Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-08-02
A WIFE'S CONFESSION.
Four Eabies borrowed to Deceive Her iIu
band.

Four Eabies borrowed to Deceive Her iIus-
band.
A dispatch from Wheeling, W. Va, to
tho Press concerning the story Of four
spurious babies, Iepublished in yesterdays
1NTEILIGENCEH says:
John Scarlett, the quasi father Of the
offspring Of aimshousc mothers, is highly
respected, and is rather well-tO. do tinan-
cially. His homo is on Jacob street, very
respectable thoroush!are in the southern
portion of the city. The house. which is
4 two story brick, stands on the street.
When your reporter rang the bell it was
answered by y servant, who showed him
into 4 parlor, which was neatly, but not
gaudily, furnished with several fine prints
on the walls and 4 piano in the corner. In
few moments tho woman entered. She
is about thirty-twO years OF ago and rather
delicate in appearance.
In reply to question as to the nature
of your reporters business he informed
her of the disclosures made concerning
the deception she had practiscd on her
husband by presenting him with three or
four bogus babies obtained from the Phil
adelphia almshouse. When these words
were uttered she became deathly pale,
tOttered and fell fainting to the floor. The
visitor raised her to sofa and threw water
in her face. AS she recovered from the
swoon and the full gravity Of the revela-
ton lawned upon her, she burst into
tears.
After becoming moro composed, i'll re-
ply to questions, she gave her story sub
stantially as follows "l have been mar
ricd over twelve years. My husband has
always been anxious to have children.
After We had been married for some years
he would often express his regret that we
had no little ones. While on 4 trip East
to my mothers house ! told her Of this,
and at her suggestion We went to tho Phil
adelphia almshOuse. This was Oh the
Goth of February, 1876. l took a little one
from that institution and adopted it us
my own and wrCte my husband that we
had been blessed with child. gave it
the best of care, with my mothers assist
ance, for grew to love it, but it pincd
away and died before l left the city and
was buried there. Soon afterward [ re-
turned home, and being in delicate health,
my husband naturally believed the word
l had written him, and together We
mourned for the little one.
"The next year went East again, AMI
through the assistance of my mother
secured an infant from the Founding
Home at the ccrner of Seventeenth and
Filbert streets. 1t was u beautiful little
boy, toward whom my mOtherless heart
went out at once but had hardly learn
ell to love it when death again intervened
and claimed it, and | was again left
alone"
This is only the substance of What Mrs.
Scarlet said. No words can convey the
| sadness of her manner, nor describe the
tears which frequently interrupted her
conversation.
She continued "My husbahd being still
dissatisfied, the following year again
visited Philadelphia, and from the home
there secured n bright, cunning little one.
who is now five years old. On it | have
lavished all my affection; have watched
over it in sickness and in health, and cared
for it rs fOndly as though it were my own.
In every respect we have treated it as our
offspring, and it would break my heart to
have i. taken from me. My husband loves
it so dearly that he will hardly suffer
it to be out Of his sight, and | know
)uld not love it more, were l its true
mother" The girl is y pretty little child
and was dressed with the utmost nea!ncss,
and her whole appearance indicated that
she was cared for with tho greatest kind
ness. Kissing the little one and sending
her from the room, Mrs. Scarlet turned to
tho reporter and said '' Can they take
her away from me? She is all l have. l
could not live away from her. Her father
idOlizes her. DO you think they can take
her away ~ When assured that this
could not be done shc became more conf
posed, and earnestly pleaded that she
might not bc exposed. Mr.. Scar!ett is
still in Ignorance of the fact that he is not
the father of the child.