd awake it. I was up and down stairs several times Letweeu half-pest eleven and half past one, but not in that same room.. De'eased was able to rupee himself. I ...it film laid on hi A rioht side at half poet e:glit, and he had not moved from that position. Deceased was warm when found ; his facs was diicoloured on the side upon which he had laid. He had two strong convulsive fits about three months ago. When I found deceased was dead, I sent to Dr Terleton's surgery. —Join* aValton said : I live in Yam-lane, at Mr Luck's house. I ..nee saw deceased in a fit about two or three inon.l:s ago. It has always been an ailing child. Ine m them has been very kind to it. and so have I too. I have occasionally nursed it, because I ~to %tory Lind of children. I think it died a t aturai I have heard Dr Tarleton's sesistant ,ay it was no use giving medicine or his -tenoto to see it b cance he could do it ns good.— Dr Tarleton deposed : I this morning examined the body of deceased. I found no marks of violence. Th.. body was very much discoloured on the right and the bands were c!euched. My assistant saw the child about six months ago, and informed me it had wasting of the bowels. From what he told me then, and the depositions taken at this inquest, I am of opinion that the child died a ustaral death from convulsions. There was a little food in the mouth, but no signs of choking. The discelouratious were in accordance with the opinion I have expressed.—The jury returned a verdict of death from '• N aura, causes."