The Washington times., 1901-07-31
A BABE IN THE vEsrIBuLE.
Mysterious Woman Leaves Child
ut IA Fifteenth street Home.


The police of the Eighth precinct are
making q determined effort to ascertain
the Identity OF a fashionably attired young
woman who. shortly after o'clock last
night. abandoned her two months old in
FAINT on the front steps OF John DeIaney's
home. 1903 Fifteenth Street northwest. be
fore the eyes of many Of the residents of
the neighborhood.
The woman was seen lettering around
in that vicinity for several hours before
nightfall carrying in her arms the child.
wrapped around which was black shawl.
Her actions were peculiar that many
of the citizens in that vicinity watched
her until dark
1t was shortly after o'clock when the
mysterious woman walked rapidly up
Fifteenth Street, and stopping at the
home of Mrs Mary Wirber. I519 Fifteenth
Street enquired of Mrs. WILDER as to the
location of THE Washington Founding
Asylum. which is only a few doors away
from Mrs. Wilber's home. Upon receiv-
ing the desired information the woman
left hurriedly. and to the surprise of
many of the residents. who watched her
was seen TO ascend rapidly the steps lead
ing into MIR. Delaneys home. Once in
side the vestibule. she unwrapDed the
black shawl from the infants body, and
laid the child down on the vestibule floor
Then gathering the shawl beneath her
arm, she ran lightly down the front steps
and started down Fifteenth Street to-
ward K Street.
Just about this time citizen who had
been watching the woman's actions for
some time, followed her around the cor
ner into Street. Owing to her rapid
gait, he experienced no little difficulty In
fll,fs. nit Iar rrIn~f
the corner of Sixteenth and Z, the shad-
over was startled by seeing the woman
enter a closed carriage, which was stand
ing on the corner, the driver of which
whipped up his horses and drove rapidly
out X Street. The citizen then gave up
pursuit and came to the Eighth precinct
station to report the affair
In the meantime n member of Mr.. De-
laney's household opened the front door
and found the babe lying in the vestibuie.
The infant was picked up gently and
turned over to the care Of a number of
ladies. while Mr.. Delaney at Snce COM
municated with the Eighth precinct sta
ton and informed them of his find"
Policeman Eeith, who was patrolling a
affair and at once made an investigation
He was unable, howeve1-. 20 secure a good
description of the woman. as the resi-
dents who We're sitting m front of their
respective homes obtained only a glance
at the woman as she was passing. Mrs.
Silber herself, owing to the shade af-
not be able to recognize the strange wo-
man again should the opportunity occur.
The woman. it is said, appeared to be
greatly excited. When first seen in the early
part OF the evening the mother evidently
intended leaving the child at the Found
ling Institution, several doors from the
home Of Mr.. Delaney on Fifteenth Street.
but was frightened OF at the sight Of
several persons connected with that in
stitution seated on the lawn talking to
friends. One of these. Joseph Olive, man
l. -
ever. as she was passing. She is de-
scribed as being a woman about five feet
five inches tall. weighing about 40 pounds.
and was attired in black She wore a
white sailor hat with a black band
Policeman Reith questioned several per-
sons in the vicinity of Sixteenth and X
Streets. where the citizen who followed
her said she had entered carriage. No
one in that neighborhood recollected see
ing any conveyance standing in the vi
cinity. the patrol wagon from the U
Street station was summoned by the po-
liceman and the infant taken in charge
by the police.
From all appearances, it was thought
that the child had been drugged 1t
appeared to be unusually drOwsy The
little one Wore clothes of the finest tex
ture. Its dress was of the finest mate
rial while it wore new stockings and
shoes. Upon its head rested neatly
made lace bonnet The infant was turned
over TO the care of Matron Paine, who
takes charge or all such cases in the
Linden Flats. corner of Third and Oaks
Streets. and this morning IL will, in all
probability, be turned over to the Board of
Children's Guardians
In the meantime. the police OF the
Eighth precinct are somewhat puzzled re-
garding the matter. Several men were
detailed to make an investigation into the
matter. but could secure no further trace
of the woman.
1t is the opinion of the police officials.
however, that the woman intended turn
ing the child over to the Founding Asy
lum. but became frightened as she es-
pied several persons sitting in front of
the institution, and, after waiting until
darkness set in. concluded to drop the
child into the nearest vestibule she could
find. Frequently abandoned children have
notes pinned TO their dresses, or even
written on their clothes, but while Ma
tron Paine made thorough search of
the little ones clothes she failed to dis
cover a clue which might possibly lead
to the identity of the babe.