The San Francisco call., 1904-12-29
MPS.CldPkWOul
Sell Child to
Stranger.
Humane Official
Makes Strange
Discovery.

Although the days OF slavery passed
with the signing OF the Emancipation
Proclamation forty years ago, there is
a. least one woman in this city who
had so far overlooked this fact that
she was willing 70 barter a newborn
babe for & few paltry dollars. Her
name is Mrs. Emma Clark and she was
srrested yesterday afternoon on COM
plant Of N J. White. secretary Of the
California Society for the Prevention
Of Cruelty 10 Children. The woman
tried 70 make a bargain with White
whereby he was 70 receive a 3 weeks
old boy IN exchange for SIS.
The case is a strange one. The moth
er OF the unfortunate waif is not
known 10 the authorities. as she kept
II the background while Mrs Clark
endeevored 70 make bargain over the
unfortunate little child.
The story told by White is a realistic
one-es remarkable q tale Of human
frsilty as ever came from the lips Of
public Official White, while perusing a
morning paper last Sunday. was at
tracted BY an unusual advertisement,
which said that a healthy baby boy
might be adopted by any one calling
for Il at 210s Bush street
White called at the address last
Tuesday afternoon and was met at the
door BY Mrs. Clark He asked about
e the child and the woman casually in
formed him that she was in possession
OF q healthy infant whom she was anx-
ious 10 see placed in the care Of some
worthy person. White was anxious 10
find out more about the babe and the
woman volunteered him Information
very readily.
She stated the infant was the son OF
q young girl OF IS who called at her
home several weeks ago and informed
Mrs Clark that she was about TO be-
come a mother. Mrs. Clark said she
took the girl in out OF sympathy, paid
her doctors bills and nursed her after
the child was born.
The girl left the child in the care OF
Mrs. Clark and Informed her that she
wanted 10 hive nothing more TO DO
With IT, Mrs. Clark said she then sd-
vertised for some one to adopt the
child and when White offered 70 take
1t and rear Il as his own she readily
consented but in q business way she
told White that she wanted SIS for the
child.
The woman agreed TO let White have
the babe and added that there would
be no questions asked" Apparently all
ssle- cared about was the money. When
. formed the woman that he was a dep
uty health officer, as well as a humane
Official she was taken aback and tried
70 make excuse for her actions.
SHELTERS CHILD's MOTHER.
Mrs. Clark said she had taken the
mother OF the infant IN and given her
shelter IN her hour Of need. paid the
doctors bill and nursed the infant, and
that the money she demanded was
merely 70 satisfy the expenses she had
undergone. She denied emphatically
that she intended TO barter the infant
p Tor sum OF money. but at the same
time she refused to part with II unless
she received SO.
White reported the matter 10 the
Board of Health and yesterday swore
out warrant charging the woman
with maintaining a maternity hospital
without license from the board The
woman was arrested yesterday after
noon on this charge. but under the law
she cannot be prosecuted for Offering
human being IN exchange for a sum
OF money.
At the City Prison last night Mrs
Clark assumed q reticent attitude
- when questioned about the child and
It's parents, but stOutly denied having
tried 10 dispose of il for money.