New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-24
THE COURTS.
ALLEGED OUTRAGEOUS BABY FARMING.
A WOMAN ACCUSED OF CAUSING THE DEATH OF

FHIRTY-sEvES CHILDREN.
Ellen Roberts of No. 2t3 East Thirty eighth
st. has for time past been driving lucrative bus
ness In baby farming. Up TO the present 10 cannot be
positively sascertained how many children she has
caused to die, from inatention, nth, and starvation
IL Is feared however, that within the last four months
no less than 81 children placed in her care have died
On Sept. Il, ]. Shelby OF Noi2 West Trtysixthst, hay
ing heard OF the brutal treatment the unfortunate
children were receiving at the hands of the woman In
formed Captain Aaire, and with DR.. Wooster and
number OF the police they surrounded the dwelling ana
made thorough search. They found a'number OF In
ants scattered about the floor and presenting shock
Ing appearance. One girl aged about 10 months, was
found to be in a fearful state from starvation,
filth and III usage. The poor thing almost naked
had almost sucked one OF her thumbs off, and had boz
come so weak that that OF sustenance had
mad to be abandoned The httle sufferer was at once
sent to the Amshouse but It is feared that she cannot
survive After all the other children found In the house
were properly cared for Mrs Roberts conveyed TO
the police statlonhouse, and yesterday morning she
was arraigned at the Yorvle Police Court where the
following evidence was taken against her:
Catherine lockwood testified as follows From June
20 I'LL the middle Of September occupied room In the
known six children to die from general i'll treatments
they were permitted to lie around the floor naked or
nearly So and permitted to day without food,
and covered with vermn; finding that Mira. Rob
erts would not alter the treatment to the children,
took one OF them, about II months old, with me- the
chlld ls now doing well.
Fanny Thye OF No. 30 East Thirtyeghthst, testified
that she resided to June last In the house with
Mrs Roberts, her treatment 70 the children was Of the
most lrighu character and thought she treated them
more like brutes than human beings witness took two
children away while accused was drunk, which was
almost daily occurrence; several children who died
from disease and starvation kept In the house by
the accused several DAYS, and then during the night
taken out by undertaken named BOYlstOn, VINO
placed them in stable where he kept them three days
before burying them.
Mrs. Ellen Jarvis OF No 2O6 East eghth-st,
next examined She stated that on several occasions
she gave her children into the OF Mrs Roberts, but
invariably got them back In filthy aud starved state
Mrs Roberts in the habit OF getting drunk almost
daily, and occasion she lay down on top OF two
children who would have been sufOcaed but for two
women who interfered.
Mrs. Roberts stoutly denies all knowledge OF the i'll
treatment Of the children and expresses desire for
speedy Investigation She held in 81 900 bail to APP
pear for further examination Thursday The feeling
against her in the vicinity of her residence is very
strong, it feared that she may suffer violence at
the hands Of some OF her neghbors.