Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-05
SUSPECTED
The Authorities to Investigate a
Supposed Case of In.
fanticide.
Young Woman Who Recently Ar.
rived Here Believed to Have
Smothered Child.
Coroner Lierle to Hold an In
quest Tuesday-Woman's
Home in Manly.

What may develop into a cas- of
Coroner F. P. Lierle Sunday by mere
accident, and altho as yet there have
been no arrests made 1t is possible
that, after a conference with County
Attorney Stcne and an inquest, Miss
Maggie Werle will be compelled to an
swer to e charge of infanticide.
Miss Werle is a young woman, Fl
years of age. who came to the city
about two months g from North
wood. Upon coming to the city she
swered an advertisement for a domes-
tic and was employed in a prominent
family on South Third street. The
woman was q hard worker and was
very much liked by the lady of the
house, being considered one of the best
domestics that had ever been employed
in the family.
Sunday morning the young woman.
In the solitude Of her WI room, with
out the aid of friends or a physician,
gave birth to a baby daughter, perfect
ly developed and apparently healthy.
The child was born at 6, so Miss Werle
says, and at s she arose, went dowr
stairs to the kitchen. started prepara-
tons for breakfast and returned to her
room.
The lady of the house, seeing that
breakfast was not very far along when
she arose, thought perhaps the girl
might be i'll and went to her room. Sur
missing that something was wrong and
knowing the girl to be without friends
and money the mistress notified Poor
master Pemberton over the telephone
and told him that she thought a ply
stefan should be sent to see the girl.
Mr.. Pemberton Informed City Physi-
clan Lierle, who called upon the young
woman professionally. Miss Werle de-
MED that she was Ill and complained
only Of feeling badly. DR.. Lierle did
not like the appearance OF things, how
ever, and upon investigating found
what he supposed, that an abortion had
been performed. He asked the m
plainly what had been done with the
child and in tears she confessed it was
in n of the drawers of her bureau,
wrapped in an old dress. DR.. Lierle
examined the infant, found 1t had all
the appearances Of being a healthful
and full~y-developed child and asked
the woman about 1t. She replied that
1T had been born dead.
Coroner Lierle, while not questioning
the girls statement ct all, feels that he
is duty bound to investigate. A babe
having all the appearances of health.
and development, showing no signs
whatever of having died with hem
orrhage, and sustaining no marks of
violence that would indicate foul play.
he can surmise no other reason for its
death than that it was smothered by
the dress that was placed over it. He
thinks that If a physician had MOI
been called the world would have
never known Of the child's existence.
While Miss Werle has not beer
placed under arrest she will be de-
tanned at the home where she is stay
ing, as she is now i'll and confined to
her bed. County Attorney Stone is
out of the city today and upon his re-
turn the facts will be laid before him
An inquest will be conducted over the
remains of the babe Tuesday by the
coroner.
Miss Werle states that a young car
penter, living at Northwood, is the
father of her child. The young wom-
ms parents live at Manley Junction.