The morning call., 1894-10-12

previous night bath, she was Mortified to
discover that it was branded. She called
DR.. Somers' attention to it, and it actually
made the doctor shudder.
On the outer side of the infants left
thigh is branded. apparently with a red
hot iron, the roman capital letter M and Q
dash beneath it as shown. The brand is
about an inch in length and was red and
infiamed. The poor infant was restless
and peevish. caused no doubt by tue pain
from the burned flesh.
II think" said DR.. Somers, yesterday,
THAT the branding has been done within
the past two DAYS, owing to the wound
being so red and inflamed. 1t will dis
figure the child for life, as it will always
leave a scar there 1t looks as If it had
been done with red-hot iron, but it might
have been by means of some acid.
''The only reason l can see for such a
cruel act would be as means of identi-
fication. should that be necessary in the
future"
The police made inquiries Yesterday
afternoon about the infant and they found
it was born about two weeks ago in the
house of DR.. E. NJ. Griffith, 1850 McAllis-
ter street.
A visit was accordingly made to DR..
GriffitE's house last night The doctor
answered the bell anG his greeting was
suave and pleasant. But when be found
what his Questioner wanted his manner
suddenly changed, and lie acted like m AN
bereft of his senses.
II understand that the baby girl that
was taken to the Receiving Hospital la t
I futot hnrr IN,
| first question asked.
g. the baby" roared the doctor in a
passion. I've been bothered enough
about it to-day already. The baby was
born and | wanted it put in an orphan
asylum, and that's all there is about it,"
Then it's true the baby was born in
your house"
81 tell you 1 won't say anything more
about il, so get out"
81 suppose you know it was branded ?''
Eyes. l know it was branded and that is
nobody's ID business. D-n the
baby. / am sick Of it," he shouted.
1t was ascertained that on Wedne sdav
night between 8 and 10 o'clock Dr. Griffith
went into Spengler's drugstore, corner of
! McAllistsr and Webster streets, and asked
| to use their telephone, explaining that he
wanted to call for messenger boy to take
an infant to the Founding Asylum. There
| were two lady customers in the store al
the time, and after he left they expressed
| themselves as shocked at the doctor.
manner and language.
About tbree-quarters of an hour after.
! ward a messeDger-boy called at the drpg.
| store with the baby in his arms. He said
| he had been to the old founding ASYLUM
! on Golden Gate avenue and found il was
no longer in existence. He asked what
! he should do with the baby, and he was
| advised to take it back to DIR. Griffith.
which he did.
| A few minutes later DIR. Griffith called
at Morey's drugstore on the corner of Nc.
| Allister and Laguna streets with the baby.
! He called up messenger-boy by tele.
phoue, and when the boy arrived he in
strucled him 10 take the baby to the Re-
ceiving Hospital and tell the matron il
the morning and explain about it. The
! boy took it to the hospital and delivered
| his message.
The doctor did not call at the hospita
Yesterday morning aud then the discovery
of the brand was made by the matron.
No clew has been obtained as to the
| identity of the mother Of the babe. i
was learned, however, that few week.
ago two sisters called upon DR.. Griffith
one of them being in a delicate condi ion
| Arrangements were made for them to stay
in his house till the accouchement wa.
over, the doctor agreeing 10 dispose of the
baby and give the mother no further
trouble about it. The sisters are said Il
| belong to good family somewhere in tn,