The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-04-08
BABIES BURNED ALIVE.
Terrible Story of Crime by Philadel-
pfia Women.

Astonishing evidence OF the eNi>-
tence oi crematory i'll this city
where live babies are burned. was
given this afternoon at the hearing
before Coroner Dugan. in the case OF
Mrs. Elizabeth .Ashmead. David I.
Mosier. who says he is physician.
swore:
Il saw a number OF children thrown
into the furnace Mrs. .Ashmead had
them in her apron. One or two OF
them were crying. and shet tossed all
OF them into the fushace."
Stolid and Indifferent, Mrs. Ash
mead listened to the frightful story
OF Mosier. which sent shudder
around the court room.
Il have seen her frequently so 20
the cellar Of her home" continued
Mosier. with her apron filled with
newly born infants. some Of them
alive and crying, and throw them into
the blazing furnace. That's the way
she disposed OF them. I have heard
them cry as they were thrown into
the fire."
At this point the coroner himself
sickened at the monstrouS recital and
cut off further disclosures until a
later date.
The inquest was held to inquire in
to the deaths of Sarah Hughes and
Mary B. Sloan, in which Mrs. Ash
mead and her son are involved, and
it was only for the purpose Of fixing
his right to hold the prisoners that
the coroner touched upon the more
dastardly feature of their offenses.
For some time the mysterious dis
appearance of young women and
wives has been reported to the police
by their friends and husbands, and a
quiet investigation has been made
/ with the result that Coroner Dugan
now claims to have established the
existence OF chain of unlawful insti-
tutions in which murder and crema-
tion have been commonly resorted to
to cover UP lesser crimes.
1T seems incredible" said the cor
oner today. but it is true that babies
have been thrust alive into redhot
furnace by those human fends I
have the evidence to prove it or I
would not make so astounding
statement The members of this muir
der syndicate are without scruples
and without conscience"
He has witness who has made
full confession. This witness was a
member of the syndicate; he is in
possession OF all the secrets Of the
participants in the crimes, and has
made a complete statement to the
coroner. including names and ad-
dresses and the dates OF many OF the
recent horrors perpetrated by the
syndicate.
The system includes bureau OF
bogus death certificates, and it num-
bers or its staff corps Of physicians
as we'll as undertakers and agents.
DR.. Joseph H. King, of No. 221o
was placed on the stand at to-
days investigation He occupied an
Office in the building at No. 26 South
Twelfth Street. where Mrs. Ashmead
is alleged to have conducted her
crematory, for three weeks. Mrs.
Ashmead. he declared, told him it was
fine location for physicians who had
women patients.
Il asked her what she did with the
babies" said DR.. King, "and she said
she wrapped them in newspapers, let
them die and threw them into the fur
mace. When ] heard this I left the
place at once l understood that they
were making 5000 a week in the place.
Four doctors were busy all the time" !"
Dr.. Matthew McVicar. of No. 1900
| Wharton street. admitted that he had
given certificate of death from ty-
phoid fever in the case of Sallie
Hughes. He declared he believed the
fever had caused her death.
Mrs. Ashmead was identified by T..
Skinner as woman who represented
herself as DR.. Conde." whose ad