Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-07-25
DRIFTING ALONE.
A Frail Human Life Sent Out Adrift
Where Will Be the Landing2

y
of hunger, of cold and want; a
feeble moan of appeal from tiny
lips made blue with fasting and
trembling in baby distress. Such
was the sound that startled the
ears of Jesse Rasor and wife at
their cottage home near the Mo.
P. depot about II midnight,
Saturday.
Going to the door they found
upon the porch a tiny bit of
humanity, thin voiced and thin
clad, bundled in scarcely enough
miserable clothing to keep off
the cool night wind. They took
the little one in and tried to hush
it's cries.. Later they called in
Night Watch Hainline, who has
raised a large family OF healthy
boys and girls, and turned the
little one over to him.
The babe, about five months
old, had been abandoned by a
woman-if it's mother, God help
hereafter several hours effort
to elude human watchfulness.
About IL O'Clock the woman,
poorly clad, wearing a black
skirt and pink waist, got into a
hack driven by Cal Keenan,, with
the babe in her arms. She asked
to be driven to Louie Zutavern's
on Forest Avenue. When the
hackman left her there, she
started to go into the yard, but
evidently seeing Mr.. Zutavern in
the back yard, and some ladies
coming up the street., she left
and went west. She stopped as
though she would enter the yard
at the Stoke home, but seeing
the ladies. watching her she again
moved on, going west on Forest
avenue as far as Geo. Brinkman's,
then east to Sterett's corner,
south block, then west to near
the West school building. Then
retracing her steps she turned at
Meritt's corner and went south
a block, then east to M. Dailey's,
where she inquired if Mr.. Bush
lived there. She was told Mr..
Bush lived in the east end OF
town. She said she would 60 to
the Blue Front barn, and order
a. cab to call for her in the morn
ing, then go on east to Bush's.
But apparently she went from
Dailey's direct to the Rasor resi-
dence, as there was about sufi-
cient time for her to do SO, be-
tween the time the babe was dis
covered on Rasor's porch.
That the abandonment was
deliberate there is no question.
Whether the babe was her own,
or one she was disposing of for
some one else, is not known.
She knew she was being watched
all the time she was in the west
end of town. And she knew the
town also.
What were the thoughts that
racked her brain as she tramped
about near the midnight hour,
carrying the crying babe? i
she was a mother, they must
have been terrible-desperate
If 1T was anothers child she was
| thus setting adrift, her thoughts
must have been craven indeed.
LATER.-Ex- Marshal Wilson took uI
the matter Sunday, and by som.
shrewd detective work succeeded j.
locating the woman, who was placee
under arrest Tuesday charged will
abandonment. The woman is Mis-
Grace Hull. whose home is in tn,
country north of Hoisington. Sh,
was arrested at the home of Eddl,
Grover, where she had at one tim
worked. She says a railroad man. for
, meriy at Hoisington, but now a
Pueblo. is the father of the child whicl
is a boy now six months old. Th
: mans name she gives as Upton. an,
;. saws that he had promised to MARI
her If she got rid of the child.
t .sNEITHER passion nor preju
r l;o, .ho,,1d ;pAoopoo uo,,r q o%;o