The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-05
LEFT BABY ON THE STEPS
WILLIAM WEBB THEN SPED AWAY
FROM THE ORPHAN ASYLUM.
His Capture Led to Arrest of Mrs. Ste
vens, Proprietor of a Lying
In Hospital.

Mrs. Mary E. Stevens fifty-three years Of
age and William Webb, aged fifty, are I'M
der arrest at the Jail, charged with cruelty
| to children. Mrs. Stevens resides at No. AIS
| North New Jersey street Webb lives at
No. 312 Temple avenue.
According to her own statement Mrs
Stevens is the proprietor of lying-in
hospital, which she has kept for some time
| She has as a patient Mrs Cora Phillips, a
widow, twenty-six years of age, who for
merly lived at Stilesville, Ind Yesterday
afternoon Mrs. Phillips gave birth to a
| child and it was while trying to dispose of
the infant at the Indianapolis Orphan 4Asy-
ium that Webb was arrested. Yesterday
evening Mrs Stevens sent for Webb to
come to her home Between and s O. clock
Mrs. Phillipss newborn babe was care
fully wrapped and placed in a basket and
turned over to Webb. He carried the in
| FAINT in a basket to the Indianapolis Orphan
| Asylum, and after depositing the burden
on the doorstep. gave the bell a violent ring
| and started to run.
one OF the attendants at the home
CHANGED to be in the hallway when the
door-bell rang and she hurriedly threw
open the door The basket on the step and
the figure of the fleeing man told the story
"A passing
along College avenue heard the cry of the
nurse and started in pursuit of Webb The
latter was captured after a long chase and
taken back to the asylum. Information was
sent to the police station and Webb was
put under arrest. short time afterward
Mrs. Stevens was arrested and locked UP.
The woman admitted having sent for Webb
to take the child away from her house, but
Shn had ho
it the doorstep. She meant that he
should explain the case to the matron of
the home. The charge of conspiracy to
commit a felony was first placed against
the pair but this was afterward changed to
cruelty to children.
Captain Dawson sent Police Surgeon
Christian and Sergeant Crane to Mrs. Ste
venss home to investigate the condition of
the mother of the child. She told the sur
geon she came to Indianapolis from Louis
vile last spring. Her husband died last
March. She said she came here in answer
to an advertisement. She went to Mrs.
Stevens. shortly after coming here, and
took service in the house. She said she
worked hard all summer, with the under
standing that she and her child were to be
cared for when she became helpless. The
poor woman burst into tears as she told
DR.. Christian she mad never seen her child.
She declared she knew nothing of it's being
taken away from the house. The police
officials were much impressed with the re-
tiEement and beauty of the young mothers
face, and they think she is innocent of any
conspiracy to dispose of the babe
When the people at the orphan aysum
opened the basket left there by Webb, they
found lusty boy, finely clothed The
mother is able to care for it. Mrs. Stevens
admitted last night she once had taken a
child to the home, but said she went there
in daylight and delivered it regularly to the
matron. The police found some circulars
at Mrs. Stevenss home, which gave the
names Of some Of the leading physicians of
the city as references.