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24
Inquests. In the fifty-nine cases in which inquests were held
by the Coroner, the recorded verdicts were as follows:—
From Natural Causes 26
From Accidental Causes:—
Asphyxia (fourteen in bed with parents) 20
Concussion, Compression, and Fracture 4
Drowned 2
Poisoned by Carbolic Acid 1
27
Homicidal:—
Wilful Murder—Newly born, Suffocation,one;
Portions of Body of Female aged 24 in Park,
River, &c., all belonging to one person 2
Suicide—Drowned, one; Cut Throat, one;
Hanging, one; Poisoning by Styrchnine,
one 4
— 6
Total 59
In former years attention has been drawn to the large
number of infants asphyxiated in bed with parents or other
persons, and the sad prevalence of such cases continues.
The proportion of inquests to deaths is 6-8 per cent, which,
although not quite so high as in 1888, is much above the Metropolitan
average, and affords evidence of the exemplary manner
in which the Coroner carries out his important duties, all the
enquiries conducted by him being of a very complete nature.