The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-04-01
SQUAL0R AND MISERY.
Children Kept in Filth in a Saugus
Baby Farm.
THE POLICE MAKE ARRESTS.
The News of New England-Mayor Cough
lin of FAN River and the Fire De-
partment 49, Peddlers without IL
censes-The Graves D~isbarment.

LYNN, Mass, April by the arrest OF
Annie b. Fisher and her daughter, Mary
e., of Saugus, yesterday, a baby farm has
been brought to light. State Officer
Joseph 4. Shaw and Chief Charles +.
Clark of Saugus arrested the women on a
charge OF taking to board more than two
children at one time, without notifying
the board OF health.
Tbs complaint was signed by Joseph Il.
Shaw. Charles +. Clark, and Joseph NJ.
knight, II. D., OF the Saugus Board oil
Health.
The dead body OF an infant, three
months old, wrapped in a tattcred pillow
slip, was found Wednesday, by Chief
clark in the edge of the woods bordering
the old Newburyport turnpike. -.
Near this place is an old and squalld
farm house, occupied by the Fisher
An investigation OF the old
house revealed ample evidence OF the
criminal occupation OF it's inmates.
Under their rude care We're found six
children whose age varied from three
weeks TO eight years. -Four OF them are
certainly under three years OF age, as was
admitted by those in charge.
Enough definite statements have been
secured TO justify an application for a
warrant OF arrest. The proprietor OF the
place refused TO give the names or parents
OF two OF the children, n OF whom is an
idiot girl, 10 years of age, who has been in
the place for four years. They said at
first that she belonged to a New York
family.
This was afterwards changed to Taun-
ton, and il was only after the closest
cross-examinations that anything truth
full was earned concerning her pitiful
history, the details OF which cannot now
be published without injury TO the cause
OF Justice.
She has a brother and sister in Taun-
ton.
1t is almost impossible to picture the
wretched degree OF filth and d~epravity in
which the place has been carried on.
State Officer SAaw has had a wide crimi-
nal experience, but he says this rs the
worst case OF the kind he has ever seen.
The sink drain empties directly into the
cellar and the filth has collected openly
upon the iioor until the stencil is unbear-
able.
A child named Gavin was taken sick
there Just about a year ago and the medi-
cal authorities condemned the house as
unfit for human habitation. it was given
q thorough iumigation yesterday in every
roo m.
One of the s~trangest features of the case
is the inability TO find the owner of the
place. Mrs. Fisher says a man named
Wheeler of Wakefield, formerly owned it,
but that he has since sold out and two
different parties claim the property.
There are IL occupants OF the house ali
told and only two beds are to be seen.
The broken spring n tattered mattress
of one OF them are lying upon the Dare
door and there is not a stitch of cover on
the bed.
The Fisher women were brought TO
Lynn last evening. The mother is some
so years of ace, while her daughter is
about 80. They refuse to talk OF the af-
fair beyond declaring that they have con-
Quoted no baby farm, and that the chill
dren in the place have had the best of
care.