The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-05-28
AN ABANDONED BABY.
A Woman Arrested Upon the Charge
of Having Abandoned Her Baby
i'll Vacant Lot in Raleigh.

Henderson has grown to be quite a
place for sensational court trials. But
this notoriety is thrust upon it
that is the parties figuring therein do
not belong to the town. The latest
case was that of white woman ac-
cused of having abandoned her infant
child in vacant lot in Raleigh Tues
day night of last week. Wednesday
Chief of Police Switzerland arrested
her On the Norfolk bound train, on a
telegram from the Chief of Police of
Raleigh. She employed Mr.. W. r.
Henry, who applied to Judge Whita-
ker, holding court here at the time, for
a writ of habeas corpus, asking that the
woman be discharged from custody for
want of evidence sufficient to hold her.
She was discharged and a warrant was
then sworn out by the Chief of Police
upon which she was again taken in
custody. A second time she was taken
before his Honor and the case was ar
gued upon its merits. Mr.. T. T. Hicks,
Town Attorney, by courtesy and re-
quest represented the city of Raleigh.
The defendant was remanded to the ju-
risdiction of the Mayor, who had is
sued the warrant, and was held to
await the arrival of an officer from
Raleigh.
Officer Beasley came down on the
6:36 train in the afternoon and taking
the woman charge started for Raleigh
via Oxford with her that night. There
he was overtaken by Policeman
Barnes and papers served on him re-
curing him to return with the pris-
oner for further hearing before Judge
Whitaker The case was set for hear
ing Friday afternoon when witnesses
from Raleigh could be present to tes-
tify. They came and the baby was
brought along also, being in care Of the
/ colored woman who found it near her
door wrapped in red shawl lying in a
common market basket. It was well
developed, pretty, blue eyed little girl,
about two months old, and as it sucked
it's bottle and kicked up its little heels
and laughed at the caresses of its nurse,
it was totally unconcerned about the
trouble its advent into this world, Or
rather into Raleigh, had created.
The conductor of the train on which
the woman came up from Selma Tues
day night testified to having seen her
with bundle wrapped in red shawl,
but he could not say it was baby.
She also carried basket like the one
shown in court but he could swear that
was the one. This was the most di-
rect testimony against her. Three Or
four other witnesses were examined,
but the Judge did not consider the ev-
idence sufficient to detain the woman
and she was released. That night she
went through the country to the near
est point on the Atlantic & Danville
Railroad, where she was to take the
train for Norfolk which place she
claimed was her home. She gave her
name as Lala Edwards.
The baby was taken back to Raleigh.
That it was her child nobody doubts,
but they lacked the proof the show it.
It is better off as it is than it would be
in the hands of such heartless and
unnatural mother. And taking this
view of it we feel like congrutulating
Mr.. Henry for the vigorous and able
manner in which he conducted the case
and got the woman released without
forcing her to take the child she had
thus abandoned. She had been be-
trayed by some Shiny and seductive
villain, and with her shame upon her
she could not return home with the
child, and she might have committed
q moro tarrih1a crime than cha DdnninU
it in a lot near dwelling house door
in a thickly populated city where some
one was certain to find and care for the
little waif.
Have you read the directions wrapped
around Sugar Coated Yeast? may21