The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-14
BORN AT THE JAIL.
An Unfortunate Young Mothers
Last Resort.
DRIVEN TO IT BY DEsERTioN.
Alice Spencer. . Domestic, Ruined by .
Bartender, Finds Refuge at
the Police Staten.

A prepossessing woman, aged about ~ years.
known as Alice Spencer, gave birth to Q male
child at the police station yesterday morning at
4:3o O'Clock. It is another case OF woman's trust
and mans treachery.
About q week ago the family living at 1903
Yesler avenue were in need of help AID secured
q dark eyed and rather good looking woman
through an employment bureau. She gave the
name Alice but never mentioned ner surname
She was quiet and did her work in excellent
manner. She went out TO spend the afternoon
last Sunday and wore stylish dress. Between
II and o'clock yesterday morning she called to
the lady of the house and told her that she was
In pain and was going TO . doctor. If she was
we'll enough she would return later Hastily
DOMINIC her clothes Alice Spencer, for it was
she, walked to Providence hospital aud
asked admittanca. The night Waterman
told her that cases Of her kind were
never admitted, but he would call the night
woman nurse who would talk with her. The
poor girl told the nurse the story of her shame,
and how she had been deserted She feared she
was about to become . mother. The rules OF
the hospital. however, made it impossible to re-
ceive her aud she went to Dr.. A. N. Burns in
the Masonic block, corner OF Pike and Second
streets, for assistance Her long walk, coupled
with increased pains. fatigued her exceedingly,
snd the doctor, realizing her critical condition,
called In Onicer Faucet, who questioned her az
to where she came from and her trouble Salts
flying himself that all was right. he agreed with
the doctor that she had better DO taken to City
Physician Eames' ONCE on the Same street.
between Third and Fourth. The doctor was
not at home and the woman's sufferings made
Dr.. Burns return to his ONCE for necessary ap-
piiances. Meanwhile Assistant City Physician
Palmer arrived and telephoned to Providence
hospital asking if the sisters would receive q
confinement case, but neglecting to say that it
80 \ ri nat hA pnv1v If fv
the negative, accompanied with the explanation
that there were 20 accommodations. Tho only
thing that remained was the police station, and
Capt Sims was called up and the case stated to
him. He took the ground that If the hospital
would not receive the poor woman the health
department should have authority to hire q
room where proper accommodations could be
had Dr. Palmer. however, replied that his au-
thority did not reach that far and the only
course was to take her to headquarters and get
along a. well as possible.
The patrol wagon, with Jailer George Sheehan
In charge, took the woman from Pike street to
headquarters. Six minutes after she was made
As comfortable a. possible In the patrolman's
room. . large healthy male child came into the
world, DR.. Palmer acting a. accoucheur. A
short time later she went to sleep and big sign
was put up on the door warning the morning
watch to walk lightly and keep away from the
mother and child.
When she woke up Jailer Noble was on duty,
and to him she told q part of her story. She is
IN American girl and q nstive of this state. Her
mother Is dead, but her father still lives, and to
shield him from knowledge of her trouble she
would not tell her maiden name. She was a
domestic and a good girl until she fell in love
with man she called Thomas Spencer, bar
tender. He professed to love her and, under
promise of marriage, ruined her. When her
condition became known he refused to keep his
word and left Seattle, while she was left to bear
the burden OF disgrace.
Capt Sims had gone to Mrs. Ryther, who Is
well known for her good works In the cause of
charity, and stated the case. She Immediately
came to the police station and took the poor
girl and her baby to her home on Alder street
near Eighth.
A reporter called to see her in the afternoon,
but she would not talk or give any part of her
name but Spencer. She 10 getting along nicely,
however.
At the residence where she worked on Yesler
avenue 1t was learned that her given name was
Alice, and that she had worked there week,
Jaiier Sheehan, who takes great pride in the
child born within the precincts over which he
presides, says the boy weighs nearly twelve
pounds, and has lungs OF great power for one 80
Young.