Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-07-20
INFANTICIDE!
Is an Alleged Crime ASitatinS
the South Side.
The Infant Of Mr.. and Mrs. Edward
Leonard
MEETS DEATH UNDER VERY PIE.
CULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
Coroner Haly Now Investigating the
Case.

The "South Side" is all agog over an al
legged infanticide.
Five months ago Miss Cora Cristy, daugh-
ter of Jess Cristy, aged about l6, was mar
ried to Edw. Leonard. day laborer who
migrated to Henry county about year ago
Thursday morning, the 18th inst, baby
daughter was born. This same baby lies
buried in Forest Hill Cemetery. And this
is the extent of what is positively known.
But the question has arisen as regards its
death. Ugly rumors have been afioat fol
several days and in investigating these ru-
mors NORTHWEST reporter called on Mrs
Matt Bigford, the next door neighbor of the
Crstys.
| From her il was learned that the Leonards
and Cristys together with old Mrs. Fritz
live in one house. The baby was born on
Thursday morning about two o'clock. Mrs
Bigford called at the house about O'Clock
and asked to see it. The reply was that il
had died and she was given to understand
that she could not see the body.
Later on in the day she called again and
claims she heard the baby crying in the next
room and SO stated to the grandmother, who
said the noise was that of ferrit the boys
had in the back yard.
Several other neighbors called, to whom
evasive answers were given when the con
dition OF the baby WAS asked, among Others
that it was sick and must not be bothered.
Mrs. William Haynes, sister of Mrs. jess
Cristy and aunt to the mother of the baby
came down from Holgste and to the state
ment that the baby was dead, expressed her
self as determined to see it. In compan!
with Mrs Bigford they found the baby lyint
in the bed and covered with several heav!
bed quilts. Lifting it up, it opened its eyes
gasped several times and died.
Regarding this, the actual death of the in
FAINT, Mrs. Bigford is uncertain whether j
was on Thursday or Friday evening, she be
ing greatly excited and unable to fix dates
However it is presumed that it was Frida.
as she claims the bura! took place Saturda!
morning at two o'clock.
DIR. Marvin's Story.
| DR.. Marvin was the attending physician
He was called Thursday morning at o'cloc
and performed the necessary service. Il
found the baby to be healthy one and wa
somewhat surprised when requested notto II
the mabel cord,a failure to do which could nc
result otherwise than in death by bleeding
OF course he refused to comply with the re
quest and the proper treatment was given.
Five hours later the doctor was agai
summoned to attend to the mother. Il
asked the baby's condition aud was tol
that it had died. He wished to see the bod
but the grandmother said it had bee
buried.
4 The Coroner Acts.
Suspicious of smothering the babe bein
common talk, DIR. Haly, Coroner, decided
make an investigation. On Tuesday af
ernoon he, in company with DR.. Bloom
field and Marshal Burns, went to Fore'
Hill, exhumed the remains and made
post mortem examination.
The doctors are reticent on what their r.
port will be and refuse to give the cond
ton of the body touching on the smothe
ing theory. The body was buried in a pir
store box and had on plain wrap. Itw'
: very black. The stomach was opened ar
!, found to have contained no nourishmel
d since birth. And this, Notwithstanding
is claimed to have lived nearly two days!
Leonard all along has denied being fat
1 or of the child, and his denial is general
0 accepted.
8 The prosecuting attorneys action will ]
0 delayed until the coroner makes his report