The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-23
! EcAusE OF the lack OF tangible
J evidence on which to attach

der of "Baby,' Vaughan; who
died IN the City Home at II.
o'clock Monday morning under cir,
cumstances still shrouded in systery
the coroner's jury, summoned to In
5vestigata the case yesterday morning.
returned a verdict that the infant cana
to its death at the hands of a per-:
son or persons unknown. but went fur
thor to say that they are OF the opln.
Ion that the authorities Of the City
Home were negligent In their man
agement OF the case"
There was ample proof Of neglect
by the very men who are required
under law to report all crimes. or eff
fort at crime, that may come under
their observation, to the police. Lit
tie 'Muggins," as he was termed In 1
the farewell OF his mother. was poison
ed early Tuesday morning, q week ago..
When Miss Venable, the head nurse,
and DR.. Hoskins one Of the internes.
arrived at the bedside his mouth was
sblistered and swollen from the effects
OF bichloride OF. mercury-cor
sublimate, as 1t is better known-----la5
poison that burns, and eats like fire.
and he was tossing and rolling in the 3
most inte.tse pain.
Coltl-BIoodcl Indifferencc.
DR.. Hoskins informed Mr. Beverly g.
Lewis, assistant superintendent, as he
went downstairs for some medicids.
stendent George B. Davis Of the af-S
fair. From all the evidence adduceds
yesterday before the coroner's Jury.
the news was received with the most
cold FLOODED Indifference. It was only
"a nameless waif that had been the
victim of q brutal attempt at murder.
IA tour-months-old baby disp possessedsss5
of It's rlghtful protectors and depend
5ent upon public charity for the little u
that he needed. True.it II is that Miss
Venable and DR.. Hoskins worked &overss
the child heroically; Miss VenableH
spending all that day. by the bedside,
But downstairs it seems that not one
gave the matter further thought. It.
was not reported to the police, as assssllL ~
should have been; and the baby was
left open to other unnatural attacks
on its life.
L The jury was very anxious to- have.
Superintendent Davis appear. nat nat II IT
might gather from his own II psl an
goSplanation OF this strange and GROSS
neglect. .sfE S
before. ana was beyond the reach Of
the laws inquisitors. ss5
Mr.. Lewis. assistant Superinten dent.
who has been In his present position
only since July 1st.s could throw no
light on the subject, nor. under the 81
circumstances, could he be expected ted "
to enlighten the jury. not having been
in charge at the time OF the two a VI
tempts on the baby's life.s Nurse and q
ply siclans verbally Informed the hig h.
or authorities. and there II ended Until
little '.Muggins'' was ready for his X *
coffin. Every body seemed to wash his IN
hands OF the responsibility. Perhaps y
death Is SO frequent and expected a.
thing In the home that the passing N
away of a little child, though its y lfeSs
had abem snuffed out by murderous n
hands, excited no nore Y han thu usual l
attention-a cheap winding sheet a.
little black painted. pine board conn
and small space In the Potter's field,
Had 1T not been for tho see eMingly "
thought OF DR.. Trey Ian N 81 st,.ll,Sss
moning Coroner Taylor and RI for the
.latters quick detection Of crime. the "
dark secret might have neys passed
hey ond the bounds3Eof the City Home NJ
or I. BABY, Vaughan have been an Job
ject Of public pity AS It Is now he
is the centre OF "a wide clrcur ference VA
OF mystery and the cause of an inyess
.tigation soon to come, M ssssss
Dcplorab'/ u systenS SExpOsed.
The Sinnuest yesterda IS + was III oroug hs5a
ana searchtnsr II revealed = strap pgs