Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1875-12-18 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SUDDEN DEATH OF A CHILD AT STOCKTON. .  On Monday evening, Mr Coroner Settle held an inquest 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: I am the wife of Geo. Benner, plasterer, who is now in Durham gaol, and will comple e a sentence of six months' imprisonment. tie had attempted to kill me, and also tried to commit suicide. Be was bound over to keep the peace six mouths, but, unable to find sureties, had to go to prison. I have one child living, aged four years. The deceased child is shed 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 Yarm-lane. Deceased was not born a healthy child. I never suckled it. I have never been able to suckle any ot my childr, n. I found deceased dead in its cradle beside my bet yesterday aftErnoon at half-past one o'clock. I and my two children slept in that room. I get up on Sunday morning at eight o'clock, and I gave deceased a bottle of milk to suck from. Dr arleton's assist dot saw deceased four months ago. Be said that it had an enormous stomach, and he thought it had consumr ion of the bowels. He said I was to feed it on boiled milk. I have done so. 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 uear enough to notice whether it was breathing, lest I should awake it. I was up and down stairs several times between half-past eleven and half past one, bat not in that same room. Deceased was able to move himself. I left Idol laid on his riL,ht side at half-past eight, and he had not moved from that position. Deceased was warm when found ; his face was discoloured on the side upon which be had laid. He had two strong convulAve fits about three months ago. When I found deceased was dead, I sent to Dr Tarleton's surgery. —John Walton said : I live in Yarin-Lane, at Mr Luck's house. I once saw deceased in a_fit about two or three months ago. It has always been an ailing chiid. The mother has been very kind to it, and so have I too. I have oecasionally nursed it, because I au& very feud of children. I think it died a natural death. I have heard Dr Tarleton'a assistant say it was no use giving medicine or his coming to see it because he could do it n ) good.— Dr Tarleton deposed : I this morning examined the body of deceased. I found no marks of violence. The body was very much discoloured on the right vide, and the hands were clenched. My assistant saw the child about six months ago, and informed mo 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 natural deaih from convulsions. There was a little food in the mouth, but no signirof choking. The discelourations were in accordance with the opinion I have express-l.—The jury returned a verdict of death from " N Aural causes."