An inquest was held before J. T, Parker, Coroner, at the Waggon and Horses Inn, Rushden, on the evening of Thursday 13th September 1900, to inquire into the cause of death of the infant child of Eli Glidwell. The Jury Foreman was H. H. Hobbs. Eli Glidwell, coal carter, Little Street, Rushden: The baby was one day old, born on Wednesday morning. Mrs. Garley, midwife, attended. I have ten children, eight living. I saw the baby twice during the day. The second time was half past six in the evening, when it looked "middling". Mrs. Garley said a doctor had better be fetched, and Mrs. Litchfield was sent for a doctor; but he said he couldn't come till next morning. The child died before Mrs. Litchfield came back, so that if the doctor had come at once, he could have done no good. Mrs. Garley: I am the wife of George Garley. I have acted as midwife for eight or nine years. I was engaged to attend Mrs. Glidwell, as she couldn't afford to have a doctor. The child was weakly. I gave it a teaspoonful of sugar and milk. It had nothing else all day. I went to the house again in the evening. The child had been moaning all day, but it was quiet in the evening. I sent for a doctor, but while the messenger was away, the child died. Coroner: Was the child convulsed? Mrs. Garley: It was not. Coroner: You sent for the doctor because the child didn't moan? Mrs. Garley: Yes, sir. Coroner: Would you know what to do in any sort of emergency? Mrs. Garley: Some of them get better. Coroner: That is not doing anything. You sent for the doctor because the child left off moaning. Mrs. Garley: Yes. Coroner: And you take no notice when it moans? Mrs. Garley: I have never attended one before that didn't get better. Coroner: Then you are very lucky. You have never had a training as a midwife except what you have picked up yourself? Mrs. Garley: No, I have been with Doctor Owen a good many times. Coroner: The doctor would be prepared for any emergency, and would know what to do. What would you do in the case of emergency? You do not seem to have studied the question. Mrs. Garley: I HAVE studied the question. Coroner: If people employ unqualified persons, they take a risk. Annie Litchfield: I am the daughter of Mrs. Garley. I went to the house soon after the child was born. It seemed all right, and it was properly attended to. I saw him again at seven o'clock, and I thought it would not live long. I went for a doctor, but he declined to attend that evening. Coroner: Do you really think the child was properly attended to? Mrs. Litchfield: I think it was. He moaned a little. Coroner: Did Glidwell send for the doctor directly he was recommended to? Mrs. Litchfield: Yes, he did. Dr. Owen: Yesterday evening, Mrs. Litchfield came for me about eight o'clock, asking me to see a baby belonging to Mr. Glidwell. I refused to go then, as I was not warned. I had just come up from that part of the town, and I had hardly taken my hat off I told the messenger to call in the morning and let me know how the child was. I said I would see it then. The child was properly attended to. The lips and body were bluish purple, and I attribute death to cyanosis, caused by the child not breathing properly. It was constitutional, and due to imperfect circulation. This had been going on all day. Mrs. Garley would not know this, and it might not show itself at birth, and even a surgeon might not see it. It might not be visible to an experienced eye for a while. The moaning was due to weakness. There was nothing suspicious about the child's death. Coroner: I have to comment on the employment of uncertificated midwives. The law does not compel a person to employ a surgeon and it is the midwife who is responsible if she undertakes the duty for which she is unfit. In this case a woman seems to have some experience, and the father sends for the doctor directly he is advised. The only fault to find with him is that he ran the risk of employing a midwife instead of a surgeon; but he had a right to take that risk if he liked, and the law does not prevent him. The verdict was: "Died from natural causes".