ANOTHER CHILD SUFFOCATED IN LEICESTER: A DANGEROUS PRACTICE: An inquest was held on Monday evening at the Slater-street Schools respecting the death of Arthur Ellis Pincent, aged nine weeks, son of Harry Pincent, who resides at 41, Wolsey-street. The mother stated that the deceased, another child between three and four years of age, her husband, and herself slept in the same bed. The baby slept on the outside, and on Saturday night the witness went to sleep with the child at her breast, which she was in the habit of doing regularly. The coroner: That’s a very dangerous practice — Continuing, Witness said that when she awoke in the morning, she found the child in exactly the same position, but it was quite dead. Witness had not been able to get a separate bed for the child. She had not had anything to drink on Saturday with the exception of one glass of beer for her supper. Mr. Coleman, surgeon, said that death was due to suffocation. The mother going to sleep with the child still at the breast was quite sufficient to account for the suffocation. The coroner said it was hardly surprising that the child had been suffocated when they took into consideration the statement of the mother. They could not acquit her entirely of blame, but her negligence had not been sufficient to justify them in committing her for trial. A verdict of accidental death was returned, and the mother was censured for her carelessness.
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive
Referenced
GRO0078 Tiverton: Arthur Ellis Pinsent: 1895 – 1895
GRO0233 Tiverton: Elizabeth Phillis: 1872 – 1913
GRO0404 Tiverton: Henry Pinsent: 1871 – 1939