The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-03-29
A Baby's Romantic Conquest.

Anna Welsh, the wife OF an Irish Ia.
borer, living in a tenement. house in the
rear Of No. SO South Fifth avenue, entered
the offices of the Pennsylvania Railroad, at
the corner of Spring street and Broadway,
yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of
seeking employment therein as Office
cleaner. In her arms she supported her
seven -months-old child. Mary, pretty.
blue eyed, golden-haired babe, which,
while the mother awaited an opportunity
to speak to one of the clerks, crowed and
jumped il a. scstacy @ of i9fantile glee "A A
just been purchasing aticket, attracted by
the appearance of the infant, approached
the woman and said: Oil what pretty,
blue-eyed baby! Will you let me have
that babys" Mrs. Welsh, according to
the story subsequently recited by her at
Police Headquarters. jokingly said:
EYES," whereat the stranger took the
child in his arms and hurriedly left the
place by q side door, before the aston
ished mother could gain time to raise an
alarm. After searching the streets in the
neighborhood for upward Of half an
hour without succeeding in finding any
trace of the gentleman and the infant,
Mrs. Welsh went to Police Headquarters
and reported the facts to Capt. Copeland.
Detective Jeremiah Wood, who was as
signed to aid the woman in recovering her
infant, accompanied her to the corner OF
Spring street and Broadway, and there a.
certained that the strange gentleman had
purchased ticket for Mobile. The de-
tective, accompanied by Mr.. Welsh, at
once proceeded to the foot Of DesbrOsses
street. where they spent some time in
watching the outgoing passengers In the
hope OF detecting among them the gen.
tleman with the blue.eye baby.
About seven O'clock last evening the
doorman at the Police Central Office
ushered into the private Office Of Inspector
McDermott a tall, dark gentleman, who
informed the Inspector that he was DR..
Easton, of New Orleans, temporarily re.
siding with his wife and I've children at
the fremont House, No. 635 Broadway.
Amer thus introducing himself, DR.. EastOn
said. Mr.. Inspector, this afternoon,
while l was buying ticket TO Mobile for
my wife at the Office of the Pennsylvania
Railroad, ON Broadway, an uncouth but
rather pleasant faced Irish woman entered
the place, carrying in her arms ono OF the
prettiest blu: eyed babies ever saw. Oh!
Mr.. Inspector" continued the Doctor
ecstatically, "such dimples, and such
pretty golden hair! Twas instantly seized
with an almost uncomfortable desire to
become the possessor Of that baby, for.
although have five children. they are all
dark. Well, to continue my narrative, l
went up to the woman and playfully asked
her If she would let me have the baby, and
bless your heart, her answer almost drove
me wild with joy. She said, Yes, she
would surrender the child to any person
who would promise to take good care OF
it, assured her that / would gladly
adopt the child, and cherish it with as
much care and tenderness - If It were
my own The woman unhesitatingly
handed me the baby, and immediately
took it to my hotel, where I said to my
wife, Look ;at last we have got what we
have been yearning for for . long time
4 pretty bIue.eyed baby Mrs. Easton
was, assure you, perfectly delighted,
and n for the youngsters, why, they
huggcd that blessed baby until Il gave
Z veil OF disapprovsl. We stripped
the hide mite of its miserable clothing,
and while my wife vas busy making out
list Of garments to compose it, now out
fit. 1 lust gave 1t : bath, and then. after
Mrs. Easton had made the necessary pur-
.chases Of baby clothing, we dressed our
found darling in gorgeous raiment-
Well, to be brief, short time ago l acci-
dentslly heard that ell The police in town
were looking for mea and that baby. and =
have no desire whatever to deprive the
mother Of her child, II she wants It,
deem Il my duty to come hare snd sur
render The child" DR.. East0n had nearly
Concluded his extraor1inasy narrative be-