The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-07-22
The Baby Farming Horror.

The Baby Farming Aorror.
Forty Infants Murdered Jy One Hioman
-UnautltraL EIeHdishneSs of an ddopt-
ed Mother-AdUertiSiag for Babies to
"Bring Up"-Bedping q Harvest Of
DedM-Appedronce Of The WrdereSS.
LONDON, June 25.-"They have been
great row about the fellow at
Denham, who kille seven people;
what do you say to woman who has
killed forty children 2" This inquiry
was addressed to me by Policeman Y.
", 9s7, and as in reply ! expressed my |
ardent anxiety to see this female Her
Cd, he kindly pilOted me to the Lam
beth Police Court, and there pointed |
out to me woman in the dock, aged |
about thirty five years, Of plain but not
repulsive appearance. This was the
great "baby. farmer" of whose exploits
1 have already written you some &C.
count-Mrs. Margaret Waters, alias
Willes, Hurley, Walters, Ellis, Oliver,
Blackburn and Fort. AS you are aware
this woman was originally arrested on
the charge of starving to death only
one infant, an illegitimate child com
mitted TO her charge by Miss Jeannet.
te Cowan; but facts that have since
come to light make it probable that she
is guilty of the murder of no less than
forty infants whom she took for S. each
(which included everything, and a par
ent's loving and tender care" At the
time of this woman's arrest, her house
was found to contain several infants,
all of who were being gently showed
along the road to death by the aid of
"Paregoric Elixir" and other similar
appliances. For four years, it appears,
this amiable dame has been conducting
the business of baby-farming.
ADVERTISING FOR BABY BoARDERs.
Her mode of operation was to adver-
tise under one of her many vames, her
willingness to adopt an infant, on the
payment of premium of So. She
would appoint a meeting at some rail,
way station with those who replied to
these advertisements, and would there
make the bargain, which was to the
effect that the infant and the money
should be handed over to her, and no
questions should he asked on either side.
She did not ask where the child came
from the party who disposed of it was
not to ask where it was to be taken. In
this manner, as has now been ascertain
ed, forty children have passed into this
WON ans hands during the last four
years. What has become of them ?
Well, what has become of some of them
has been ascertaincd.
THE BOARDING HOUSE.
The house where this woman livet
was in a secluded spot, called Frederick
) terrace, Brixton within a few yards o
the house are some vacant grounds call
ed Myatt's Fields; and in these fields
and in other places close at hand, have
lately been found the bodies Of no les
| than seven infants, all Of which have
been at least partially identified as thu
= remains of children who were given t.
. Mrs. Waters, with 50 each, in order t
receive a "mOther's tender care ant
, love" The evidence against the woman
I seemed to be perfectly ccaclusive. Hel
1 servant, Ellen O'Conner-a miserable
: creature, only fourteen years old, ant
reminding one forcibly of Dick Swive
g Hers Marchioness--testi that whei
: she went into the prisoners service
>. three months ago, there were sever
I infants, and the number shortly increas
q ed to eleven. Mrs. Waters used to g
away from home, and when she cam
! back she would bring new baby wit
1 her."
TAKING THEM TO THEIR LONG HOME
- "One night Waters took two of tn
q children, who were very i'll, away from
the house; when she came back sh
!, brought some of the clothes of the in
fants with her, and said she had take
y them home" Afterwards she tool
9 away another infant, and returne
! without il; and about three weeks ag
r. she took fourth childaway in the sam
:. manner. The supposition is that tn
woman administered TO the infant
enough "Paregoric Elixir" to kill then
y took them into the fields, and left ther
to perish. The servant was in the hab
of going to the post-office to get letter
y addressed to MRS. Oliver" and whe
Waters had read these she general
, burned them.
:. SOME CORRESPONDENCE.
Luckily, however she neglected
d destroy all her correspondence, and
a number of letters were found in he
house and read in Court. One of ther
Il makes an appointment with her ''at tn
Loughborough road station, on the Lor
don, Chatham and Dover line, Jun
u llth, at four, O'Clock p. NJ" and add
IL "please wait in the first.class waiting
:, room, and wear white kerchief roun
" your neck in conspicuous manner.
" shall wear blue striped shirt and
frock coat" Another from woman
! says: 81 should be pleased to have &c
" take my child. Iwould give So wit
y Waters to awoman who proposes to giN
y her baby, is as follows;
"MAY 1Gth.-Nddam; In reply
ID your letter, ! beg to say we should
le very pleased to adopt your baby; v
e. love children very much, and would {
all in our power to secure the hapJ
III ness of the little one. l should Ill
very much to sec you; so, if you W
write, saying where and when l can
r. so, | shall feel obliged, Hoping soon
ut hear from you, remain, yours SINGER
ly. NJ. HURLEY"
TO And another is as fOllows:
"WEDNEsDAY, June s.-Sir: In l
he ply to your letter beg to say that
would give me great pleasure to ado
,as | os nov nun yonr lIttIa bny IL hp IL n