Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1907-12-18
IS LIKE A ROMANCE
Percentage Of Baby Adopted By
French Aob|enan Questioned.
CHILD CAME FROM WINCHESTER
And Was Taken to France By Mrs.
Frank Baker, a Philanthropist
Of That City Mrs. Baker
Makes Statement.


With the Baltimore attorney, Judge
Conway w. Sans, who is representing
the foreigner. declaring that the
male child adopted by Marquis de
Montferrier, scion of France, for the
purpose of making him his heir, is not
of aristocratic birth, and the woman
from whom it was procured affirm
ing that the blood Of the Virginia
Fairfaxes and CAROLS trickles
through his veins. the controversy
over the parentage of the child reach
ed an interesting climax yesterday.
The whole trouble arose over stats
meft made by friend Of the Mont
terriers, which was to the effect that
the baby obtained from Mrs. Baker
by Miss Esther Lowe, a former Balti-
morean, but now resident Of Win
chester Va, at the request Of her bro
ther-in-law. DR.. Frank Jenkins, who is
now abroad, was not descendant of
the well-known Carroll family as
had. been claimed.
Judge Sans, whos was employed by
the Frenchman to make inquiry into
the life history Of the child. conplet-
ed his investigation several days ago,
and made public his statement yester-
day. This statement was to the eff
feet that ample proof had been OBJ
tanned showing that the child now in
the possession of the Montferriers is
not q descendant of the CAROLS Of
Carrolltons that he has not blue blood
In his veins, and is the son of poor
obscure Virginia girl.
Denial by Mrs. Baker.
On the other hand complete denial
of this statement was made by Mrs.
Elizabeth S. Baker, wife of Mr.. Franck
Baker. druggist of Winchester, Va,
and the woman from whom the baby
was obtained, and who herself deliver
ed the child to the French family
Mrs. Baker declares that no misre-
presentations were made relating to
the boy adopted by the French noble
man and that she stands ready to
prove all the claims that she made
elizabeth Carroll, the mother Of
the child" said Mrs Baker, was a
daughter OF Charles Carroll, a very re-
spectacle and upright citizen of Har-
ford county, Maryland. She was we'll
known both to me and to my mother,
who lived in Baltimore. ! never knew
and never said that she was of Car
rollton, and it had never been sug-
gested to me that it was a matter of
Importance whether she was or not.
She married William Fairfax and she
spoke of him as being a relative OF
the. Fairfaxes Of Virginia.
Il have for some years been the
agent at Winchester for the Chill
drenss Home society of Virginia, and
my work has been the finding Of good
homes for desolate and abandoned
children. In October, 1906, William
Fairfax came to my home in Winches-
ter with an infant male child about
three days old, accompanied by q col
ored nurse. He asked me to take the
child and find home for it as near
as possible to its station in life. He
then informed me that its mother had
died in childbirth.
Some months before that a Nj
Littleton, of Frederick county, Va
Isd brought to my house Young girl
whom he represented as his nice
stating that she had been unforSnnate
and asking me to take care of her and
find home for the child when il
would be born This I dii, anc tbs
child was taken south and died q few
months thereafter.
The Trip to France.
Mrs. Baker also made reference tc
the trip to France, and the kindness
shown her by the Montferrier fami-
w. and further asserted that when ru-
mors Of the obscure birth Of the Chile
adopted BY the foreigners reached hel
she Immediately wrote to France. re-
questing the Marquis to return ths
child to her, and that she would fins
i home for it.
Il told them, continued Mrs. Baker
Shat it would be well cared for, ever
though it DO not Of the CAROLS, o
Carrollton Mrs. Baker Is one OF thu