Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-05-19
HUNDREDS OF VICTIMS.
Amelia Dyer, =
Baby Farmer
and Stranger.

Not since the terrible murders in White.
chapel has London been so shocked and
interested as It has been during tho last
few weeks by the wholesale murder Of tn
FAINT children for which Amelia Dyer Il
now awaiting trial.
A coroner's Jury found the woman guilty
Of wiIlful murder some days ago. There
Is overwhelming evidence connecting her
with tho murder Of several children, who
wero strangled and thrown into the
Thames, after weights had been attached
to their bodies, and the woman has practi-
cally confessed hef guilt.
II tho police are justified in assuming
as they do-that many of the children
whose bodies have been taken from the
river. or who are still mysteriously miss
ing, met death at tho hands of the notori-
Gus baby farmer or her accomplices, the
woman Is a murtleress hundreds of times
over and stands in the front rank OF the
unique criminals of the age.
Tho woman murdered for gain prima-
rily, but there Is in tho history Of her crimes
q suggestion that she was in love with tho
appalling work which made her rich, and
so found double pleasure in the wholesale
disposal Of her victims.
While no correct estimate Of the number
Of babies she killed can yet Go made, be-
cause the inhuman parents who bargnined
with the baby farmer arc naturally anx-
ious to conceal their guilt, tho police be-
licvc that her victims will DO numbered
by hundreds.
Tho pclico have succeeded in securing
the evidence of several mothers, among
them being Evelina Edith Marnon.
When arrested, Mrs. Dyer was living at
45 Kensington road, Reading. Reading is
a borough about 80 miles to tho southwest
Of London, situated on tho Kennel river,
near its junction with tho Thames. Mrs.
Dyer was generally reputed to DO very
pious. Over tho door of her homo was q
figure of Christ, beneath which was the
inscription, Suffer little children to como
unto me, and forbid them not, for Of such
Is the kingdom Of heaven
Alas! Tho little children who werc suf-
fered to come to this terrible old ogro found
their way only too soon to the kingdom of
heaven.
1t has been proved that since Christmas
20 children were intrusted 10 Mrs. Dyer's
keeping and that only arc living. The
others have vanished. Prior to Christmas
many other children who had been placed
In her charge disappeared.
Mrs. Dyer was first charged with the
murder of an unknown female child, 16
months old, whose body was found float
ing in the Thames. The dato Of this MUIR
der was believed to Ee about March 90.
An autopsy proved that death was due
to strnngulation, and on piece of paper
found In the parcel In which tho child was
wrapped was discovered an address which
led the police to Mrs. Dyer's place in Caver-
sham. From there she was traced to Ken
sington road.
AS soon as Mrs. Dyer was safe in GUS
tody the Thames, /near Caversham weir,
close by Reading, WAS dragged. Another
body was found, with piece of tape tied
about the neck, and o little Inter a bag
containing the bodies Of two infants and
some bricks was fished up. In the River
Kennel, ut Reading, still another body was
recovered. In every case an autopsy proved
that tho infant had been strangled before
1t was thrown into the water.
Evelina Edith Marnon, n single woman,
who lived in Cheltenham, testified that she
answered an advertisements relating to the
adoption Of a baby, which she saw in q
Bristol newspaper In February. The ad-
vertiscment was signed "Nfrs. Scott, {"
whose address was As Kensington road,
Oxford road, Reading. She received the
following reply under date of March 90:
DEAR MADAN-In reference to your letter
as to the adoption Of child. write to say
should be glad to have dear little baby girl,
one could bring up and call my own. First
must tell you that we are plain, honest,
homely people. in fairly good circumstances.
We live In our own house and have a good and
comfortable home. We nre out in the country
and sometimes I nm alone q great DEAL
don't want q child for moneys sake but
for company and rs home comfort. have
no children of my own, and child with me
will have . good home and mothers care.
VIC belong to tho Church of England, and, al
though ] want to bring the child up as nv
own. ! would not mind the mother coming to
see it at any time.
1t Is always . satisfaction to q mother to
know that her child Is going on all right, I
only hope that We come to terms. / should be
glad TO have the baby as soon as possible.
II could come for her at once, would not
mind paying my fare one way. should break
my journey to Cheltenham at Gloucester
where have friend. Kindly let me have an
early reply. / can give you good references
and any questions you may care to ask shall
be glad to answer. am. yours respectfully,
A. HARDING.
She wrote in turn, asking for full par
ticulars and saying that II she parted with