Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-09-25
HORRIBLE AFFAIR.
A woman Kills Her: own Child and
Throws it i'm n Sink.

Sunday afternoon about O clock, we noticed
some policemen consigning woman to the cal
aboose, and on inquiring, learned that she had
been guilty Of the above horrible crime. The
name of this unnatural and inhuman being in
the shape of a woman. is Rebecca Humphreys.
She was taken to one of the rooms at the police
headquarters, some bedding provided for her
and guarded during the night by one of the
force Yesterday morning she was taken be-
fore Esquire Ochs, and from the evidence there
deposed against her, we take the following facts
regarding this
UNNATURAL DIED.
She had been employed the night before 70
stay all night with Mrs. King, on Front street,
who WAS alone, and cooked her breakfast on
Sunday morning, but complained of feeling I'M
well. Mrs. King wishing to visit lady that
day., asked her if she could take care Of her
OF the little girl if Mrs. h. would take the baby
with her, which she did. During her absence,
some of the neighbors noticed her going in an
out house and staying there an unreasonable
length Of time and efterrward,, coming forth
with broom and a kettle, and knowing her
condition, at once suspicioned that q
HORRIBLE CRIME
had been committed. They proceed ed to tn
water closet and foun unmiftakble signs tina
a child had been born. Mrs Lockheart then
went into the house where the woman was, and
asked her what was the matter she answered
that she was suffering with her bowels. This
with the signs before mentioned confirmed them
in their opinion and they at once informed
POLICEMAN EAHE
Who proceeded TO the investigation Of the af-
fair. After q thorough examination of the
premises, he was convinced Of the guilt of the
woman, but before looking for the child, he
procured the assistance Of two others of the po-
lice force and then proceeded in company Of
N.olt Rx~ar4 affa H. Ior
DR.. DeAderick was taken to examine the wo-
man and see il she had been delivered. The
doctor amer thorough examination, pro-
nounced that certainly
CHILD HAD BKES BORN,
and advised the arrest Of the woman and also
requested that if the child was found it be
brought to him for examination. The woman
up 70 this time, continued to deny her guilt
Nj. Kane concluded before hunting for the
child to try by some means to force Z confession
from her, and did So by telling her that it was
no use TO deny the fact IS the child had been
found when she acknowledged Of having con-
signed il TO the sink,
a thorough examination of the childa body
by Drs. Desderick and Boyd showed no marks
of violence of an extreme character, but stated
the condition Of the lungs proved that the child
had
BREATHBD
at or near the time Of its birth, that the child
was fully matured, and was fine girl of natural
SIZE with good shape and form, Policeman
Kane informed us that it weighed pounds and
10 ounces.
Mr.. Kane then put her under arrest in the
charge Of another man, and in company Of Mr..
Ryan, Mr.. Bsdgett and John FINLEY, who hap
pened 10 be present, proceeded 10 hunt for the
child, and after some little time found it. 1t
had cloth over its head and half way down ts
body and string tightly around It's neck. AT
ter washing the child they took and showed il
10 the unnatural mother, who dropped but few
tears over her offspring, and when asked for her
motive in this wicked deed said she had no one
took the mother, (undeserving Of that name)
and the child, and coming by DR.. Deaderick'
office, left the child there for examination, while
the woman was taken 20 lit lodgings for her
kind.
After hearing the evidence in the case,
Esquire Ochs committed her 70
JAIL WITHOUT BAIL,
10 await her trial before the Criminal Court
now in session. We have given the facts in the