The New York herald., 1874-08-04
CHILD STEALING.

The Jadgment Of solomon-Two Women
Claiming One Child.
remarkable case has just been decided in the
Supreme Court, the facts of which are substan-
italy these:-In 1870. young lady named Harriet
Evans had an illegtimate child. and. being unable
TO spare suficient time to nurse 1t herself, she
placed II with Mrs. Fanny Wemple, q married
woman, whose child had recently died. Miss
Evans called very frequently to see the cnild sent
1t clothing, and paid $50 month for some time,
but finally was unable to pay more than S15,
Tor which Mrs. Wemple consented to nurse the
child.
About this time the child was weaned; the
mothers visits became more frequent and nothing
would satisfy her maternal yearnlngs but to take
the child TO her own home. As soon as she
broached this subject Mrs. wickens the mother of
Mrs. Wemple, replied, "You needn't bother about
the child; 1t isn't yours; that child was left here
n basket" Alarmed at this, Miss Evans went
to Mrs.. Wemple and asked what her mother meant.
Mrs. Wempie replied that one day some one put
the child in basket left It at the door and rang
the bell, BY way OF leaving 1t there as strange
child, and that ever since 1t was JOKE they had
that the child was lett in basket Soon after
Miss Evans demanded the Child, and, being told 1t
was not ners. took legal steps to recover It, where
upon Mrs. Wempie ned with the coveted baby to
Jersey, where she remained until arrested The
matter then came before the Court an Mrs.
Wempie adherng to the basket story, a reference
was ordered to find out which OF the women had
claim to the child, and Miss Evans testlned as
above.
Mrs. Wempe, on her side admitted receiving
baby from MISS Evans and the payment OF $25 q
month, but maintalns, nevertheless, that the child
IN dispute does not belong to MISS Evans, which
the witnesses for the defence account for In this
way:-lt was stated that Miss Evans child was
very sickly, which was admitted, and that some
weeks alter Mrs. Wemple took 1t to nurse some
one LET. ieIt basket, containing ape. healthy child
left MISS Evans' child az the Founding Hospital,
pulled the bell and ran away, and that they re-
placed the sickly child by the healthy one. This
course was adopted because q child OF Mrs.
Wemple died some months before, and IL was not
desirable Ior her sake that She should see another
child which she was nursing taken away by death.
The fight TO Jersey was admitted, but Mrs.
Wemple states her reason was partly because she
had become much attached TO the little stranger,
ana partly because She wanted Miss Evans to pay
up arrears.
Witnesses were forthcoming in support Of the
George Hedges testified that he met an unknown
man VINO asked him to take the basket and child
ana leave IT at Mrs. Wemple's door. and gave him
81 lor the job.
mother, and that she asked him to put 1t away
some where; that he knew Mrs. W1ckens, and asked
the other man to leave the child there knowing 1t
Then came the testimony OF Mrs. Wickens as to
finding the child on the hall steps.
All these witnesses iecolected particular mark
Tne doctor no attended Miss Evans was ex-
ahmed, and his testimony was pretty clearly in
favor Of the identity Of the disputed child with
The referee sent In lengthy report, In which he
expresses his entire disbelief in the basket story
and the evidence Of Mrs. Wickens and tho two
Application was made to Judge Pratt, In Supreme
Court, Chambers. on Saturday, BY Mr.. John D.
Mott TO confirm the report.
His Honor rendered decision in favor OF Miss
Evans.