John Laurence Baker (1956-1962)

1956 – Birth of John Laurence Baker

In 1956, John Laurence Baker was born. He was the 2nd child of Joyce Alwyn Dadd (1928-2017) and John Brian Baker (1926-1975).

1962 – Death of John Laurence Baker

1962 – Police Investigation into the Death of John Laurence Baker

Witness Statement – Cyril PLATER

I am a Compositor attached to the Government Printing Office, and reside at Ainslie Hostel, Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory.

At about 1.30pm on the 1st December, 1962, I was in company with my son, Andrew, aged 10 years, I was standing on the bank of the Cotter River just below the Kiosk, whilst my son was wading across the river so some other children on the opposite bank. When approximately in the centre of the river, he called out to me that there was a small child lying face down under the water. I waded into the river and saw the form of a small child lying face down under the water. He was clothed in blue bathing trunks. I lifted him out of the water and walked out and placed him on the bank. I called out to a passing motorist and they came to my assistance and commenced to use mouth to mouth resuscitation. I sent my son Andrew to the Kiosk to ring for the Ambulance. I stood by until the Ambulance arrived. I did not notice any fishing cord entangled around the child.

C. PLATER

The original Statement was taken down in my Official note Book, at the scene.

Statement taken and signature witnessed by me on the 1st day of December, in the year 1962.

J.C. DEALY Sergeant 3/Class.

Witness Statement – Leonard Julian MASON

I am a News Agent, and reside at 514 Northbourne Ave, Braddon, Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory.

At about 1.15pm on the 2nd December 1962, I was driving my motor car along a track

Statement taken, and signature witnessed by me, this 3rd day of December, in the year 1962, I was driving my motor car along a track which goes along the edge of the Cotter River, towards the bridge near the Kiosk, when I heard a man calling out. I looked towards the river, and noticed a man standing in the river about mid-stream. He had a child in his arms, and was calling for assistance. I immediately stopped my car and went down to the edge of the river and took the child from the man, and laid him on the bank, and gave him mouth to mouth resuscitation, to try and bring him around. I only did this for a short while, because the childs mouth and throat was full of bread. Some one else cleared his mouth, and I again tried mouth to mouth resuscitation, but could not get any response. I noticed that around the childs left wrist, and lower forearm was some nylon fishing cord, with a small stick passing through it. The cord which extended from his forearm to around his left leg. I noticed that the cord was wraped lightly around his wrist, but seemed to be loose on his leg. The cord was still on the child when I had finished giving mouth to mouth resuscitation. The child was then carried to the Kiosk.

(Sgd) Richard MASON.

The original statement was taken down in the Official Note Book by Constable King.

(Sgd) A.KING Const’150

Witness Statement of John Brian Baker

I am a clerk, with the Department of the Army and reside at 46 Marsden Street, Dickson, Canberra, in the A.C.T.

At about 1.45pm on the 1st December, 1962 I was attending an Army Christmas Party in company with my wife and famil/y. We had just finished dinner and I was collecting my children together. Lynette Francis Aged 7 years, Glen Anthony aged 10 years, and Anette Marie, aged 3 years, and I was missing John. I thought that he must have been in the crowd waiting for Santa Claus. I went looking for him. At the same time, an announcement came over the intercom about a child falling into the river. Someone pointed out the place where the child was. I went down to the river bank to see if it was John. Some person, I don’t know who, was applying artificial respiration. A short time later, the Ambulance was called and against artificial respiration was continued, until the Ambulance arrived. John was then placed in the Ambulance and taken to the Canberra Community Hospital, I would be the last person to see John alive.

I later identified the body to the Coroner Mr Keane, as that of my son John Laurence Baker, aged 5yrs.

J.B. BAKER

The original statement was taken down in my Official Note Book at the scene.

Witness Statement – Bernard Joseph CAHALAN

I am a legally qualified medical practitioner, practicing in Canberra and residing at Havelock House, Turner, A.C.T.

At about 2.45pm on the 1st December, 1962, I pronounced life extinct on a body later identified to me as that of John Laurence BAKER by his father John BAKER.

B.J. CAHALAN M.B.B.S.

Police Statement – Bernard KING

I am a Constable of Police stationed at Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory.

At about 11.10am on the 3/12/62, I was present at the Canberra Community Hospital Mortuary and I identified the body of a male person to Doctor Macarthur, as that of John Laurence Baker, aged 5 years of 46 Marsden Street, Dickson, Canberra, I was also so present when Dr Macarthur carried out the Post Mortem on that body.

Sgd. A.B.KING, Constable, No.150.

Police Statement of Chesterman Dealy

I am a Sergeant 3rd Class of Police stationed at Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory.

At about 1.30pm on the 1st December, 1962 a telephone message was received at this Station from Mr. A. Lude of the Cotter River Kiosk, Cotter River, Canberra A.C.T. to the effect that a small child had been drowned in the Cotter river at the rear of his Kiosk.

In company with Constable King I went to the Cotter River Reserve and outside the front of the Kiosk I noticed a small male child dressed in blue trunks lying on a rug and unconscious, mouth to mouth resuscitation was being applied by the Ambulance attendant, a short time later he was placed in the Ambulance and was then conveyed to the Canberra Community Hospital.

Joyce Allwyn BAKER, mother of the child stated that the family had just completed dinner and some twenty minutes later she was informed that a small boy was found in the river and was believed to be drowned as their son was not in sight the husband went to the edge of the river at the rear of the Kosk and found that the boy was their son John.

Andrew PLATER, aged ten years of the Ainslie Hostel informed me that he was wading across the river to some boys on the opposite bank when he noticed the body of a small boy in blue bathing trunks lying face down in a shallow hole of the river, he called his father who recovered the boy from the river, a short time later I was informed that the boy was dead on arrival.

Dr. B.J. Cahalan, pronounced life extinct. The Coroner Mr. F.C.P. Keane was notified and a short time later in the recovery Ward of the Canberra Community Hospital the body was identified to the Coroner, Mr. F.C.P. Keane, Dr B.J. Calahan, Constable King and myself by the father John Brian BAKER of 46 Martin Street, Dickson, Canberra A.C.T. AS THAT of his son, John Laurence BAKER, aged five years, the Coroner Mr. F.C.P. Keane requested that arrangements be made for a Post Mortem to be carried out on the body.

At about 11.10am on Monday the 3rd December, 1962 Constable King identified the body of John Laurence BAKER, aged five years at the Canberra Community Hospital Mortuary to Dr. McArthur and was also present when Dr. McArthur carried out a Post Mortem on that body and the opinion of Dr. McArthur, death was was due to asphyxia from drowning. From my enquiries into this matter I can find no suspicious circumstances surrounding this death.

Coroner Francis Charles Patrick Keane

Held at the Court House, City, Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory on the Eighth day of February in the year one thousand nine hundred and sixty-three before me FRANCIS CHARLES PATRICK KEANE, Esquire, one of the Coroners of Our Sovereign lady the queen for the Territory aforesaid on view of the body of JOHN LAURENCE BAKER then lying dead; AND I as such Coroner being charged to insure on the part of our said Lady the Queen, when, where, and how and by what means the said JOHN LAURENCE BAKER came to his death and having made such inquiry, declare and find that the said JOHN LAURENCE BAKER a male child aged about six years was accidentally drowned in the water of the Cotter River in the Australian Capital Territory, on the First day of December, 1962.

1963 – Coronial Inquest into the Death of John Laurence Baker