Here is this week’s round-up of pieces from the Batley News relating to the parish of St Mary’s. As usual I have put in bold the names of those connected to the parish who served with the military. And, as ever, the spelling and punctuation matches that of the newspaper.
An inquest was held into the death of Nellie Phillips, the baby daughter of Hannah Eliza Phillips, wife of Michael Phillips. The newspaper contained a full report:
BATLEY BABY’S STRANGE DEATH.
Remarkable Revelations at Post-Mortem ExaminationSome remarkable medical evidence was given at an inquest in Batley Town Hall on Wednesday on the body of Nellie Phillips, the eleven-weeks’ old daughter of Hannah Eliza Phillips, 55, White Lea Road, Batley, wife of Gunner Michael Phillips, R.F.A., who is serving in India. The mother took the child to bed with her on Monday night, and next morning, as it seemed to be sleeping, she put it in a cot. Five minutes later, however, she discovered there was something the matter with the child, and a nurse who was sent by Dr. Stuart, in response to an urgent message, found that death had taken place.
The mother said she had two children, and had a separation allowance of one guinea a week. The baby had apparently kept healthy. On Monday night she went to bed between ten and eleven. The baby cried a good deal during the night, and seemed to be in pain. She had the child on her arm, and when she got up just before ten the next morning the little one seemed to be asleep. She put the baby in the cot, but discovering, five minutes later, that something was wrong with it, she called in Mrs. Pearce who thought the baby was in a fit. A message was despatched to Dr. Stuart, who sent a trined nurse. The latter on arrival said the baby was dead.
AN EXTRAORDINARY CHILD.
Dr. J. A. Erskine Stuart, of Healey, said he had made a post-mortem examination. For its age the child was the finest he had ever seen. It’s feeding had not been neglected, and there was no sign of external injury or choking. The lungs had a most abnormal appearance. He had never seen anything like it before. The right lung consisted of three lobes of enormous size. The left lung had two lobes only, and was completely unexpanded and shrunk up against the walls of the chest.
The Coroner: Had it never been inflated?
Dr. Stuart: Yes, it had been inflated, but there was distinct evidence of commencing pneumonia.
The three lobes of the other lung were healthy? —Yes, and very large. The liver was also of enormous size.
Continuing, the doctor said he was of opinion that the death was due to pneumonia, caused by exposure and insufficient clothing.
The Coroner: What was the nature of the exposure? —The weather was cold and there were not sufficient clothes. My daughter, who saw the child, said it had a little flannel shift on and over that an antimacassar.
Answering further questions by the Coroner, the mother said that of the guinea a week allowance she paid 1s. 6d. for lodgings and 3s. to her mother for keeping her other child of three.
The Coroner: How is it you have not clothed this child properly? —It had plenty of clothes.
Was she out the day before? —No, not since Friday night.
Didn’t you notice she had a cold? —Her nose ran a little on Sunday, but she was all right and lively.
Nurse O’Brien, engaged by the Borough of Batley, said she had visited Mrs. Phillips several times, the last occasion being the 14th inst.
The Coroner: Did you notice whether the child had sufficient clothing?
Witness: The child appeared always to have sufficient clothing. It seemed quite healthy, and weighed 14lbs.
The Coroner (to the jury): From the evidence given the child has been well nourished and was a very fine baby, but unfortunately contracted a chill, and died from pneumonia. I think that is all you need say about it.
A verdict of “Death from commencing pneumonia” was retuned.
There were three relevant deaths in the Family Notices column, as follows:
DURKIN. —On 23rd inst., aged 71 years, Matthew Durkin, 28, Peel Street.
GAVAGHAN. —On 26th inst., aged 47 years, Joseph Gavaghan, 20, Fleming’s Place.
CARTWRIGHT. —On 27th inst., aged 3 months, Mildred, daughter of Willie Cartwright, 6, Albert Street.
Past To Present Genealogy 