The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-26
THE BABY BUTCHERY.

The ssN1urdcrs'' Dwindle from Thirty to
One-Thc Woman Who SwOre Thirty
Babies Were Killed Swears Over Again
That She Only "Heard Off Onc-NIrs.
Roberts Admitted to Bail in $1,000.
The supposltlon given in yesterdays HERALD, that
the great baby slaughter house story would end IN
nothing bids fair to claim the dignity OF
prophecy; for the evidence taken yesterday proves
that not one of the thirty deaths sworn to can be
proved. The ladies who make the charge have
evidently never been at law before, and do not
seem to appreciate the vast difference between
anidavits and tenement house jabber. Mr.. West,
who Is prosecuting the case for these women, Is q
gentleman apparently about forty-nve or fifty
years of age. He has wealth of snow white hair
and ull beard, surrounding countenance ex-
presslve of the broadcast benevolence. He has
taken the IN hand in good laith but from yes
terday's developments he is convinced he has been
imposed upon by these women, who have, accord
ing to the accounts OF reputable people, spite or
animOsity against Mrs. Roberts. The woman Pafe
was put the stand yesterday, and on cross-ex-
animation she denied and contradcted her own
statements Her afidavit, which states that she
knew OF more than thirty children who had been
killed in and buried from the house; was
read. and, when cross.examIned, 1t was ascer-
tanned that she only knew OF two that had died.
and she only knew this through hearsay. She said
she went INTO Mrs. ROBERTS rooms ABOUT ten times
every day, and, on being questioned. she said she
went out to work about three days IN the week ana
visited about twice; thus the week was reduced
Mrs. Roberts three children were in court. The
little girl, about ten years or age, accompanied by
her little brother was minding her baby sister.
The little girl Is remarkably handsome; ner eyes
are large and bright, her features clean cut. A
wealth OF golden nair streamed down her back and
q sunny smile continually played around her fea-
lures.
Aro N N
told OF him one would suppose hun to be most
1erociOus looking customers but he looks as mild
pected to. Miss Mcbride, lady who has devoted
the best portion OF her time TO charity, was In
court, having been subpGned to appear. She told
the HERALD reporter that she had never known
Mrs. Roberts to be under the influence OF liquor.
and did not believe she IN, had been or she would
PROCEEDINGS IN COURT
After the disposal of several minor cases the
case of Mrs. Roberts was called Mr.. Nesbit, her
counsel, asked Tor the discharge OF the prisoner
the ground that no specific charge had been made
against her. The motion was denied, and the
counsel asked the prosecuting officer under what
statute he proposed to proceed. He received no
answer, the Court deciding That that would be
demonstrated as the case progressed.
THE TESTIMONY.
The first witness called was Ida Adams, Of las
named "Luiu in charge OF Mrs. Roberts to take
care of the child was born under peculiar CIR
cumstances; when depOnent went to see ncr Child
at Mrs. Roberts, 1t was always clean and had ap-
parently been well taken care OF; on the 18TH OF
September, the day captain Alalre LOOK the child
from Mrs. Roberts, she saw it in the hospitai 1
had not seen 1t Tor eight days before 1t had been
taken to the hospital; and when L saw 1t there 1t
was sick and emaclated; do not know whether
it taken SICK in Mrs. Roberts, or at the hospitals
when saw the child In Mrs. Roberts, 1t was always
clean and well kept.
Captain Alaire was the second witness called
Had been acquainted with Mrs. Roberts since the
7th OF September; went to her house at the re-
quest OF MIR. West to see il there were any children
In the house in starved condition; when he went
in he saw Mrs. Roberts and her three children,
another woman with child and small child Sit
ting in front or the stove; the child looked pale,
and DR.. Worcester who was with me, took II up
and put his ear to Its chest Il lett the child there
and went after 1t the next morning and sent 1t to
the hospital, wrapped up in shawl which Mrs.
Roberts gave me To put on 1t he had never seen
the child before and could not tell whether it was
always thin or not.
Mrs Pnfe, one OF the women who swore that
thirty children had been killed by Mrs. Roberts,
was put on the stand, and went through her story
very nicely, but on the crosse Examination she
mixed herself up very much, with the assistance OF
DEFENDANTS counsel She swore that thirty children
had been killed by defendant, but xamina-
tion she could not swear TO one, she only having
heard that the children died; she did not know OF
what they died, although she had sworn Ii was
from starvation; she could not tell the name OF the
woman who told her one OF the children was dead
and she didn't know where she lived; she met her
on the street one day. ana was then told of the in
fant's demise.
ON motion of counsel, Mrs. Roberts was admitted
to bail In 000 Mr.. Gebhart becoming security for
The case was then adjourned.