The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-25
BABY FARMING.
Extraordinary Revelations-The Trade Of IuI
der-statement of MInrRaret. Waters.


der-statement of margRret.Waters.
During discussion on baby-farming at the
Dialeetical Society's Rooms, a statement made
by Margaret Waters on Wednesday, October 5.
cap, excited great interest. The cable has since
reported this woman hanged for her crimes.
The discussion was originated by paper of DR..
Dicksons, of st. Lukes Asylum, on "Baby
Farming and its Physical and Social Effects"
Waters revelations were as follows
WATERS STATEMENT.
Waters, it appeared, was a widow since 1864.
In that year she was settled with her husband
in Newfoundland, and was in very good circum-
stances. They decided to come to England on
a visit, and they proceeded to Scotland. Ia
Glasgow her husband died. and she returned to
Newfoundland to wind up the family affairs,
and realize whatever property remained. Hav-
ing done this, she returned to England with
$500 in her possession. Intending to turn her
capital to account, she took house in Adding
ton square, Camberwell, and put into it num-
Der of sewing machines. Her plan was to make
collars and other such articles, and sell them to
the city houses. She knew little or nothing of
the business however, and partly owing to that
circumstance, and partly to the miserable prices
which were paid for such goods she was, at the
end of the year, loser of G250. She then re-
solved to save herself by letting lodgings, and
that step led her imperceptibly into her career
of baby-farming.
FIRST LoDGER.
One of her first dodgers was o lady living
under the protection of a city solicitor, and
passing as his wife under an assumed name.
Mrs. Waters did not know that she was single
woman, but believed that she was really the
gentleman's wife. She was in confined the
house, and she then left but said she did not
wish to take the child with her, and offered to
pay Mrs. Waters for nursing it. Mrs. Waters
consented, and that was the first child she in
any way farmed. The same lady came again,
was confined, and left another child, whom she
also paid very well for. Being in difficulties,
Mrs. Waters began to think that this would be
good means OF adding to her income,
as yet Systematically. Some more ladies
became dodgers under much the
same circumstances as the first, and two of their
| children were also left with her. She thus had
at one time four children in her care in Adding
| ton Square. She never advertised at this time.
| Meanwhile, she was steadily going down hill,
and she found herself obliged to leave Addington
| Square and go to Bournemouth Terrace, Peck
ham, where she commenced baby farming as
| system. She advertised for children, and she
| had answers from persons in all stations. Among
| others of her clients were q Chancery barrister,
| well-known gentleman in another profession,
| and a gentleman whose name was recently very
much before the public in connection with an
other matter. She drifted along in this course,
getting from bad to worse. But she protested
that she had no idea of injuring the children,
though she did some things she was very sorry
for, owing to the difficulties of her po-
sition. She sent for her mother to come
and live with her. Her father, in 1868, died
insane. Her mother strongly disapproved her
| taking in children, aud she therefore opened up
new line ofithe business. She took the Clerk
enwell Neaos, and there she used to find a whole
| string OF adyertisements-three of them were
| put in for a shilling-from women who wanted
| children to nurse. She advertised herself for
children to adopt and she generally got e10
with one. When she got the child and the
| money she went to one of the other advertisers
in the Clerkenwell Nelcs and arranged to put
| the baby out to nurse. Upon paying two weeks
in advance she was hardly ever asked even for
| H.
she never heard anything more of the child.
She gained the difference between the f10 given
her for adopting the child and the fortnight's
payment for nursing 1t.
MISERY.
At this time the children were as well attended
to as she could manage it, and a medical man
was always called in when they fell sick. When
they died they were buried properly, and she
had the undertaker's receipts Five children
died, some from diarrhea and wasting and
others from convulsions. She was very poor
and determined to save the price of burial by
leaving them about. She wrapped the bodies
in brown paper, and took them out at night and
left them where they were found by people
afterward. She maintains that she did what
she could for these children, and attended to
them to the best of her power.
GETTING RID" OF CHILDREN.
There were also four other children whom
she got rid of in way for which she is now
very sorry. She took them, one at a time, into
the streets, and when she saw little boys and
girls at play she called one of them and said,
"Oh, ana so tired Here, hold my baby, and
here is siXpence for you to go into the sweet
stuff shop and get something nice" While the
boy or glrl went into the shop she made off.
The babies, she believes, were generally taken
| to the work house. On one occasion the boy to
whom she gave one was served so quickly that
he came out again before she had time to get
away. She therefore stepped into an oyster shop,
! and ordered some oysters. She saw the boy
! looking up and down with the baby in his arms,
and when he did not see her, he began to cry.
Some people gathered, and a policeman came
up, to whom the boy showed the baby. The
policeman then walked away with the boy and
! she left the oyster-shop and got off safe. Some
| of the persons who gave the children for adop-
tion were evidently well off. The babies were
very well dressed. She used to have appoint
ments often to meet parties at the railway sta
tiOns, and gentleman, accompanied by a nurse
would give her the child. Sometimes the
children were given her within an hour after
they were born-in less time in fact, and before
! they were even dressed.
|