The San Francisco call., 1905-06-30
Mother Cruelty Hides Her
Infant Under Box in a Cold
Cellar to Await Death by
Starvation and Exposure
CHILD'S CRIES LEAD
TO TIMELY RESCUE
Pastor of Church Picks Up
Waif and 1t Will Live.
Police Know Its Mother
and She Will Be Arrested

OAKLAND. June 29.-wrapped only
in a thin calico apron, and almost dead
from cold and starvation, a tiny infant
NOT more 1har thfrty-six hours old
VAS fOund this corning In the base
ment Of the home Of Rev. Griffith Grif-
hths, pastor Of the Market-street Con-
gregatiOnaI Church.
The clergyman had just moved into the
house, which was vacated only yesterday
and last night he heard the crying of the
child. but thought the noise was the
moaning Of he wind or the cry of some
animal ia the neghborhood. The con-
tinuatiOn OF the sound this morning, how
ever, caused him to make an investiga-
tion, and he finally traced the sound to
the basement Of his dwelling. He at once
notified the police by telephone and Pa
trolman James Walters was sent to the
scene, and on searching the basement he
found the tiny child concealed under an
overturned fruit box in a remote corner
Of the cellar.
Walters at once wrapped the half
frozen infant in a warm shawl furnished
ny Mrs Grifhths and took il to the police
station, where it was placed in charge OF
the mstren, and City Physician Ever was
called TO try and preserve the life that
had but just begun.
The authorilies say that there is no
doubt that the child was placed IN the
cellar by its mother in the hope that the
cold Of the place and lack OF food would
speedily end fits life. DR.. Ever says that
he is unable 20 understand how the frail
babe. which from its appearance had not
had a bit Of nourishment since its birth,
had lived from the time it was placed in
the cellar. which must have been late
Tuesday night, until il vas found this
morning.
-,
Kyle revealed evidence which leads 10
the belief that a woman who worked for
Miss Emma Mahoney, the former occu-
pant Of the house, is the mother of the
infant, and that she placed it in the
cellar intending that death should rid
her of its unwelcOme presence. This
woman was hired by Miss Mahoney TO
aid in packing the household effects when
She decided TO move, and came to her
from the home of Mrs. Montel Taylor,
by whom she has been employed for
some time past. Miss Nahoney says she
knows nothing about the girl, who was
known to her only as Annie. Mrs
Taylor is now in the coontry and could
rot be found to-day, so the full name OF
the suspected woman has not yet been
learned by the police. They have, how
ever. a good description Of the woman.
and the detectives are now making a dill
gent effort to locate her before she can
leave the city. II is thought that she will
be taken into custody in a few hours.
The woman for whom the police are
looking is Anna Anderson a domestic.
abodt 80 years old. According TO her per-
sonal effects, found in trunk at Mon
tell Taylors residence. she formerly re-
sided at sig Fourth street. Tacoma. Miss
Anderson left there in April, when she
came. 10 Oakland. and was given employ
ment at the Taylor residence.
When Miss Mahoney discovered yester-
day morning that the girl was apparent
ly very IN she summoned DR.. n. H.
Chamberlain to attend her. but when the
physician arrived lie woman refused to
allow him 10 make an examination or to
tell him the cause Of her illness DR..
Chamberlain said to-day that the girl
had the appearance Of one who had un-
dergone a severe ordeal of some kind
but when questioned she said that she
had been badly frightened the night be-
fore by a man who had come to the front
door on Tuesday evening and demanded
admission 10 the house
After the physicians departure Miss
Mahoney told the girl that as she was
unable TO- work she had better go home
-anc rest The young woman told her
employer that she would go to the home
CT a friend who lived near, and shortly
afterward left the house. She did not
give her friends address.
Among Anna Anderson's effects was the
address, Ida Swanson. 20l5 Central ave-
nue.. Alameda. Miss Swanson, who is a
domestic employed at that place by Dr.
c. g. Bull. told the Oaklan4 police to-
night that she met Miss Anderson a
month ago. but knew nothing of her
whereabouts now, nor of her personal
affairs. The baby was sent tonight to
the West Oakland Home.
The police tonight arrested Peter Mel
son, 26 years old, a carpenter residing at
51c Eighth street. who admits that Miss
Anderson followed him from the North.
Nelson disclaimed any responsibility for
ler condition and knew nothing of her
present whereabouts