The herald., 1895-09-25
A VERY MYSTERIOUS DEATH
Infant Girl Apparently Starved
to Death
WHO WERE ITS PARENTS !
The Custodians of the Child Tell Flimsy
Story
WHO WERE ITS PARENTS :?
Attempted to Obtain a Death Certificate but
Were Refused and the Case Was In.
vestigated by the Coroner

Coroner Campbell held an inquest yes
terday over the body of an infant which
died under suspicious circumstances at
the home of Mrs. Mary n. jenkins at
about II O'Clock last Sunday night.
The case was brought to the notice of
Coroner Campbell by DR.. Clark. who was
called upon by Mrs. Jenkin Sunday night
at IL o clock, and asked to do something
for the sick child. The baby was brought
to DR.. Clark's residence and he and Mrs.
Clark, who is also a physician, say that
the infant was dying at the time. Mrs.
Jenkin took the child back to her own
home, where it died shortly after.
Application was made to DR.. Clark for
death certificate the next day. but he
refused to grant it because he had not at
tended the child during its illness.
Coroner Campbell investigated the
case and decided to hold all inquest. Mrs.
Jenkin was the principal witness, though
very unsatisfactory one. She told
flimsy story througEout,a and on all points
OF any importance was unable to give
any definite information whatever.
The infant, she said, was born little
over three months ago. Its mother was a
working woman named Mrs. James. ke-
earding the history and character of
Mrs. James the witness knew almost
nothing. She was introduced to her on
the street. Where, she could not remem-
Der, or by whom, but it was only short
time before Mrs. James gave birth to the
child. Mrs. Jenkin attended the woman
during her confinement at a house on
First street near the viaduct. The num-
Der and exact location witness had failed
to note.
She stated further that she called
physician at the critical period, but she
never knew the Doctors name or place
- L,,r, L a.
neighborhood, but she could not find
him now.
r. When asked how she came to take
charge of the infant Mrs. Jenkin said the
mother was laboring woman, and was
unable to work and care for her chilu at
the same time, so she arranged for Mrs.
Jenkins to nurse the babe. for which she
received SIC.
Did you ever receive any additional
money!" was asked by the coroner.
"Oh. yes" witness replied. Whenever
Mrs. James had any to spare"
Mrs. Jenkins was closely questioned IS
to the care she gave to her young charge,
and she replied that the baby received
every possible attention that could be
given. 1t had been i'll, she said. for
some time, but she did not consider the
case serious one, hence did not call
doctor. A change of diet was offered
the little patient, but it could not retain
II
ing alarmed, she carried it to DR.. Clark,
but it died, almost Immediately after be-
ing brought back from his house.
In response to the query as to whether
she had notified the m other ofthe child's
illness. Mrs. Jenkins said she had not,
because she did not know where the
mother lived. She did not know even,
whether the mother was IN the city. She
had called once or twice to sac the little
one, but witness could not rememb Der
when, nor at what time the last visit was
made.
Regarding the cnild's father, Mrs. Jen-
llins knew absolutely nothing. She
never saw him at any, time. and she han
neglected to learn anything of him from
Mrs. James,
Mr.. Jenkins, the husband of tlIes for
getful Nurse who is cobbler, and has a
shop in his residence at the corner OF
First and Ohio, sire cts, knew still less of
the mysterious affair. He had never
met the mother Of the child and knew
nothing OF the arrangements made by
his wife with Mrs. James. He never in
quired about the baby, where it came
+. ON or who its parents were.
The circumstances attending the death
OF thu, infant and the actions of the cou-
pie who had it in charge are such as to
warrant the greatest doubts as to the
truth of the story they have told. In
fact.@ here is every reason to believe that
the babe was illegitimate, and its parents
huve had it disposed of by employing
these people to starve it to death. That
the child died of starvation there is
abundant testimony to prove. That the
custodians of the baby are anxious to
reveal as little of their connection with
the affair as possible is apparent from
the meager knowledge each protested to
have upon points of vital Importance.
and such as would never have passed in
l,a ,NSfn N,an fra.n k;nV,
out .her having learned something re-
garding them.
After a careful hearing OF the case the
coronur's jury brought in verdict stat
ing that the child came to her death on
the Odd of September, by inalnutritlon,
through the neglect or incompetency OF
its nurse or criminal neglect of the
mother.