Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 12 January 1929

Child In Wash-Tub.

Coroner’s Comments on Women’s Lack of Promptness.

Remarkable evidence was given at an inquest held at Wombwell yesterday on Elizabeth Caswell (6), daughter of James Caswell, miner, 12, Gower Street, Wombwell.

The child died yesterday morning from, the verdict stated, a seizure accelerated by immersion. It transpired that on Thursday the mother was washing and had occasion to go into the front room. When she returned she saw the girl feet uppermost in a tub half-full of water. The mother said she was so upset that she ran out to fetch a neighbour, Mrs. Ward, who pulled the child out.

In the house at the time was the daughter of a neighbour, aged 17 years. Three doctors assisted in bringing the child round, but the following morning it had an epileptic fit and died.

The Coroner spoke strongly of the lack of promptness shown in getting the child out of the water. It was evident, he said, that they had lost their heads.

The jury concurred in the remarks made by the Coroner