A child, Janet Alexander drowned in a hole full of water.
VPRS 24/PO
Unit 23
Item 67
Janet Alexander
Jurors
John Reid
Thomas Hugh Steinfield
John Anderson
Willaim Kemble Cornell
Willaim Robert Mitchell
Thomas Swinnerton
John William Smith
William Handasyde
Thomas Forsayth
Robert Sleeth,
James Logan
James Alexander all of Pennyweight Hill
Witness Sarah Magin
I sent out my little girl yesterday (July 18) for water she came running back to me and said there was a man in the hole. I ran down as quick as I could but could see nothing except some cloths black in colour in the water. There was a man crossing the creek just at the time, I asked him to come and look in the hole as I thought there was someone in it perhaps the life might be saved. There was a lot of foam on the top of the water which prevented us seeing much but I could recognise a bit of hair. Which appeared to be that of a Christian, the man took the deceased out of the hole just by the back, he put her on the bank she appeared to be quite dead.
Sarah Magin xxx her mark
Witness Francis Oxley
Witness Elizabeth Alexander Pennyweight Hill
Yesterday Jul 18 between 12 an d 1 o’clock at noon deceased went out to where she usually went to play with other children in the neighbourhood and had to cross a creek where there are a good number of gold holes. The 1st I heard was a little girl running in to see if all my little children were at home for there was a little girl in a gold hole being drowned. I know deceased was absent longer than usual and therefore felt alarmed at her absence. I asked her sister where she was, she said she was with Kitty. I concluded that it was deceased who was drowned. I called for assistance requesting for someone to go for a doctor. Dr Holthouse came and found all attempts of resuscitation ineffective.
Q by juryman How long was it before you heard of it after the deceased left your tent to play?
A Better than half and hour.
Eliz Alexander xxx her mark.
