The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-12-16
MARQUIS STOPS
INVESTIGATION OF
HEIRS PARENTAGE
De MontferreirS Expect
ed to Keep American
Baby He Adopted.
Nobleman Told He Had
Been Deceived in
Child.

The Marquis de MontferrelrB has
cableo instructions that no further In
yestlgation be made into the details OF
the birth OF his heir preEumptive. a
biue-eyed, auburn-haired baby, ana the
little fellow win, IN all probability, re.
main ia the household OF the marquis
70 ENJOY the love and afection which
has been bestowed on him since he
crossed the water TO his future home.
Had II MOI been that the baby had
wrapped himself so completely around
the heart strings of his foster mother
and father. there might have beec fur
ther investigation made into the cir
cumstances surrounding his transporta-
ton to Fra1..se. but the marquis and
marquise have learned 70 love the little
fellow so much that. n is understood
by their cable dispatch. they mean 70
keep him with them and make him heir
10 the uue and family estates.
Mrs. Elizabeth s. Baker, e prominent
churcn woman. Of Winchester, Va. who
had charge Of the baby, conducted all
the negotiations for its adoption with
Miss Lowe and Miss Johnson. and was
the central figure in the proceedings.
Adopted Under Wrong Name.
When the papers Of adoption were
taken out by the marquis IN France
II was with the distinct understanding
that the baby was the child OF Elizabeth
Carroll, OF the CAROLS OF Csrroiiton.
and William Fairfax, a descendant Of
Thomas, Lord Fairfax The world lie
small, after all and several days after
he had adopted tho child, and while he
was enthusiastically singing It's praises
TO a group OF friends the marquis was
IN the old Maryland family, and later
that no william Fairfax was among TIE
living descendants Of Lord Fairfax.
When the search for further light on
these developments was begun a comely
country girl by the name Of Fannie
Virginia Carroll. q young Irish girl ard
not a Carroll, of CarrolitOn, was found
n Winchester, who told Of having given
birth TO a baby boy In Mrs. Bakers
home. he. too, was blue-eyed and au-
burn-haired. But there was nc word OF
the father.
Says Babies Looked Alike.
Mrs Baker was told OF tll;z incident
by reporters. and acknoysied Zed its
truth. but said nat the baby which
she had taken 10 Paris had been
brought 10 the house by SITS father,
while the Carroll girl was also there
The two babies, she said. looked so
much alike that 1t was difficult TO tell
them apart except that t.te one she
took 10 the marquis was '.lrger. But
another discrepancy slippes into this
story at tfis time for Faunie Carroll
had also told OF the baby beng brought
to the house, but she said il was q
girl
The romance surrounding the baby
boy Is one which might easily find a
CONSPICUOUS pliJce n fiction, and readers
would be interested but would probably
put the story aside with the belief that
such things do not happen In real life.
II Is as full OF romantic features, how
ever, as such d story could ne, and two
continents RiIl watch its Developments
with more than ordinary interest.
Marquis Wanted an Hs;r.
Some months ago the Marcus and
Maruuise de Montferriers, WHO were
without an heir, confided ~ Mt. and
Mrs. Frank Jenkins. OF Baltimore. that
they desired TO adopt an American child.
Mr.. and Mrs. Jenkins are prominent in
social life in Baltimore, and belong to
one Of its oldest and most illustrious
families. Mrs. Jenkins undertook 70 d.
rect the search for a baby IN It's coun-
try, and solicited the help q ler SIS
mission to Miss Mary Bowie J ohnson.
a social leader in Baltimore and de-
scendant Of Gov. Oden Bowie.
Some days later an advertisement
caught the eye OF Miss Lowe md Miss
Johnson. It ran:
FOR ADOPTION-A hsslthy male infant.
Apply to -, Winchester.
Mss Lowe and Miss Johnson went 10
Winchester and traced the baby. At
hrst Mrs. Elizabeth s Saker, who had
charge of the baby, refused TO give It's
parents names. but was finally persuad-
ed to do so and said the mother was