The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-27
MOTHER INSTINCT STRONG
A Young Woman AbandOns Her
- Babe, But Relents.
Left the Infant In the Bushes Near
Bethesda Park-Went Back to Ii
and brought IL to City-Her Fail
urc to Find shelter for Her Child.

ana drought III TO Cty-Her Fnfl-
urc to Find shelter for Her Child.
Virginia Smith. a comedy young woman
twenty-five years old. who admitted that
she was unmarried. yesterday afternoon
abandoned her infant BABY $50 weeks
Old. 81 a ciump Of bushes near Bethesda
Park. The mothers Instinct too
strong. however. and after leaving the
cfiid In deserted spot. she left the car
on which she was on her way back to
w Washington, sought the place where she
had hidden the baby. and brought 1t
back TO the city. destitute and with no
| place to spend the night
She was sent to the House of Detention
where she will remain until some place is
! provided for her The young woman Is
| in sick and weakened condition, and
nothing but actual want induced her to
rid herself OF her child. Last night she
lay on cot in the House of Detention
with the baby clasped in her arms. and
kissed and cried over and fondled the
tiny mite as happy though she had
never entertained thought OF abandon
| ing it to possible death or the Kindness
OF strangers.
Yesterday morning the woman left the
Co,smbia Hospital. where she said she
had been for four weeks, Ill and almost
exhausted. She had no place to go. The
baby, a boy, was born two week ago in
the hospital. After leaving the institu-
ton she endeavored to lind some place
where the child could be sheltered, but
her search was unsuccessful. and toward
evening she gave way entirely to despair.
Together with friend from Alexan-
| dria, Miss Smith visited the Washington
Founding Institution, where she hoped
e .l-I
became better able to care for it. She
learned that the place was closed for the
summer. and that the institution had been
moved to Bethesda Park. The young wo-
man took a car for Bethesda. She search
ed the neighborhood for the hospital for
infants, but was unable to find 1t. and
at length. in despair, is alleged to have
abandoned the infant.
According to the story told by the DO
lice, the girl left the Georgetown and
Rockville car on which she had gone to
Bethesda Park. at the end of the route
After leaving the car she entered the
bushes near the side of the road and
made nest for the infant in the soft
grass. She is then alleged to have left
, the spot ana boarded car for Wash
inSton- The car waited for several min
utes before starting. and the passengers
noticed that during the time the young
woman appeared nervous and excited.
baby was lying hid the passengers heard
the cry of the child.
The cry was also heard by the mother
She rang the bell for the car to stop and
without waiting for il to come TO a full
halt, sprang out, and ran back to the spot
where she had hidden the infant a few
minutes before.
The spectators were amazed to see her
enter the bushes, and appear with baby
in her arms. The passengers on this car
were not those who had gone to Bethesda
hssr md z hat L. L.
she had been accompanied by a baby,
until they observed her apparently dis
cover one in the bushes along the road.
The car came back to Washington and
at Cleveland Park one of the male passen-
gers on the ear. who had observed the
actions of the young woman, and who be-
Heved that there was a mystery connected
with them. called Policeman Charles NJ
Berkigt, of No. station, who listened
to the statement of the man, and took the
woman into custody. The man said he
feared she intended 10 abandon or destroy
the baby. The young woman was carried
to the q Street station, where 1t was seen
that she was ill.
AT the police station the woman gave
her name as Virginia Smith, and her aga
as %. She had no fixed place of residence,
she told the officers. She admitted to the
police that she was unmarried and that
the baby was her own 1t had been born,
she said in one of the local hospitals, two
weeks before
The offence of which the woman was
yond the District line, and outside the
jurisdiction of the Washington police
Under these circumstances the woman
was not arrested. but was sent to the
House of Detention as lodger.
At the institution last night the woman
declined to talk at length. owing to her
weak condition. She was historical and
alternately cried and kissed her baby.
The matter was referred Immediately to
Agent Douglas. Of the Board of Chill.
drens Guardians. 1t is understood that
some provision will be made for the baby
in local institution. A friend of the
young woman has promised to give her
a home when the child has been provided
for. Miss Smith said last night that she
had no settled place of residence She
had gone about, she said. from place tc
Place. She last lived in Alexandria
Another story of the womans search
Tor an Institution was learned last night
1t is alleged that she endeavored to have
the baby taken care of at a local insti
tuition. but was told that the whoopinl
cough had broken out among the babies,
and that it would not be possible to- tax,
her baby in under the circumstances.