The New York herald., 1874-08-05
THE BABY BURNER.
The Heartless Domestic,
Henrietta Weibei.
A Strange Story of Preoocious
Iniquity.
AN Attempt to Burn Her Next
Eoor Neighbor's Child.

So many startling phases OF crime crop out from
u me 10 time that 1t seems almost impossible to
keep pace with them In any attempt at analysis
one OF the most recent OF the strange cases was
that OF Henrietta weibei, the baby burner. Tho
idea OF little GIRL thirteen years Of age cherish
ing passion for the burning up OF babies is some
thing awful TO dwell upon. But insanity steals
INTO the brain OF little girls as well as into the
brain OF grown people, and there can scarcely be
doubt but that Henrietta Welbel Is insane.
A HERALD reporter called yesterday at the store
OF Louis Stern, No. 2o4 First avenue to ascertain
some facts about the girl. Henrietta had been fot
the month previous TO the "a OF July domestic
in Louis Stern's family, and while she was
there most signally distinguished herself. on two
dinerent occasions she made free with the money
drawer, spending the dlty cents she appropriated
In procuring supply OF candy, which she lavishly
distributed among her female acqnain'ances. On
another occasion she actually contrived to secure
to herself out OF Mrs. Stern's pocket, while that
lady was attending to household affairs, two ten
cent stamps. Later in the day, while with frtena
IN the little park opposite Dr. Tyng's church, she
pulled from her pocket a stick OF candy with
twenty-five cent stamp attached, and throwing It
on the ground, exclaimed. "Alnt luckys Here's
not only lois OF candy but a quarter dollar"
These little raids upoD the money drawer caused
Mrs. Stern to send for
HENKIErrA'S MOTHER,
who, arriving sadly upbraided her errlng
daughter, telling her that she had promised TO
srop doing those bad things. Henrietta got MAD
with Mrs. Stern for sending for her mother and
was resolved to have revenge. On the I'd OF July.
while Mrs. Stern was bathing her baby, she was
startled by hearing the breaking OF pane Of
glass in one OF the windows in the rear room.
Henrietta looked as innocent as O child and woR-
dered what the young rufnans outside we're trying
TO DO. Mrs. Stern again applied herself the
baby, but suddenly again another pane went into
irltters with a loud crash, and Immediately after
three different panes were knocked into pieces.
Mrs. Stern now went TO the rear Of the house ana
closed the shutters and Mr.. Stern journeyed up
to an adjoining roof to where were
concealed the rascaliy boys that were breaking his
window. The shutters being closed Mrs Stern
occupied herself once more with the baby, but was
very soon shocked with series OF bangs against
the window panes, which terribly alarmed her.
She then went into the street, and, being joined
by detective and two officers, the rooms were
examined alter which the officers went out TO
the yard to reconnoitre. No sooner had they got
outside than again the glass IN the window went
FLYING IN ALL DIRECTIONS,
attracting the attention OF the neighbors in the
adjoining houses, and thus gathering crowd IN
Henrietta and IT was not long before Jar
of sweetmeats that was on the mantel.
went spinning the tos moor Ss and
cracked though not entirely broken. The police
gave it up as bad JOB, and questioned Henrietta
as to her knowledge OF the extraordinary occur.
rence but the girl stOutly denied all knowledge OF
how the thing was done. saving That she suspected
She was dismissed from Mr.. Sterns house that
evening, however, ana she admitted to friend Of
had had " Jolly lark at stern's she SAID she
had lot Of bits OF brick concealed up Ter
Win wnn sae scarce ne tns1 @s @ 0uo o e
casion Henrietta tod her that quilt had
been stolen rom clothes line in the yard,
lint a
the cellar of the house. The quilt was not yet
quite dry and Mrs. stern put It out on the line
told Mrs. stern that the quill: had second time
mysteriously disappeared ana thai 1t was the
descended to the cellar, ana after short expiora
ton by the aid oil few matches discovered the
rietta looked as unconcerned as II she had never
put it there. The Sterns nave, beside the baby,
A LITTLE BOY ABOUT THREE YEARS OLD,
who was always in the habit OF sleeping with the
girl III charge OF the children. The little fellow
alter the first night he slept with Henrietta most
bed with her again and began to COM
pain constantly OF pain IN .. his foot
made ni% sleep with the girl or so%e time AFTER
wards but his father had frequently to carry hm
crying with the pain In his loot. 1t seems that
Henrietta had frightened che little fellow By
threatening that she should surely cut his foot on
The day Henrietta was discharged Mrs. Stern's
baby got quite sicK and the doctor had to be con-
10 II San ana so soe day ths
sistance. Mr.. and Mrs. Stern rejoice to think
they got ria Of this ts g At
jar of sweetmeats and the breaking or the glass IL
a picture frame.
went home to her mothers without shedding ;,
singe tear. In the rooms adjoining her mothers:
at No. Alb East seventeenth street. dwell Mr. and
Mrs. Domettou and their i've little children. Mrs.
DometIon is the housekeeper for the tenement
HERAip should nave stated, a lew days since. that
the tenement house is not quite whatit ought TO
be. The place Is eleaDiy enough but there Is no
doubt but that the air which one has to breathe In
ascending the stairs 10 the top noor Is not that OF
q pretty garden, where the perfume OF the now-
ers gaddeus the sense OF smell. Anyhow, Mrs.
DOmetion had her quota TO aod to the story OF
MISS HgNRIErTA's QUEER DOINGs
Henrietta stayed round about the mousse all DAY
on the Fourth OF July, looking out Of tile window
at the boys throwing the arecracKers' ana amuse-
ns ne 0y sy & seTn swes
used to pinch the baby In the afternoon Hem
rears tSSk oS and "er own te sister into her
motner's room. and having got them in she deltb-
erate1y ut lew matches and set tfe to the dress
of Mrs. DOmetiOn's little girl Henrietta's little
! sister began screaming and Henrietta herself
went to the head Of the stairs and began calling
for Rob- her own little brother, who at the time
was playing in the yard. Mrs. Dometion hearing
the children's screams at once rushed INTO Mrs.
WeIbel's rooms and began screaming, too, when
CHILD ENvELoPEp IN FLAMES.
With a mothers bravery she folded the child IL
her own dress and rolled her on the floor until the
flames were extinguisbed and saved the child.
She showed the reporter the charred dress yester-
day, and among other thanhsgiyings which sue
uttered she was glad she had sweet oil IN the
house 10 ease the pains OF the burnt chnd. But
Henrietta looked on, Mrs. Domctlon says, with un-
ruled visage and when asked about the matter
quietly SAID that at was Rob who did IT." HEN
rletta's little SISTER, however, who was an eye
witness OF the lighting OF the matches and the
setting fire to the dress told the whole truth.
The whole truth did not disconcert MISS henrietta
IN the very slightest degree. Yesterday MRS.
Webei went TO fremont jail to see Henrietta, still
cliuging to the unfortunate maniac. There IS
htar HENRIETTA.
whom all concur in saying that sne has already
shown
SIGNS OF INSANITY.
This series OF acts OF Henrietta, with the circum.
stances attending them, point conciusively To the
deduction that she is insane. NO human oeing at
ner age could possibly be so callous to the enOr-
mity or the crimes she was perpetratlng or trying
30 perpetrate and be In her right senses. She
never on any occasion, as all those who know her
ahar ed q sllnhfe iceliuu after