Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-09-12
MISTAKEN MOTHERHOOD.

A Woman Of Eua,ssuiLLe, Ind, CI0t,'ss a.
Her Daughter a Young Lady to Whom
She Vas an Entire Strasgor-6t's0ssla1
Corroberatton Of the Alleged PARENTS
Story.
Evansville, Ind, Special, Sept. I'll
Considerable excitement was created late
last night by singular case which the polio
were called upon to investigate. When the
train from St. Louis was about to leave the
depot party of four ladies came to tho de-
pot. They were Misses Matte and Jennie
Kerr, Mrs. Anderson, of Mount Carmel, who
is engaged in the millinery business, and
Miss Ellen Downs, young girl of 10, who
has been living with the Misses Kerr and
their brother in this city for some time.
Mrs. Anderson has been visiting the Misses
Kerr also, and was about to depart for her
home. The others had come to the depot
to bid her farewell. While waiting
for the train to go, an old LADY
named Mrs. Williams came into the depot
crying and in great distress, and applied to
the officers to assist her. She said Miss
Downs was her daughter, and that the other
ladies were going to send her away to
Mount Carmel to get her out of her reach.
Mrs. Anderson was allowed to go, but the
others were taken to the police station. In
conversation with the officers making the ar
rest the old lady described her daughter and
marks upon her person, telling them that if
they did not find these marks as she had
described them to let the woman go. The
marks on her daughter were mole on her
breast, speck in one of her eyes and an
injured finger, which had been cut nearly off;
and after the severest examination these
marks were found, just as she
had described them. Her tale as
she related it at the Central station is as fol-
lows:
About eighteen months ago my daughter
was taken sick, and the physician that
called in commenced giving her morphine
and quinine. saw that she was not i'm
proving, but gradually wasting away, and
finally the physician announced her dead.
I would not believe it, as when I felt the
body it was perfectly warm, and would not
permit her burial; but the doctor said was
crazy, and the burial preparations were has
tened, and she was buried. was allowed
to 60 to the grave, but she was taken away
before it was filed in. The trench was shall
low, and am satisfied my child was taken
up and carried away for immoral purposes.
The old lady's story was related so simply
and persisted in under such strong Cross
questioning, besides being borne out by the
identifying marks, that the police were puz-
zled to understand it. The Misses Kerr and
Miss Downs told their story, which was that
the latter was the daughter of farmer liv-
ing near Carmi, ILL.,, and had lived with the
Misses Kerr here for some time, attending
school. A physician who was treating her
for sore eyes substantiated this, and said
he was acquainted with her parents.
| At o'clock this morning all
the parties were sent home, the
girl with her friends, under protection of
the officers. To-day the police have con-
cluded inquiries, which go to show that the
girls story is true and they think Mrs. Will
liams crazy; but this is the first evidence of
her insanity, and the fact of her describing
marks on the girl makes it remarkable
case. Mrs. Williams and the girl never saw
each other but once before, and then only
moments conversation occurred. Mr. 8.
| Williams condition will be inquired into.