Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-03-24
THAT BABY STORY.
How the Valley Grove Sensation
Pans Out.


A story was somewhat circulated last
week that the putrescent body OF an III
liant had been found, under peculiar CIR
cumstances. In a bundle OF rags at al
lev Grove, in the northern part OF ONO
county. On Monday Prosecuting At
torpey Jordan went out there to invest,-
gate, and upon his return told the ioi-
lowing story:
About two months ago man and Wo,
man, giving their names as John ana
Mary Smith, and claiming to be man
aud wife, came to Valley Grove from
parts unknown and rented two rooms
In house owned by Mr.. Eariywlne. 4
short time aiterward Joseph Smith and
wife, from parts equally un
known, came and went IN WIN
the others. They were IN the
most INDECENT circumstances, their
dwelling being almost without furniture
and entirely devoid OF anything IN the
line OF cooking utensils, Mrs. FAIRY
wine, who lives next door, and under
the same roof, loaned them what cook
ing utensils they absolutely required.
The Smiths carried on the business oil
junkers, and made frequent excursions
iuto the neighborhood to gather old rags
and iron. One OF their rooms was used
TO store and assert the junk so collected.
On Monday week ago, Mrs. Eariywlne
went into their quarters 10 get grIddlc
borrowed from her, and was accom-
panied by a large dog. Mrs. Smith was
engaged in removing rags from one
room To another. When she had
finished, Mrs. Earlywine remarked that
she had left portion lying on the
floor Mrs. Smith replied that the rags
were too dirty for use aud she WASH I
going to wash them-didn't want that
bundle.
But the dog, which had been nosing
about, seemed interested IN that bundle
and presently seized il aud ran out. lie
was pursued. the bundle recapturcd
and opened. But now comes the dliier-
cncc. The reliable and enterprising
sheet on Fourteenth sheet gave out that
n baby was found in the bundle and it
was partially decomposed. But was 1t
a baby? Mr.. Smith found some putreS-
cent flesh, but it was without limbs or
head. lie took it for piece OF liver
DAYS nothing more WAS said about 1t,
At the end Of that time the story he.
came pretty generally circulated, and It
was plainly spoken out that baby had
been found and that foul play was sus-
pected.
Smith was hauled before jay pee and
| the matter investigated. lie SAID lac
| had bought the rags from two parties,
| Murray aud Ullm, who were sent Tor.
! Both disClaimed any knowledge oi the
infant, and after some talk the object ol
discussion was disintcrred. 1t still
| looked like mass OF liver, and there
were no indications OF head or limbs.
1t was hastily replaced in the ground
! There being no evidence ~ alnst Smith,
he VAS discharged from custody.
Mr.. Jordan pursued his investigation
on two theories The child, If child II
was, was given by some one to smith
to dispose of; or it was the child
Of one of the women IN the house.
There was no possible evidence t.
lead tn the belief OF the former theory.
As To the latter Mr.. Jordan became con
WINGED, after much inquiry, that moth
ing was in it, The neighhors had seen
both of the Smith women quite Ire
qucntlysand neither of them had borne
any Indications Of pregnancy.
Mr.. Jordan believes, aud the circum
stances point to il. that it was no baby
at all, but merely piece purifying
meat. Sc transit the Valley Grove sen
satiOn.