Daily Republican., 1885-08-15
Trial Of Mrs. Dairy.
THE CLAYTON BABv SMILES OH
TAE COURT WHILE WITS ESsEs
TALK OF ITS IRA VELS.
HELD In DEFAULT OF $500

An old cOlOred woman ,attlrr6Q In the
clothes of Quakeress, ambled into the|
Central Station, Philadelphia, on Fri
day morning and inquired of one of the
detectives Whar ia dat hussy dat
stole the chile? I've trabbled a long
ways from Snow Hill jess to see her,
and dis may be my last jirney." This
old woman was but one of hundreds of
that race that flocked to police head
quarters all day to catch glimpse of
Ellen Diary, the Colored abductress of
baby Laura Olaxton.
They came from Camden and the vii.
lages surrounding the city. Some
brought lunch with them and loitered
on the steps in the neighbor of the
Central Station or filled the benches in
Independence Square. 1t was con.
parAtively respectable looking crowd, 1,
composed principally Of women, that
filled the hearinR-room when the case
was called at 2 o'clock. The defendant
occupied seat in front OF the dock, and
large sun bonnet, at the ,r,esof which
she nervously tugRed during
the examination OF witnesses. The
case was well presented by the plosecu-
ton.
Mrs. Sarah L. Claxton appeared On
the stand holding in her arms the infant
which had caused 30 much commotion.
| She gave her residence as 1912 Balm
bridge street, and told when she lost
her child and when it had been return
| ed to her Willie Claxtnn, years, hel
son. and Reuben Steen, colored, 8 years
1913 Erie street. recognized the defend
ant as the woman who had given each
ten cents to goau errand while she held
the baby, and went away with it during
their absence. Mrs. Dary was request
ed to remove her bonnet in order thai
the boys might positively identify her
She did 80 with the remark, VI had 9
hat on then"
William Cooper, oolored, Chester,
said that he had known the prisoner
lover q year. He met her on July 11th
on q boat bound to this city, and sub
SEQ uently saw her returning on tht
boat to Chester. She had the Claxton
child with her aud cautioned him moi
to tell any one that he had seen her.
| Annie Sheets, q white girl, living IL
Chester, saw Mrs. Dairy with the chile
and took it in her arms. The prisone
lsnatched the child from her, abused
her and ordered her off the porch.
Philip Liebermau, a peddler, 10
Wine street, who has been credited will
the discovery of the abducted child
testit fed that he saw Mrs. Dairy will
the child on July 81, and she represent
ed that the baby had been left will
Iher by q woman, who promised to pay
So per W eek for its board.
Eliza Jones, colored, Chester, testi6et
that she had known the accused abou
year. On July 81 Mrs. Dairy calle'
upon her and demanded to know wha
she meant by circulating the report tina
: she had stolen q child. When Lieber
man mentioned to the witness that
1 baby had been stolen in this city sh
said that she thought she knew wher
the child WAS, and requested him
: bring q detective. When the office
! called upon her she, supposing tha
Mrs. Dary's child was boy, informe
. him that she did not think the bah
l was the one sought. She, however
: told the officer where TO find the prise
liner. Special officer Mintzhouser sal
l that Mrs. Dairy had made q full COZ
=. fession.
Magistrate Smith asked the defendar
. II she had anything to say, at the SAN
time oautioning her that she was M
l. compelled to make q statement Grim
. mating herself.
ltI ~ did take the child" was all 81
70 said, as she broke into tears. She Wi
held in default of $25O0, and went off
o her cell weeping. AS she was ate
10 ward placed in the police van lar
crowd which had collected arouI
the building hooted and hissed at he
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