Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-04
lNRS. CHI7WOOD'S STORY She Denies Being the Mother of
 the Babe.
A PIECE OF DETECTIVE WORK
es The Woman Carefully Traced From Atlanta to HiIlman-Her Story Crossed by Mrs.
 Lackey

Ms CnlUWOOu, or WnOn lIle SIdle AiSA aid readers are well acquainted relative to the babe that was left on the steps of the boarding house of Mrs ,Tillman, in this city, called at the State Herald office yesterday afternoon and asked for the publica ton of the following letter:
 "Hillman, Ala, Dec. ?, 1895. To the State Herald:
 "I have done all could do to clear this awful scandal that the said Mrs. J. w. Chitwood has been connected with. l think it my duty to write a few lines in my defense. l went to Atlanta, Ga, last August l, to study both music and art, with view to teaching. As am widow with one little boy, and both parents quite old, 1 thought that l ought to do what lay in my power for support. But alas "the innocent stand accused for the guilty" My mother can testify to my innocence up to the time I left home. I don't think 1 could have moved in the society which I did if such had been the case. I have also many nice letters from friends where I boarded, both at Salt Springs and Atlanta. But we are not like what the poet said when the angel of heaven asked him if he was Christian. He answered mo-" but said: Write me as one that loves his fellow men," Then, perhaps, there would not be so many to accuse"
 The letter, it will be noticed, is not signed, but Mrs. Chitwood stated that it was written by her mother, with whom she resides.
 The State Herald representative told Mrs. Chitwood that the paper would not publish the anonymous communication, nor would it appear were 1t signed, from the fact that if this case was brought be- fore the public again the facts must come out. If she was the mother of the child that it would be better to let-the matter rest without any further airing,
 I'm not the mother of the child, said Mrs. Chitwood, "and I don't think it right that the matter should so stand without an explanation. My side has not been given the public.'
 - Well, given us your side and we will print it, but will not give any isolated story that you may desire to clear your own skirts. The people look upon such matters as foreign to human nature-no mother, however deep her degradation, will forsake the child of her bosom, and it has come to our ears that you are the mother of the child left upon the steps Of Mrs Tillman's boarding house."
 7''I did leave the child on the steps, as you state, but I am not its mother, and that is why I come to see you to give the story as it is."
 "Yes, but you say you don't want to give the facts and history of the case as it is, and assure you your written state ment without them will not be printed"
 twill you let me write themY
 Certainly. But why not give them now. We will do you fair and give your statement verbatim as it falls from your lips"
 'I dislike to do It. but if you think it best I will do so, just as it occurred, so help me God"
 Her Statement
 q live at Hillman. I left home about the first of last July and went directly to Atlanta. 1 think I arrived in Atlanta on the first day of July I stopped at 96 South Prior street with the family of Mrs. Cureton, where I remained one month.
 q went to Atlanta for the purpose of taking music and art lessons under the tutorship of the Messrs. Geter on Wood ward avenue.
 "rhe mother of the Misses Geter being unwell, they carried her to Lythia Springs. 1 accompanied them in order to continue my studies. I remained at Lythia Springs little over two months. I boarded at Mrs. Bakers while at Lythia Springs. Lythia Springs and Austell are divided by fence. I met Miss Ryan, who boarded also at Mrs. Bakers. She had baby that appeared to be about or 3 months old. She said her husband was a drummer; that she was in poor health and would like to dis pose of the babe; that she did not like children anyway. She said that her nome was III Alldnld, anu lHdt Ter HuS- band was a drummer, but that she did not live anywhere in particular; that she had no other children, and that she did not like to be bothered with children, and that she intended to give the child away or do something with it.
 q told her I thought I knew lady in Birmingham that would take the child. Her name was Lackey, and she lived in North Birmingham; that she was a good woman, had but two children, and that I had assisted her in obtaining an orphan child. which had also died, and that I was satisfied that she would be only glad to adopt her child and raise it.
 "She said if l would carry the child to Mrs. Lackey she would pay my expenses.
 ''To this I ageeed. I left Lythia Springs, I think, November 13 and went directly to Atlanta. I remained in At lanta only until the train left for Bir- mingham. which was only few hours. and came directly home. I did not talk with anybody, as was stated by the con ductor to a State Herald reporter nor did anybody tell me they knew the conduc- tor and that he would look after me- He was kind. though, and had a carriage called for me at the Birmingham union depot. I don't know his name now, nor would recognize him were to see him. There was nothing put on the train for me, as I know of, after I left Atlanta. My trunk may have preceded or followed me. But did not have any conversation with a man, as published.
 '"To recur to the babe: When I arrived in Birmingham secured hack and |, made the visits as given by the State Herald. I carried the child to Mrs nLackey at North Birmingham, and she said that she had had two and as they both had died she did not want to take any more. 7 ,-ss
 q then tried to get them to take it at the Mercy Home and as they refused did not want to carry it home. knowing that it would not be agreeable to my amother. so I placed it on Mrs. Tilimans ,steps, knowing somebody would soon find < it. Yes. I left it on the steps, a s published. not knowing what else to do with it.
 Mrs. Chitwood, do you know that it is generally believed that you are the moth- CT of that child. and that gossip is rife in connection with your leaving to divert public opinion when it was found, and also that you have been attempting to obtain possession of it ?" ~
 Tt is not true. I did call on Chief Me- Donald and told him the facts, as I have told you. I am not the mother of the child, and only thought when took it that was doinga charitable act to take 1t from a mother whom I knew did not love it and give it. to a woman whom thOupht yv0l1ld ha plad fn raiaa if for h ar