The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-08-11
GIRL GIVES POLICE
NAME OF SLAIN
BABES FATHER
POSSIBLE THAT HER STORY IS A
6llND-JAlL MATRON FINDS
BOTTLE OF POISON ON PRS
oNER.

SAGINAW, Mich. Aug. 1f.-rn.
police now believe they know tho
name of the father OF the babe whose
body was found in the Saginaw ri-;er
and which Miss Myrtle f. Lennon al.
mits was her child
After repeated questioning. Miss
Lennon gave the officers the namc OF
a travelling man who. she said. lives
In this city. He has not been locai-
! Ell. however. IL is possible that tho
girl is trying To throw them of tl.,.
track, as she had evinced Il desire L,
shield her lover heretofore. She
breads the news of her predicament
reaching her aged mother
Hides Poison Bottle.
] That Miss Lennon contemplated
suicide ana was prepared for the
worst has been revealed by the find
Ing of bottle OF carbolic acid strap
ped tightly TO her leg. inside the
stocking. by rubber band.
The presence OF the poison was dis
covered by the Jail matron. Mrs. Con
ners, who detected suspicious move
ment on the part OF the girl. Al
though Miss Lennon had been search
ed when admitted to the Jail, she had
not been compelled TO remove her
stockings. Mrs. Corners suspicious
were confirmed and the girl made to
take off her clothing Then the acid
bottle was found. Miss Lennon fran
tically snatched at IL, but the matron
was quicker.
A Phone Girls Romance.
The story OF Miss Lemons down.
fall begins with the romance of
telephone girl.
She was born here and educated
In the public schools. After leaving
school she worked in the Bell Tele-
phone Office and il is believed that
the Irritation which ended SO disas-
trously for her originated over the
switchboard. She left this position
nearly two years ago and since then
has been working at different occu-
pations, including canvassing. to sup
port herself and widowed mother.
While working I'm the telephone Office
she was known as Mabel. and this IL
how the mistake In her name came
to be made in giving out her arrest.
Monday the case was brought be-
who turned IL over To his assistant.
Henry Naegley Mr.. Naegley last
evening held u prolonged conference
with the chief OF police and the Of
! ficers who caused Miss Lemons ar
rest.
All the evidence In possession OF
the police department was gone over
with the assistant prosecutor and
condensed in writing for his use.
Reiterates Her Story.
Miss Lennon reiterated her story
TO the prosecutor and made no fur
Their admissions. She said she could
have disposed of the child here In
Saginaw II she had desired, but she
wished 10 take IL from the city and
place il in some home or institution
where its parentage would be unlike
ly TO become known.
In this connection and tending TO
corroborate Miss Lemons statement
was the report which the Woman's
hospital authorities did not deny.
that Miss Lemons predicament was
suspected before she left that insti-
tuition, and that an offer was volun-
tarily made TO her TO take the child
from her and find a home for IL. This
plan the girl rejected for the reasoI,,
she now says, that she did not want
the baby to remain in Saginaw. W
seems to be we'll established that
Miss Lennon was not driven TO the
extremity of drowning the baby by
ignorance OF any other means to dis
pose Of 1t, or her inability to avail
herself OF them. She had money and
friends. including those who cared
for her at the hospital, and the way
was opened for her to part with The
child upon her recovery and go back
home with no possibility Of 4 scan
da:.
A story which the police are investi-
eating was told them today by per
son whose name isw ithheld TO the
effect that two boys Informed him
that they had seen n man lurking
about Eddy-st., near where the body
was drowned short time before the
coupe bearing the mother and infant
arrived. The boys did not see the
carriage, IL is said,- or did they watch
the mans movements. but he az
peared To be awaiting some one.
No direct charge has been mace
against Miss Lennon. or Joseph Duffy.
who is being held on suspicion OF hav-
ing acted as go-between for the girl
and her lover