The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-12
ABANDONED BABE is
FOUND UNDER ALTAR.
Cries Of Slx-Day-O1d Boy Startle
Woman Who Entered Church
to Pray.

Anaconda. Mont, July 11.-Abandoned by
its mother. a 6-day-old baby boy was found
in st. Paurs Catholic Church by Mrs. Pat
rick Daily. The child was in a perfectly
healthy condition. and after Mrs. DAILY had
summoned Father Coopman 1t was taken
to st. AIMS Hospital. where 1t is now be-
ing cared for. The child's mother is un-
known. the only clew that was left being
note pinned to the childs clothes. which
was addressed to Father Coopman, and
read as follows:
Please raise this child a Catholic and
give It a baptism. II possible get 1t a home
IN come good family. or send II TO orphans
home. It's mother - q poor girl OF respecta-
BILE family" The letter was signed "A low
ing mother
Mr. Daily. who made the discovery Of
p. M. for prayers. The church when she
entered was apparently empty. but in few
moments she heard sound like that Of a
crying baby. Mrs. Daily was greatly sur
prfeed at this, and at first could hardly be-
i!eve her ears But the baby continued to
cry. and Mrs DAILY made an investigation
After a few minutes search she discovered
the tiny bundle inside the communion rail
at the foot Of the altar and in front of a
statue OF the Blessed Virgin. The mother
about the deeertion OF her child to have
selected this place. as there were a num-
Der Of different locations where the child
would have been discovered at a later hour.
The babe was wrapped about with
coarse piece Of black cloth, evidencely part
OF a ehild's cape. Mrs. DAILY Immediately
greatly surprised to find that the church
had been chosen by mother as a place to
desert her child. Father Coopman called
assistant Chief of Police Frank OBrien.
VINO was accompanied by Joseph A. Hughes.
After reading the note it was decided to
toiiow out the mothers wishes in regard
Goopman accordingly baptized it Joseph
Henry Charles. 1t was then taken to ST.
AIMS Ann: Hospital. where the sisters inmedi-
aIely made preparations for its comfort.
Inc child Is thought to be about days
o!u: II Is sun too young TO distinguish its
and this leads to the belief that the child
might have had an Austrian or italian IA
the note was written in English The babe
was dressed warmly in clean white out
Ing flannel dress and flannel shirt. 1t APP
is supposed from its actions that IT was
given soothing syrup or an opiate of some
KIND nd. by the mother to make II sleep.
enter the church about o'clock. She i was
carrying bundle. but he paid no attention
to her. and says that he would not be able
again. He supposed that she was entering
Ior the purpose Of making her prayers and
90 paid no attention to her
De wei taken care of and efforts will be
msae TO secure 1t home with some family
Mnch wishes to adopt child and will
raise 1t well. Father Coopman said last
evening that he was desirious of sparing
the feelings Of the unfortunate mother as
much as possible and would not recommend
tnat any searching investigation be made
AZ this time to ascertain the child's pa
II q b.,,evsd tho. ~. mother q, ~.
child is an Anaconda young woman. No
one was seen coming in on any Of the
trains during the day with an infant. and
the hour Of bringing it to the church does
not correspond with the time for the ar
rival Of trains. 1t is understood that the
police will make no efforts to find the
one OF the poor unfortunates who. II able,
would provide the child with a good home.