Ruth Horn

Ruth Horn was found dead in her home by a doll's house.

Her mother found her by a broken window when she came home. She was taken to derby Children's Hospital where she died from a fractured skull.

When she was found she was wearing only her vest.

It was later said that a 4-year-old girl that lived nearby had gone to the house where Ruth Horn lived in Baker Street and had taken Ruth Horn out of her cot and played with her as though she were a doll and a verdict of accidental death was returned.

The girls nine-year-old brother said that whilst he had been out playing in Baker Street that he noticed that his sister was missing. He said, 'I thought she might have gone next door to play with Ruth Horn's sister, so I went round to the back door. The door was locked but a window in the conservatory was broken. I looked in and saw the baby lying on the floor near a pram, which was upside down. The baby was only wearing a vest. I climbed through and put the baby in the pram and took my sister home and told my father'.

Ruth Horn's mother said that she had gone shopping, leaving Ruth Horn in her cot in the veranda.

The pathologist that carried out the post mortem on Ruth Horn said that her injuries were consistent with her having been dropped on to a hard floor.

The Coroner said 'It is obvious this child wanted to play with the baby, as children will, thinking they are dolls'.

He went on to say that it was 'the most tragic inquest I have conducted', and told the 4-year-old girl's mother that 'she should never be questioned and this matter should never again be mentioned in her presence'. He also said, 'I hope no one will ever question her or remind her of this. I hope she will be allowed to grow up without knowing what happened'.

The 4-year-old girl had not appeared at the inquest on the Coroner's order.