Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-02
PRIZE BABY AWARDED
Infant Boy Passed Over to
Holder of Winning Coupon.
MANAGER TELLS ABOUT 1T
Mother Unable to Care for It and
Wanted Home Provided.
PARENTAGE IS RESPECTABLE
Rattle Satisfied Her, Says Theater
Man-New Father Has Family,
But Will Adopt Child.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

LEXINGTON, KY. August 1.-Amid
scenes of widest excitement and which
at times almost approached small
sized riot in the densely packed throng.
a bouncing, cooling. gurgling baby boy
was given away from the stage of the
opera house in Paris, Bourbon county,
tonight.
For a week feeling had been at fever
heat over the seemingly cold-blooded
manner in which the baby was offered.
Threats Of injunction suits, arrest by the
humane officer and even hysicaf violence
have been offered the manager. He sat
tight through it all, not even needing the
outburst of various women's committees
who called on him to protest against his
actions.
When the opera house doors opened
tonight there was pushing. swaying
crowd which extended for almost block
on the north and south sides Of the build
ing. There was great demand for seats.
Several people were painfully crushed
while trying to reach resting places. II
was nearly an hour before even
semblance Of quiet was restored.
Manager jackson Explains.
Then it was that Manager Jackson
stepped to the front of the stage carry
ing in his arms q fat handsome boy baby
who was evidently greatly frightened at
the sea of faces which undulated out In
front. A great roar of applause rolled
up to greet Jackson and the baby as
the manager raised his hand for silence.
There were. some expressions Of disap-
proval. These were scarcely audible.
l~k ~ en- ,,nN suits
then, nor was the humane officer present.
Jackson held the baby out In front Of
him and stated why he had offered the
baby to the holders of coupons He said
that the babys mother had come to him
several days ago and explained that she
was not financially. able to care for the
child; that her husband was either dead
or had deserted her. and that she was de-
.sirous of leaving the state. expected 10
marry again and desired her baby to have
good home, and believed that the
coupon system was the best way TO Sc
cure it's being taken care of.
The only condition she imposed upon
Jackson was that her name should be
kept a secret and that no hint 81 her
identity be given out. And beyond the
respectable. without faint Of any sort, no
statement was made.
Jackson was given good attention while
he was explaining his stand in the matter
anu WIS dppiduUcO WITCH iAc uno IAiAASACu.
Then he held the baby up and examined a
number on its dress. Everybody in the
big audience gripped his or her coupons
saved all this week and waited breath
lessly.
us there any one in the house with a
coupon bearing No. 1927" asked Jackson.
Lawyer Is New Father.
An intense silence followed his words.
Then there arose handsome young law
yer, Harmon Stitt, son of a noted Ken
lucky jurist, who said: st have the num-
ber'
1.-The baby is yours, them" said Man
ager Jackson.
1t took Stitt fully half an hour to get to
the stage, the house was so packed with
people. Stitt was cheered and applauded.
the baby was cheered and applauded and
everybody was happy.
Stitt did not appear particularly pleased.
as there is Mrs Stitt and already two
little Stitts. However. Monday he will
sign the necessary papers for the child s
adoption and take it to his home.
The baby during the tremendous dem
onstration following its securing of a
new father set up a lusty howl, and add
ed his mite to the pandemonium.
Many demands were made that jack
son give the name of the baby's mother
but this he refused to do. The baby was
taken to the home of it's mother tonight
in charge Of a nurse. but Monday will go
to its new home. Many offers have been
made by others to adopt the child, but
Stitt says he will keep 1t and educate it.