The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-02
4 TRAGIC ENDING.
Mother and Child in 1.-The
DreamIess Dust. "
Desperate Struggle to Conceal Shame,
and Fidelity to Betrayer That
Sealed Her Lips TO tie
Last.
Especial to News and Observer

Especial to News and Observer
Durham, n. c., March 1.-The cir
cumstances attending the death of
Miss Annie Jernigan and her new
born babe, mother and child being
laid TO rest here Tuesday in che
lonely grave at which stood none TO
mourn the young life cut short IN the
shadow OF shame. form one OF the
zmoct pathetic stories that has even
thrilled to sadness the hearts of this
community.
The last effort Of the young woman
in this life was to conceal the cVi-
dcncc OF her own shame and to pro-
tect the name of the inhuman brute
who was responsible for her downfall
and who deserted her at the very
time OF all times, when she needed
help and assistance. IT was this neg
lect that caused her death.
The facts in the case appear to be
these:
The young woman, who was about
% years Of age, came here about
year ago, stating that her home was in
Goldsboro. She secured employment
in the Durham Hosiery Mills. She
quilted her work there at the usual
hour last Wednesday afternoon and
went TO her boarding house, the home
of Chcsley Herndon on Peach-trce Al
ley. she then appeared quite we'll and
i'm good spirits On Thursday, how
ever, she was too i'll to leave her
room. and DR.. e. II. Bowling was
summoned. Just after he reached
there her child was born, no one be-
ing present in the room but himself
and the mother, and the child dying a
few minutes after it's birth.
The physician left her alone i'm
the room, the dead body of the babe
lying on the bed beside her.
When he returned the next day the
body had disappeared, and the doctor
said in answer to n reporters ques-
tons that he supposed the child had
been buried, though no burial certifi-
cate had been given. AS matt
of fact, the mother had concealed the
little form in her trunk.
Sunday night Mrs. Hcrndon made
tho discovery that the child'S body
was secrcted in the house. She was
in Miss Jernigan's room when the
doctor called and was asked by the
girl to step outside as she wished TO
speak TO tho physician alone.
Outside the door Mrs. Herndon
stopped TO listen. She heard Miss
Jernigan beg the doctor to tell her,
the listener, that nothing was the
matter with her. She then told him
that she wished 10 write 4 note, and
the doctor supported her while she
sat up in bed and wrote ii.
When he came out Mrs. Herndon
demanded to know the truth. ana the
doctor told her As TO the note, how
ever, ii appears that nothing was said,
Monday morning the doctor re-
turned 10 the house. Miss Jernigan
was then dying. After an cxamina-
ton Of his patient the physician called
apart Aunt Louisa Lacey. colored
woman who had been sent for by Mrs.
Herndon Sunday to nurse the young
woman, ana talked with her briefly.
He then asked Mrs. Herndon. accord
ing to her statement. To let the
ncgrcsS have the key To Miss Jcrn-
CAMS trunk Tie negrcSA he said
would take away the little body and
bury it.
Mrs, Herndon did not acccde TO his
request, but rs the doctor left the
house returned 10 the sick room. a
few minutes later the last breath flut-
tered over the dying girls lips and
her face sank into the frozen calm
of the last slumbcr.
A short while before this. how
ever, according TO the story told by
Aunt Louisa, while the doctor and
Mrs. IIerndOn were ConYerSing outside
the room, the dying girl in great agi-
tation turned to her crying out, "Oh,
and begging pitcously as child might
to be taken TO her breasy and COM
fortcd
Then--immcdately aftcrward--
she arose from the bed, tottercd to the
trunk and taking therefrom the tiny
corpse. wrapped in an old skirt, stum-
bicd blindly back to her couch. She
laid the body down upon it ut the
foot. Then sinking back on the pill
- O.
mont the covcrlet up TO her chin, and
81 moment later lay there pulscless,
dead.
For her--for the child--the story is
ended. But to whom was that note
written almost from the couch of
death? Who is the man whose name
With marvellous fidelity she seems to
have shielded to the last from all con-
sure or possible blame?