Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-09-29
Murdered Son Born Month After
Marriage and Was fatmed
Out in Brooklyn
FOSTER MOTHER TfLLS STORY
New Testimony Discovered That If
introduced During Trial Would I'm.
doubtedly Have Woven Rope Around
Unnatural Mothers Neck-TriaI
Judge is Surprised.
Especial 10 The Daily rress.)

RICHMOND, VA, Sept 28-A SEN
sational development in the case of
Estcllc Smith. who was convicted re-
Gently in Manchester of killing her
young son and who is now awaiting
The result of an appeal TO the Supreme
Court of the State, has come about as
the result Of letter written TO Judge
Clopton by Mrs. Emma Vernon, of 9O1
ST. Johns place, Brooklyn.
The letter throws n great deal Of
light on the history of the mother who
heat her little hoy 10 death, and may
cause many who believed that Mrs.
Smith felt kindly in her heart to the
little boy and only whipped him to try
to cure him of vice TO begin to think
the other way
Mrs. Vernon says in her letter that
the child was given to her by tho
father and that for four years 1t receiv-
cd no kindness from its own mother
and that during that time the mother
only visited it twice.
Letter Is Sensational.
Her letter, In part, is ms follows:
In today's edition of the New York
American read an account of the an
plication Of Mrs Smith for new trial
for tho murder of her child, Ralph
Lawrence Smith. Enclosed you, Will
find clipping from the New York
World of August 90, 1905, the same
showing that have Just cause for
writing you what Is actually the truth
"rhe said Ralph L. Smith was In my
Charge from the age Of ten days until
over his fourth year during which time
received occasional visitB from his
father and twice from his mother.
have been approached by her
relatives 10 dcfame the character ana
disposition of the child for her bend
ut. Now that the trial Is over want
to say that the child must have been
horribly abused to have died in such
manner, for he was strong, healthy
child and the envy of my neighbors
when he was in my charge
II am sorry that the father finally
took the child away, which he did after
promising to settle with me for the
child's board. He has never give me
ono cent"
Desertion of the Child,
The following is from the New York
World, August 23, 1903:
"Prattling in childish innocence at
The homo of Mrs. Emma Vernon. In
brooklyn, is Ralph Lawrence Smith,
three years old, unaware that he has
been abandoned by his father and that
the woman who has reared him from
his earliest infancy must part with
him because her husband Is Ill anu
she cannot feed three mouths.
Mrs. Vernon, who was I'M straigla.
encd circumstances. was Informed
three years ago that she could make
little money by boarding baby
She was told to be in Bushwlck avenue
on the evening of October %, 1899.
"A stylish e1ulppagc drove UP and a
young man with baby in his arms
alIghtcl.
Are You Mrs. Vcrnon?" he asked
and receiving reply In the affirma-
tive, lie placed the baby in her arms.
My name is Sheppard Knapp
Smith" he continued. al belong to a
fine old family in New York and can
not afford to let my relatives know OF
my prcdicament. My wife. whom
married secretly. because my relatives
we're opposed to it, is i'll. You take
good care of the baby. His name is
Ralph Lawrence Smith,"
Little Ralph was only ten days old
when his father kissed him goodbye.
Regularly for a time Mrs. Vernon re-
ceived sig a month for the child's
hoard nnl MIR. Smith called occasion
ally to see the little one. The mother
never called"
Judge Clopton Surprised.
The letter and the clipping astonish. s.
ed Judge Clopton with their facts, for