Age: 0
Sex: female
Date: 7 Dec 1923
Place: Endcliffe Park Boating Dam, Sheffield
The body of a newly-born female child was found dead in the Endcliffe Park boating dam on the morning of Friday 7 December 1923.
Before being put in the water it had been burnt about the head and arms.
The body was found by the park-keeper. He said that he noticed something near the waterside that proved to be the decomposed body of a child.
Examination showed that the head and arms had been burned previous to being placed in the dam and that the left foot and leg, up to the knee, were missing. The left hand was also missing and there were signs that the body had been attacked by rats or birds.
A police surgeon that carried out the post mortem examination said that the baby had been born alive, but had apparently been dead when burnt. He said that asphyxia was the probable cause of death.
He noted that there were no marks of violence.
A detective inspector said that the police were making inquiries, but that no information had been found.
An open verdict was returned.
see www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
see Sheffield Independent - Tuesday 11 December 1923