LEAFIELD.

A child drowned in a pan

An inquest was held on Saturday before F. Westell, Esq., at the George Inn, touching the death of Annie Sampson Pratley, a child, who was accidently drowned. - Mary Pratley deposed: My name is Maria Pratley. I am the wife of William Pratley, farm labourer. The deceased is my child. She is fourteen months old. She had always been a healthy child. The accident happened about 4 p.m. yesterday. I went out into the back yard to split some wood, taking the child with me. I then went indoors to put the wood on the fire, leaving the child sitting on the ground playing with a box.. I went into the front yard and latched the street gate. I was gone about five minutes. On my return I found the child head downwards in a pan of soap suds. I had been washing. There were about two gallons of water in the pan. I pulled her out and shouted for help. I think she was dead when I got her out. Mrs. Wiggins came at once and took her out of my arms.- Rhoda Wiggins said: I live next door to the Pratleys. About four o'clock yesterday I heard Mrs. Pratley scream. I was indoors, but ran out at once into the backyard. The child was in its mother's arms. It was very wet. I took the child from her. It was quite dead.- The jury returned as their verdict "That the deceased met her death by being accidentally drowned in a pan."