The Deputy Divisional Coroner, Mr. J. C. Parker, sat with a jury at the opening stage of an inquest, at the Police Station, Rushden, yesterday afternoon, on the deceased male child of Mary Manning, a single woman, 19 years of age, whose home was stated to be at Station-road, Raunds, but who has, since July last, been employed as a domestic servant by Mrs. Knight, of Grove-road, Rushden.

Opening the inquiry, the Coroner said that as far as could be ascertained, nobody knew the child was going to be born. The girl went to bed on the 28th of last month, and later her employers heard a noise; they later sent for a doctor and nurse, and at four o’clock in the morning the baby was born.

It was quite a normal birth, and the child was going on well, and was seen on Tuesday and on Wednesday morning. After the last visit, however, the mother was heard to call out, and Mrs. Knight, her employer, went to see her. The girl said “Look at my baby” – or something to that effect, and Mrs. Knight then found it was dead.

“You will have to inquire,” said the Coroner to the jury, “as to the cause of death, but at the moment I propose to call only the midwife and Mrs. Knight. It is absolutely necessary to have the mother to give evidence, and the doctor has said it will be about three weeks or a month before she will be able to attend.”

The first witness called was Mable Florence Goosey, of Carnegie-street, a certified midwife and trained nurse, who said that on Monday, early in the morning, she was called by Dr. Muriset to Mrs. Knight’s house in Grove-road. There she saw Manning, who was in bed, and who shortly afterwards gave birth to a male child. The baby was fully developed and quite normal.

Coroner : There was nothing out of the ordinary at all? – No, sir.

Coroner : What time did you leave the mother and baby? – About five minutes to six.

Coroner : Everything was all right? – Yes.

Witness said she saw the baby three times on Monday (including the time of birth), twice on Tuesday and again on the Wednesday.

On that day she visited the house about 10.30 a.m. She just went into the room and told the girl she was going to be removed in the afternoon. The baby was all right then, and, the nurse added, it had been well looked after.

Elsie Gladys Knight, wife of Mr. Arthur Stanley Knight, of 58 Grove-road, Rushden, said that Manning had been in her employ since the last week in July last. She came from Raunds.

Mrs. Knight said she had no idea as to the girl’s condition. She performed her duties as usual, and did so on the Sunday morning. She went out about 2 o’clock, and did not return until 10.15 at night. She made no complaint, but early in the morning the girl came to witness’s bedroom and said she was feeling ill.

“I sent her along to her room,” said Mrs. Knight, “and went to see her. She complained of a pain in the right side. I got her a hot bottle and took her a cup of tea. She became no better, however, and after ten minutes I sent for Dr. Muriset.”

Coroner : He came, and then sent for the nurse? – Yes.

Witness said she saw the girl and baby a good deal, and looked after her in the daytime.

On Wednesday she took the girl some breakfast about eight o’clock, when the baby was perfectly all right. Arrangements had been made to remove them in the afternoon.

Coroner : Did you handle the baby then? – No.

During the morning, Mrs. Knight said, she went into the bedroom twice, the latter time being about 11.15. She did not notice the baby particularly, but he was lying high up in the bed, on the mother’s left side, with his head visible above the clothes.

Coroner: Was he lying on his side facing the mother? – I think so, but he had a shawl over his head.

Coroner: Was the shawl over his face, too? – I don’t think so, just over his head.

Coroner: You could not tell whether he was asleep or awake? – He was perfectly quiet, and I came to the conclusion he was asleep.

Soon after witness left the room she gave Mrs. Allen, who worked for her, a cup of tea to take up to the girl, and shortly afterwards heard Manning call out. “I went straight away ,” said Mrs. Knight. “The mother was still in bed, and said, look at my baby? What is the matter with it?”

Coroner: Where was the baby? – Still high up in the bed, by his mother.

Witness said he looked at the baby, and came to the conclusion he was dead. The body was warm, but very blue, especially about the lips. “I told her the child was dead,” said Mrs. Knight, “and she said, ‘Oh, dear.’

Coroner: What I am trying to get at is this – was she distressed? – Yes, she was distressed when she realised the baby was dead.

Coroner: Can I say “distressed” or “very distressed?” – She was very distressed.

Coroner: She seemed genuinely sorry that she had lost her baby? – Yes, I believe she was.

Witness said she saw a lot of the girl, and she seemed very fond of the baby.

Coroner: She did not seem at all disappointed about having one, or in fear of trouble or anything? – No.

Witness said she told the girl they were disappointed at her having deceived them, but she was not angry with her in any way. She was a very good girl, and gave every satisfaction in her duties.

The Coroner said that would conclude the evidence that afternoon. They had to wait the result of a post-mortem examination, and also the attendance of the mother.

The inquest was adjourned until Jan. 29th.