Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-09-16
BETRAYED.
Lena Morris, an Arkansas Girl
betrayed and Deserted In
Nashville.
Coming 10 Memphis with Her
Child, She Leaves IL 10 the
Tender ercies OF n Strange
Negro Girl.

On the 18th of August last, a wo-
man, accompanied by 40 infant child,
drove to Priddy's boarding house, on
Second street, and engaged a room for
the night, saying she was searching
for her husband, who had left her in
Nashville. She remained at Priddy's
q day or two, and then went out to the
MISSION HOME,
on Alabama street, where she endeav-
ored to pursuade the matron to take
the child and care for it until she
could find its father. According to
the rules of the institution, this could
not be done, but the matron gladly
accommodated the child upon the
promise Of the mother to remain with
it. She gave her name at the mission
as Lena Morris, and her story was
that she was engaged to marry a cigar
maker living near her home, about
six miles from
oscEoLA, ARK.
She was led astray, however, before
the day set for the marriage, and soon
finding herselfin an interesting condi-
ton, prevailed on her lover to take
her away so that her shame might be
hidden.
This was in February last, and
shortly after her lover took her to
Nashville. On two occasions he at
tempted to give her the slip, without
success, but finally in May last
SUDDENLY DISAPPEARED,
leaving a note saying he had gone to q
cigar mandatory near Brownsville.
The girl followed, stopping at a lit
tie village between Brownsville and
Ripley, where the baby was born,
coming thence to Memphis, all her
efforts to find her ~betrayer, being
fruitless.
While at the Home she was per-
fectly su~bservient to the rules of the
institution, and though sad, seemed to
be resigned to her fate.
! Yesterday evening she expressed a
desire to 60 to relatives, near TreZe-
want station. Procuring an express
: wagon she drove by Priddy's board
| inghouse, got her trunk, and from
, there to the
LOUISVILLE DEPOT.
: A few moments before the tram
left she called a colored girl named
Teen Whitaker and gave her a dollar tC
J to take the baby to the chambermaiC
+. on the 0sceola Belle with the follow.
, ing note
. Please take the little baby to Mr.
> Rob. Friend at Pecan Point, Ark. ]
will enclose a dollar for you and | will
also send a note to Mr.. Friend to lei
him know who the child is. Please
take good care Of fit"
That was all. No signature anc
: NO EXPLANATION.
The chambermaid refused to take
the child, however, and the girl car.
A ried it back to the depot, but tn,
train had gone, She kept the child
at her home until this morning, 1ine,
Otlcer Albert Cook was notified, an,
took tie woman and child TO tn
station house, whom his kind hear
prompted him to offer to take tn
child as his own, which offer was &C
cepted until the mother could b
a found, or Officer Cooks family shoult
be increased more naturally.
1t has been ascertained that Sd,
bought a ticket TO
IRRELEVANT STATION,
where she stopped last night.
! The mother, Lena Morris (the nam,
is probably fctitious), is described a
{ a girl Of ordinary appearance, though
D finely proportioned, evidently Of gen
teel family and about % years of age
I and says she is an orphan with
brother and sister younger than her
self.
The baby is a bright-eyed little bo,
about two months old. Chief Davi
has the affair in hand.
= LATER DEVELOPMENTS.
Since writing the above, the report
, or has unearthed the following note
which is evidently referred to in tn
note to the chambcrmaid. She rep
resents herself as a man, and fixes vi
e a very nice little story. The letter i
$ as follows;
I MEMPHIS, Sept. 10Th, 188O.-MB
FRIEND-Sir: l write you a few line
to ask a favor Of you, and this is h
take my precious little babe and be
" father TO it, as | cannot. | am
worthless drunkard, and Its dea
mother is dead. You have tried t
"a make something Of me, and you coul,
not. | used to work for you. / vii
not tell my name, as l don't want m
child to know anything about me.
have
~ KILLED ITS MOTHER.
She grieved herself to death. Sh
70 died when the baby was three week
old, aud | have had a lady taking car
10 of it for me. l was TO pay FIVE dollar
o. a month for it, and | have failed t
pay, so | will give it away, and q
you used to be such a goo
man, will give it t
A. you. If you don't wan
it, get it a good home, and have
d well cared for. When you get this
= will be a long ways from here. 1t
nearly three months old. II was bef
l July 23d, and his name is gredd,
in His mother named him. / will sen
er by the chambermaid of the Oscool
Belle"