Boy

The body of a 3-year old boy was found in a pond off the high road in Hainhault Forest between Lambourne and Abridge on the outskirts of Epping Forst.

He was naked and very much decomposed, and it was thought he had been in the water for some weeks. No marks of identification could be found about him.

When he was found his hands turned upwards and clasped over his face and clutching a bunch of reeds as though to protect his face.

It was thought that he had been stripped of his clothing and thrown into the pond.

It was noted that Hainhault Forest was a favourite haunt of gipsies with whom the Conservators had had constant trouble.

The doctor said that the child was about 3-years of age and had been healthy and well developed and that his cause of death was suffocation from drowning. He said that there were no marks of violence.

An open verdict was returned.