The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-11-23

Seven babies under the care OF Mrs. Eta
Clark of No. 2347 Atlantic street, by orders
from the Health Department, were yester-
day taken from her and placed in St.
Annes Infirmary, with the exception Of
one. which. with her mother. was placed
in the City Hospital for treatment.
Mrs. Clark has for several months con-
Quoted an agency for the reception and
disposal of infants. According to her
statement she has received from 8 to S5
for each foundling taken. agreeing to pro-
vide for them while they live or until
taken away.
Saturday a clerk in the mortuary Office
at the City Dispensary called the attention
Of Doctor Simon, the Health Commission
er. to the fact that several burial certifi-
Gates had recently been issued for infants
who had died at the house of Mrs. Clark
Doctor Simon detailed Detective Richard
p. Durney of Chief Desmond's staff to visit
the house.
HOUSE WAS RAIDED.
After securing some evidence Doctor 81
mon was consulted and p raid was pre-
pared. which took place at o'clock Mon
day night Mrs. Clark and her daughter
in-law were taken to the office of the
Health Commissioner for examination.
Mrs. Clark was released at a late hour
and allowed to return to her home.
Guy E. Go!terman, attorney for the
Health Department. yesterday afternoon
examined the witnesses, and from their
evidence a discrepancy was found between
the number of babies whose deaths were
recorded and those which were said to
have died at Mrs. Clark's institution with
in the last few weeks. This point is be-
ing carefully investigated
Doctors Cottral and Bardenheier of the
City Hospital visited Mrs. Clarks house
yesterday morning and will be called on
to produce professional evidence relative
to the sanitary condition of the premises.
Doctor Cottral stated that in all his ex-
perience he had never seen place 80 en-
tirely bereft of necessary equipment for
the care of babies.
Previous to Monday nights investigation
two trained nurses from the Female Hos
pital. Misses Cooper and Watson. were
detailed by Doctor Simon to take charge
of the infants until arrangements were
MINED rliss iGr n then the houea epsp MondaV night ~
Cora Binder. who said she was fire.
quent caller at the institution, told Doctor
Simon that to her knowledge nine babies
yesterday afternoon dictated the following
statement, which was sworn to before
Frank Hitler. the notary public for the
Health Department.:
DEATHS OF BABIES.
ION the 1st of October, Mrs. Clark
moved to Atlantic street Her apart
ments consist of three rooms. at no time
had she more than eight babies. nor less
than four. She did not take proper care
of them. her daughter-in-law sometimes
assisting her In the work. The occupants
OF her apartments consist of three sons,
one of whom is married diving there with
his wife and chiid), a man by the name
of Braden. two girls with their babies and
five kept babies.
ITO my knowledge the babies were not
bathed oftener than every three days.
When they would cry Mrs. Clark would
administer paregoric in large quantities,
sometimes giving one baby teaspoonful
in wineglass of water. The babies would
tendant to administer nourishment. A
baby should be fed at least every two
hours.
THE house was never ventilated. and in
every sense was very filthy place. / be-
came disgusted and left Mrs. Clark Four
babies have died from the 10th instant to
to-day. Several weeks ago / saw Mrs.
Clark administer medicine to baby after
which it nearly choked. I am glad that
the babies have been taken away from her.
and will have nothing more to do with
Mrs. Clark
The location of the agency is forbidding.
The Jefferson avenue bridge Is within
twenty feet OF the front door. Beneath
the bridge II the network OF railroad