The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-31
SOME CASES OF BOGUS BABIES
RECALLED TO A DETECTIVE by
MRS. BEDFORDS ARREST.
Money Not Always lnvOived--A Minister
Deceived to Prove a Thcory-Man anr
Wife Divorced and Remarked to
Save q Name--A Mothers Stratagem


The arrest in London of Mrs. Cunning
.. Bedford on charge of making false
entry in the birth register In the st. Pan
cras district last December by representa-.
herself as the mother of a child, set a re
tired detective OF this city talking abou'
similar cases.
Bogus babies" he said, "do not AVA
involve monetary questions alone, although
maj ority of such cases are based upon
expected inheritances. | recall case
where a bogus baby became what it wa,
int tended to be.
An ambitious woman became the wife
of minister. The father was anxiou,
to rear boy in accordance with his ideas
He had theory which he wanted to provo
to himself. His wife was as much interested
in his theory as he was But they had no
child.
After nearly three years the wife pre-
sented her husband with male heir. In
this case the physician was an honest man.
but before consenting to play his part hs
laid the whole plan before me. There wa4
no monetary consideration in the case, 50
far as the child was concerned. | advised
him TO confer with lawyer, and it was
finally agreed that the doctor would no:
THE child lived. it was reared in ac-
cordance with the minister's theory. and
I know that he fulfilled the minister's ex-
peotations.
sHe never knew the truth Of his birth
His mother died after having lived to Sc,
him become great and successful preacher.
She was member OF his congregation,
and when she died he preached her funeral
sermon.
as long, as she lived. Before her death shs
attended his wedding. and she was the god
mother Of his child. 1t sounds a little stacy,
doesn't It? Reads like a novel.
Another case OF which had some know-
edge was that OF middle aged and child
had younger sister who gave birth to
girl baby under circumstances that would
had they been known. have Swallowed tho
lives Of both
'The birth occurred at a hospita! In Gin
The aunt OF the child took it and went into
a new and distant State, where her hus-
band Joined her. Before doing 40 he OBJ
tanned q divorce from her, and in due tim,
he became the husband for the second tina
Of his first wife.
'The people in tbs new country. never
knew the truth Of that alliance. In thai
case the husband was not deceived Ha
and his wife were devoted to the child
and the child becams q noted beauty in
her State.
'She married man OF prominence, and
her name was frequently mentioned in con-
nection with State social functions in Wash
ington. All the parties connected with
thia case are dead The man who becam
the husband Of that child died not six
months ago. 49,,
"There was singular case few years
ago in Chicago. young girl beoame
mother. Her own mother. true to q
mothers instinct, went away with her
daughter, and In the course of n few month";
she notified her husband that she was soon
to become mother. A short TIM after
che informed him that he was again father,
and in due time she returned with her heir
Her daughter did not return until some
time after.
sThesa are three cases OF which I had
knowledge. In each case there seemed to
be no reason why the public should have
known the truth