Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-22
FBAT MYSTERIOUS BABY.
A oAsFAwAY INFANT BECOMES HEIR
TO S1eo, COO.
The Untold Chapter of the Way It was
Left and Recsived = Its Claim as
Heir Asserted Contest for
It's guardianship.


of the young babe that was left in the nigh
A in a mysterious way, and without explana
ton, at residence beyond Folsom. The
parentage of the little waif and the bearers o.
it to its new destination were enshroudee
with an equal degree of impenetrable mys
terry. The baby was apparently not
more than a week or ten days old-bus wa:
4 bright and interesting, and by the elderly
Il couple at whose door it was left il was at once
accepted and regarded as an inestimable boon
anew and bright ray of light coming through
the dawning of advancing years" when
2 such Joys are past the realm of expectation.
The pleasure at its coming shut out curious
thoughts or anxious inquiry as to the man-
nar or from whence it came. The question OF
its advent was dismissed, as did the needy
old lady when loaf of bread was thrown
down her chimney by a mischieyous lad who
had overheard her suppiications for food, and
after spying the perpetrator OF the intended
| Joke, still in her appreciation, remarked,
| ''Ihank the Lord ! 1t was the Lord that
sent it, if the devil brought it." This little
mysterious waif, owned by no one, disowned
by ALL except its newly-made friends by
adoption, has within remarkably short
SPACE been brought from this intended forced
! obscurity to an animated state of promi-
nence, wherein the little outcast is no longer
| the hidden product of denied and concealed
! illegitimacy, but from the recent death of its
now.claimed mother at San Diego, become
heir TO an estate estimated at Sl00 geo. This
strange and extremely romantic turn in the
wheel of time and fortune, has with all the
CELEBRITY Of presto change - in the school
e ~ .,r-t hi
lump Of human obscurity into profound ad-
mir&tion of claiming friends and relatives,
who may thereby be favorably Interested in
the estate which it is said TO have inherited.
In this connection the history of
IT'S EARLY SECRET TRAVELS
In Sacramento county are of interest. In the
month Of April last woman, thickly yelled
and having au infant child in her arms, ar
rived at Folsom on the 6 o'clock evening
train from Sacramento. She remained at
Folsom in carefully exclusive manner until
a later hour, when her movements would be
less liable to be observed, and then hired
livery team, with " French Louis" as driver.
He did not see her face, ss the thickness of
her veil, which was kept closely and securely
drawn down, did successful office in exciud-
ing from prying eyes all sight of face or
features. Having seated herself, and with
baby, basket apparently filed with cloth.
ing, and other wraps properly within the
carriage, she ordered Louis to drive up to
GAINESVILLE, seven miles from Folsom, on the
road to Placervile. Arriving at Clarks-
vile, she alighted and ordered the driver to
await her return. She was gone some
little time, and when she returned
resumed her seat in the carriage and
directed her attendant to drive on toward
P,acervile. Just before they reached
the Durock House, which is now the resi-
dence Of Mr.. SlaYback, she directed her
there was light at the residence of Mr.
Slayback at the time, and they drove past for
quite long distance at slow pace, when she
ordered him to turn around and drive back,
and to let the horses walk. When they ar
rived at Slsyhack's place again the lights
were out, and in low voice she directed the
driver to stop in front of the residence. She
then got out from the carriage, and telling
him to wait, took the babe and the basket
and walked carefully up to the front door.
Setting down the basket she cautiously
opened the door, which was found unlocked,
and stepping just inside
LAID THE LITTLE oAsTAwAY DOWN UPON
SOFA.
Beside it she placed basket which contained
an almost endless amount of wearing apparel
material, and SHOW by the care bestowed
in their making that they did not come from
the hands Of want. With the clothing was
left also $50 in gold coin. Having thus ar
ranged matters, the woman returned to the
carriage, and taking out a blanket from the
seat, started back toward the house. As she
arrived at the gate a rustliDg was heard in
the house. and fearing that she would be dis
covered she threw the blanket across the
,-,,,,-ol bagtt1,- s,to !
in strong, commanding tone, said, " Drive
on :" Louis now became considerably fright
ened at the proceedings, which he knew
nothing of only as they trauspired, and
which at the house just left were
beyond his comprehension. When they ar
rived at Folsom again, instead OF paying the
usual price, she gave the driver S15 and told
him TO keep it. She remained at Folsom
the remainder of that night, and the next
morning took the train for Sacramento.
A note was found with the clothing left,
which was in substance that the child was
legitimate and requesting that good care be
taken of it, promising that they should hear
from its mother again. OF course the new
arrival soon occasioned much talk in the neigh
borhood, and from certain remarks made
Is to its origin aud the reasons for its being
left at this place, which some of the former
members of the family regarded as reflections,
II was SuEE6SLcU anu uIScu ny tutiA tildb tuC
child be sent to an orphan asylum. The
old people would not listen to such propo-
sition, but instead the new conner was petted
and ioyfully caressed and soon grew into the
recognized position of being the pride and
flower of the family" Not long afterwards
letter was received by Mr.. Slayback from
some unknown source, inclosing $50 for
care of the child, and in which it was stated
that the next communication received would
give the baby name. a short time follow
ing this large number Of valuable articles
for the child were received, and among them
a costly baby carriage. The source from
which they came was in no manner dis
closed or known, and each additional letter or
article received at the Durock mansion in
this manner added to the fathomless mystery.
HUNTING FOR AN EDITOR.
As now proves to be, in this connection,
the next chapter in the mystery, was a visit
By Olive Slayb&ck and friend to the resi-
deuce OF Mr.. aud Mrs. Slayback, the happy
possessors of the little unknown. Niles Stay
back Is a teacher in the public schools
Of San Diego. and with her came
Mrs. Taggart, of San Diego, who now proves
to have been the mother, OF the child.
The date Of this visit was the latter part of
May or early in June. Upon their way up
from San Diego, they called at this Office
| about o'clock IN the evening, and Mrs.
| raggafs presented letter of introduction
| from an eminent journalist Of San Francisco.
/ The letter was cautious and Obscure in tone.
1t declared that the bearer was IN search of
an impossible; that she was DESTROYS of en-
/ ploying editorial assistance of type not
known to the profession in the Bay City. 1t
stated that as the lady was going to Folsom
upon business. the writer had sought to aid
her in her mission by writing this letter of
introduction The ladies were strangers. The
elder OF the two had something Of the discon.
tent and nameless anxiety in her manner
bespeaking recOliections of having been raised
by stepmother. The younger was bright,
viyacious and yet unobtrusively soeiable.
The letter introduced the elder as Mrs. Tag
CART of San Diego. editress Of The San Diego
Gc-e,tc. and she introduced her companion as
Miss Stay back. Mrs. Tagcart announced her
business to be search for an editor to take
charge Of her paper at San Diego She was
informed that no member Of the force upon
this paper desired employment, but that as
applications for positions were frequent, the
next made should be referred to her. She
stated that no one need spply unless they
were capable of acting as foreman of the
ottice at the same time. In answer to this
requirement the remark was made that it