The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-08-09

A shocking case Of supposed infanu-
eide has been unearthed by the officers
of the law in our usually peaceful and
iaw-abiding city. The details of the
case are of a revolving nature, and il
the suspicious entertained as to the
manner in which the child met its
death prove to be we'll grounded, an
unnatural mother win undoubtedly be
!. Indicted for the crime of murder at the
next session of the grand jury.
A woman bearing the name of Mrs
Eliza Beardail has been residing with
her parents Mr.. and Mrs. William
Richards, at their home in the Second
ward, for some years. Her father,
brother and mother have the reputa-
ton of spending their substance con-
tinually in drink, as a consequence Of
which the entire family has been kept
fn destitute condition. When the Off
GERS entered their home on Saturday
last to make investigation, they found
that the woman was in actual want
for the barest necessities OF life. Mrs
Beardalrs mother has been assisted
some by the charity of the neighbors,
but Mrs. Bearoai has expressed Will
= lingness 20 work. Her husband de-
serted her about two years ago, run
ming away with another mans wife.
It IS said also that Mrs. Beardall is
not in complete possession of all her
reasoning powers, and from the devel-
opments in this case it would certainly
seem that her act was that of crazy
person.
This is the story Of the case:
For some time previous to week
ago last Friday, the date of the birth
of the babe, Mrs. Beardall's neighbors
were aware Of her condition, and sub
Sequent to the above-named date, When
she was seen about and no word or
trace was to be seen or heard Of the
offspring, suspicion naturally became
aroused 1t was surmised, also, that
the child had been buried in the lot
upon which the house occupied by the
Richards family stands. Marshal Nc
4-uIough was notified and accompanied
4i1y the sheriff he went to the house TO
make investigation. The birth, the
Sickness and the burial were each and
severaHy denied by the woman and
her relatives, but the officers began to
search the premises. she accompanying
them They first went to the chicken
COOP where they found that attempts
had been made to dig a hole, but the
ground had evidently been too hard,
and that place had been abandoned.
Continuing their search, the officers
found in the back end of the lot, evil
dences CT earth newly turned over,
and with a hoe the marshal started TO
dig in this spot, the woman standing
by still denying the charge. After dig
ging about two feet down, a gunny
sack was struck, which, when taken
out, was found to contain the body of
q fully developed male child.
The woman then acknowledged the
deed. but said that she alone was re-
sponsible, claiming that she had bur-
led the child within an hour after its
birth She was placed under arrest
and the body was taken and the cor
pner recalled. An inquest was held,
at which two physicians gave it as
their opinion after examining the body
of the child. that it was born alive and
that evidences pointed to death
through suffocadon. Sad neglect was
apparent, showing that the poor lit
tie thing had had no care whatever.
On the 10Th of last December one
Henry Lawrence, a bricklayer by
trade was arrested on charge OF
adultery, alleged to have been COM
mitted with Mrs. Eliza Beardall, but
the evidence was insufficient to hold
Amin. Since that time, he went to Ida
DO. where he is now supposed to be,
kilograms with instructions to arrest
him have been sent to Idaho, as it is
thought that a case can now be made
/ gainst him, if not implication in the
II infanticide.
\ Mrs Beardall is the mother of five
children, none of whom have sufficient
to eat and wear. Fer father is repor-
ted to have said that had he known
that the officers would search the
premises for the infant he would have
effectually disposed of it, which would
indicate that he is not so utterly de,
void Of knowledge of the affair as
his daughter would desire to impart.
ha iG in the custody of the
sheriff on the charge of murder.
f<It is a sad affair, and whatever the
htcome, for justice must take its
y hlrse, the intense poverty and almost
hopeless condition of the woman vii
arouse the compassion of the public
and palliate to some extent an other.
wise inexcusable crime.-Logan Jour