Baby

The remains of a newly-born child was found in the water tank on the premises of Weston House in Upper Weston.

The remains were discovered by a gardener who went to clean out the water tank which was in the stable yard. He was about to clean it out when someone pointed out something white in the tank. He got it out and found that it was the body of a child and they fetched the police.

He said that the tank had been cleaned out in the summer and that if there was anything in it then he would have noticed. He said that the tank was filled from a grating at the top of the field at the back of the premises and added that it was not kept locked and that anyone could have put the body in it from the field. He said that the remains were on the field side of the tank.

The doctor who examined the portions of the body said that they consisted of nearly all bones and that most of the soft parts had disappeared. He said that it was the remains of a matured child and although the skeleton had separated it was practically intact.

He concluded that the body had been in the tank for some months.

The Coroner concluded that the child had been subjected to the action of a stream of running water that had had a very strong macerating effect.

An open verdict was returned.