John James BOURNE 1890 Joyford (General)

by rachellund, Saturday, December 20, 2008, 08:00 (5889 days ago) @ ellieperry

Got this from British library site but as it is not my password can't give you link, sorry.
Excuse my typing but couldn't paste it..damn snipping tool

I can scan it and email it to you directly if you like

Midland Railway
The British Mercury and Daily Post, (Bristol, England) Saturday March 7, 1891 Issue 13359
CHILD SUFFOCATED IN DEAN FOREST.
THE FATHER COMMITTED FOR MANSLAUGHTER.

Mr. M. F. carter, coroner, held and inquest on wednesday afternoon at the police station at Coleford, West Dean touching the death which occurred on the 1st inst,, of John James Bourne, son of James Bourne, collier, of Joyford, near Coleford.
Susan bourne, mother of the deceased, deposed that on Saturday night last her husband on reaching home pulled her hair and assaulted her, because she quarrelled with him about wages, and at length having put the child into bed she went away and slept that night at the house of a Mrs Barnett. She was away from the child , who was four months old, several hours. Next morning, she went back home, and noticed foam on the child's mouth. On waking, the child lay dead on her arms. Witness and her husband then told the police, when she told them untruths, saying she had been in bed with the child all that night. She made that statement because she did not wish it to be known that they quarrelled.
James Bourne gave similar evidence.
Elizabeth Barnett told the coroner that the mother of the decesed came to her house on Saturday night in her nightdress. She left the house at five o'clock, and half-an-hour afterwards returned and said the baby had died during the night.
Rose barnett deposed that at the woman's request she and a lodger went to try to pacify the husband,. They found him hiding under a hedge with a stick in his hand. He chased his wife, but she got away from him. When the wonan returned to the house, witness heard the husband call out to her and say the baby was dead. The child appeared to be well on Saturday evening.
Leslie Trotter, registered medical practitioner, deposed that he made a post-mortem on the child. He considered that there was evidence of a slow process of suffocation. The child had been overlain, or covered with clothes, or it might have turned over on its face and so became suffocated.
The coroner said it was evident the parents had been making wilful misstatements all through their evidence. No doubt the wife had done her best to screen her husband. He, the coroner, did not think any guilt attach to her, but the father at the least had been grossly and culpably negligent.
After half an hours deliberation, 10 jurymen were in favour of a verdict of manslaughter. The coroner addressed them, and in the enda verdict to that effect was returned.
The man was then, on the strength of the coroner's warrant, handed over to the custody of Supt. Ford.
Subsequently he was brought before a magistrate and remanded.