The New York herald., 1876-11-01
A LOST INFANT.
How q Child Was "Adopted" by an Un-
known Woman.
4 BEREAvED MOTHERS STORY
A Sensation in q New York
Charity Institution.

On the eastern side Of Stuyvcsant square, between
Fifteenth aud sixteenth Streets there stands stately
double mansion, which doubtless In bygono days
the homo of some quiet Knckerbockcr family. but
which Is now occupied known the New York In
Urinary for women and children.
Twenty three years ago the New York In6rmary
established for tho following purposcs:-First. as
charity where poor and children might obtain
medical aid and treatment from women physicians;
second as practical resort for the instruction and
practice OF engaged in the study Of medicine;
and third for the training Of nurses. II consists Of
dispcnsary where medical advice and medicines
given daily without charge. TO all who apply; OF
hospital department, in which women received for
confinement and for contagious Diseases and OF
medical school for women. Up to last year tho
nirmary situated at No. 1oS Second avenue
but during 1875 tho hospital department was moved to
No Livingston place. tho east side OF Stuyvcsant
square, while the womcn's Medical College Of tho New
York Innrmary and the dispcnsary continued TO oc-
cupy the old premises, No 12s Second avenue. Mr.
Samuel Wllcts Is President Mr.. Lucius Tuckcrman,
Vice President; Mr. John I. wlcts is Treasurer ard
Mr. Richard II. Bownc the Secretary, while tho Board
Of Trustees includes Of the very best names in
the city and representation Of the Society of
Friends There are in all thirty-nve bods available in
tho ,nffrmary for indoor patients, whlc idea OF
the good effected by this institution will be found when
Il Is stated that during 1878 less than CAS-
were treated or these 1l9 received into tho
hospital, 3933 had medical treatment At tho dsrsn-
sary 67s were attended at their homes, 277o
visits were paid to outdoor patient and 524 prescrp
tions put up for
THE woMAy's MEDICAL coLLEGs
Is also thriving institution II Is under the direction
OF tho same officers and Board OF Trustees and is
lady physicians OF this city, well prominent male
specialists
Tho women's Medical College and New York In
hrmary for womcn and Children arc both worthy
working charities, through whose agency grent good
has been accomplished. Yet the lnnrmary for Women
and Children has unfortunately got into the courts,
and yet remains be how It is going to get
agan. The facts OF the appear 10 DO these
On the 11th OF October Mr.. James A. Decripg coun-
sci for the petition, applied behalf OF one Frances
Boiler who had beei an inmate Of tho fnfirmary. to
tho Supreme Court setting forth that tho petitioner
had been confined Of female child that she had been
deprived OF the possession thereof; that shc had
applied to the Innrmary for tho custody OF hcr
child but failed to obtain Il. Judge Barrett granted
. writ or habcas corpus to which Mr.. 'chard Bownr
counsel for the institution, put in return TO the effect
that the mother "voluntarly and OF her free will
and without any persuasion by any officers OF the In
hrmary gave away and parted with II TO party In
way connected with the Inrmary," and that tho said
child was never in tho control OF tho institution A
traverse was entered this return, and the Judge
directed the taking Of evidence
The petitioner stated that when tho child was about
four days old woman connected with tho Innrmary
told hor that lady had called who desired TO adopt
female child She refused at that time, and nothing
more was said until the 18th OF August. somc two
weeks later when the lady again. Tho deposit
tion as to what happened then a follows In
her words:-
CDR Reid and another doctor, whose name do
not know but who was then In DR.. Baldwin's plnco
whom sho was away, took down stairs TO the
lady They took hold tf and helped me down, as
l was not very well I saw the lady; she sitting
in the hall. sat down. as was unable to stand.
don't know tho lady or her name; have mover soen
her before or since. She SAID something about the
baby that IL was q nice littlo thing something;
don't remember what There was no conversation.
She asked mo II would give her tho child I replied
Il could not part with IT.. DR.. Reid present Then
taken up stairs After went up stairs they took
me into the ward; the child was in my arms went
into the ward. Thcy-that Is Dr. Reid, Mrs. Lincoln
and another doctor, the samc who went down stairs
with me-said u would DO better for mo to give
tho baby to this lady; she would have good homo
and what would l do with her. Dr. Reid the
chief one who spoke, but all spoke 10 me and told
mo how children VINO put out to board i'll
treated. They asked me what going 10 do with
her said was going to put her out TO board They
said great deal moro, but don't remember IT, At
dow and they were by me. / said did not know; /
could not part with her anyhow They went out OF
tho room and left with Mrs Lincoln. Then Mrs.
Lincoln spoke to and said that had better mako
up my mind and
Int HER TAKE THE cnILn
At this time I crying and said that didnr want
part the child Then shc said would be better
10 let her take would think differently alter while.
With that she took It out OF my arms and told mo 10
come and get It's clothes then went and got the things
OF my that belonged to me, and Mrs Lincoln
dressed II with them. Before that IL had clothes
OF tho institution the rule She then held and
made mo kiss It, and took II down stairs. didnt go
remained a week aitcrwnrd and then left do not
know 10 whom she the child. The last saw OF Is
was in Mrs. Lincon's arms"
but natural affection would not permit tho mother
20 rest at ease without her child. She did not sleep
for thrco nights worrying after IL; soothing medicine
had DO given her In time she recovered and asked
where her child was Nobody would tell her. and
though shc returned again and again she could not
learn to whom her baby had been gwen. Several cx-
aminations, at which the doctors aud nurses gave
evidence differing In minor details from the statement
oh,ld was admitted as true-were had, at which
every who had seen the woman who took tho child
was questioned aud sransp,red hat no record had
character as TO tho name OF tho person who
came seeking TO adopt the babe Tho conduct OF sdop
and the position taken by the officials OF the In
Urinary will be best understood from tho following cx
tract from the examination Of DR.. Baldwin, tho resi-
dent physician At the innrmarv, who saw the woman
who took the child
O. Is IL the custom OF the institution TO give
ADOPTION
10 parties applying for them without making any rec
ord OF tho parties reccvingf A. The oiicershnt
49, tho President and Board OF TrustcesKnow nothing
about Il, but permit mother TO have her child
adopted II she desires II.
Q. Without making any inquiricsf A. The mother
can make any inquiry shc plcascs.
O. But you make nones A. II tho mother wished
It, otherwise might or might not; It depends tho
person inquiring.
O. Havo you allowed adoptiops to persons whose
names you did not know? A. have. The women
often there great distress 10 know what TO do
with a child. Under such circumstances l always
allow them adopt tho child II thcy wish, 10
parties whose names do not know.
Is It your custom to permit adoptions to persons
Of whose namc &c, you are ignorantf A IL has not
boon my custom.
Ale the mothers IN condition 10 axe INQUIRIES?