Morning journal and courier., 1881-07-09
Board of Selectmen.

Licenses RecOmmended-Ftre Escapes
 and Baby Farming Discussed-Bills
 Approved.
 A regular meeting of the Board of Select men was held last evening. Present, Select men Andrews, Cpresiding), Reynolds, Coop CT, Hugo, Fe1dman, Hart and Cooper.
 Licenses were recommended as follows R. Nj. Sheridan, 113 Grand corner of Ham, iIton; George Mayer, 19O Grand; Mrs. Mar garet Brushel, corner of St. John and Ham, ilton streets, (beer).
 Henry Bristol appeared before the Board in regard to his new patent fire escape, which has already been exhibited in this city. He proposed to attach his invention to the alms- house on the condition that if it was not as represented he would remove it without cost to the town. His estimates of cost were $50 on main part and $175 on wings. He de- scribed his invention for the benefit of mem- bers, which he claimed was automatic in it's ! character, and readily operated whenever and wherever there 8 fire, provided this fire escape was attached to any building. He in vited the members of the Board to witness | the construction of his escape at their pleas | ure and convenience
 l The law of the last Legislature regarding fire escapes was read by MT. Andrew. | On motion the matter was referred to the | Committee on Construction and Repairs to ! inquire and report. In addition it was voted \ that the entire Board witness the operation of the fire escape on next Wednesday after | noon at o'clock.
 Coroner Bollman appeared before the Board at the request of Town Agent Key | holds, as he said, in regard to ''baby farm l ing" He said his attention was first called to this matter in October last, when baby died at Mrs. Bulkley's establishment on West 1 street. An autopsy at that time showed that the child died of starvation. He said that l Mrs. Bulkley said at that time that she had had two hundred children under her care, and the parents of many of them she did not l know. The doctors stated that the amount of food given to the child as stated by Mrs. Bulkley would result in starvation.
 The coroner thought Mrs. Bulkley was truth ! full in her statements, but she did not, being
 old, know how to care properly for infants The recent case was then referred to, and in formation given in substance testified to
 before the jury of inquest. Coroner Bollmar
 gave the result of the autopsy and said the
 doctors said the death was caused from star ! vaion The coroner said he was satisfied that l all children placed in Mrs. Bulkley's charge
 were placed there with desire that they l should die as soon as possible, ol that the town should take then I in charge. He said he had understood from
 Mrs. Bulkley that there were at least hal1
 dozen places like her own in this town. He I thought that this business should be stopped if possible. The coroner also thought that 1 the smaller children before they were ole ! enough to indicate what, they wanted were l very apt to be starved to death. The coron l CT gave it as his opinion that all these insti
 tutions should be supervised by the city ol town authorities or both ,and that 0 doctor ol
 matron should be employed to looked after
 these baby boarding houses or farms. l Clerk Geary read abstracts from the law
 which provided for the punishment of per.
 sons bringing indigent persons into any towr in the State and leaving them, and which also provided for the punishment of persons re
 ceiving such indigent persons.
 The matter was discussed at length by the attorney and members of the Board.
 Selectman Andrew thought the only ju
 risdiction the town had in this matter was to
 best thing to be done was to supervise thit
 matter. He thought 8 record should bt kept of all such places, and 1t would be vel if an official notice was served upon all o them.
 l On motion the whole matter was referred to the Committee on Almshouse to inquire
 and report.
 Bills were approved as follows Almshous'
 account, $3,994.55; general hospital, $1.
 45O.77; hospital for insane, $61.25; Hom'
 for the Friendless, $65 roads and bridges l $19.5O; construction account, $14.6O; in
 terest account, $632. 73; outside poor, $1, 799. .54 Cincluding medicines for six months) general account, $1, ,O72. .O6. Adjourned.