Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-30
WOMAN AND A >WAIF
EFFORT TO HAVE THE LATTER
CARED FOR HERE.
Both Sent Back to Leesburg Bearing a
Caustic Letter From Agent
Douglass.

Yesterday afternoon colored woman
carrying q white infant in her arms called
at police headquarters and inquired the way
to the Founding Hospital. She had come
from Leesburg, Va, she stated, and wanted
to put the infant in the hospital where 1t
would get good treatment. The baby. she
stated was twenty-four hours old. and its
mother, an unmarried woman, had employ
ed her to bring the little one here.
The woman and the waif were escorted
to the office of Mr.. John w. Douglass agent
of the board of children's guardians, where
her statement was heard. When informed
that she might get herself into serious
Trouble over the infant she replied: =. Deed
/ won't, cause l was advised by a police
man and a doctor before 1 would touch it,.
Amelia Ann Brown was the name the wo-
man gave, According to her statement she
was to be paid for her services. She had
been given money with which to telegraph
to the infants mother in Leesburg in the
event of encountering any difficulty in dis
posing of the infant. 1t was her intention
to return to Leesburg on the o'clock train,
but Agent Douglass had her to leave at ar
earlier hour. The infant was in need of
treatment such as only the mother could
give. and the colored woman was hurried
back to Virginia on the first train.
Note From Infants Mother.
A note presented by the colored woman,
which she stated was written by the in
faut's mother, read: Il do not want the
baby, but 1 send it TO home where 1 want
II taken care Of
This morning Agent Douglass directed a
letter to the mayor of Leesburg, in which
h set forth the colored womans version of
the affair, and asked for Information con-
corning the probable action of the Leesburg
authorities. The woman's story as set forth
in the letter is that woman whose name
was given, resident OF Leesburg, is the
mother of the infant; that Amelia (the col
oTed woman) was promised $50 II she would
dispose of the infant in the city of Wash
ington; that she was directed by the police
of your city where to go in Washington and
to whom to apply. A physician, whose
name also given, was party to the
proceedings, according to Amelia, and in
structed her to wire him if she, Amelia, had
any difficulty in disposing Of the child, and
s. in money was given her for this purpose
by the mother. She was told to bring
receipt, showing the child had been placed
in some institution and that If she did not
she would be liable to prosecution. She was
also instructed not to drop the child be-
tween Leesburg and Washington or in
Washington. Amelia says a woman, whom
she names, heard the offer TO pay Amelia
$50.
Returned to Leesburg.
Allitlid, Will lhS miami, IL was staISu'
was sent back to Leesburg on the train
leaving Washington at 4:30 p m. Yesterday,
October 90. 1.-The above statements" Agent
Douglass explains, "are IN substance as
Amelia herself gave them. 1 do not vouch
for them or assume to say they are literal
ly true. l think the matter is worthy Of a
careful investigation by the city authori-
ties
The letter concludes: The Washington
authorities have foundlings and dependent
children enough of their own to look after
without furnishing homes for those of Vir-
ginia. Possibly the Washington authorities
should have taken some action against
Amelia, but it would appear that she was
wiser and more intelligent heads. I would
be greatly obliged if you would advise me
later to whether the above story is true
In substance, and, if, so, what, if any, action
will be taken by the authorities"