The Detroit times., 1910-05-23
STORY or
Loss OF BABE IS
Barred IN COURT
Melvin Webb and Wife Place Child
in Boarding Home That Mother
May Work and Now Can Get
No Trace Of It.
PrOprietress Of Place Says She Placea
Infant in Providence Hospital
Mo Record Found.
The remarkable Story OF lost baby

The remarkable story OF lost baby
was told in Judge Murphy's court.
Monday morning, by Mr.. and MIRA.
Melvin Webb, OF No. 33 West Jeffof-
son-ave., when they applied for an or
der compelling Mrs. Anna Lentes. who
conducts boarding house for infants
at No, 339 Fourteenth-ave., to Disclose
the whereabouts OF their son, now III
years OF age.
Melvin Webb and Nellie Beashaw
were married by Justice De0aw.
March 26. 1907, and in less than year
babe was born. The father and
mother were both young, and the adj
vent OF the child. with the consequent
expense and the cost Of starting house
keeping. put them In debt. When the
child was four months old Mrs. Webb
decided to 60 to work for q short
time until their debts we're paid, and
placed the baby with Mrs. Lentes TO
board. This was In May. 1908. The
parents were to pay So per week.
They went to visit the baby regularly
for about year, and paid the money
as promptly as possible. Then Mr..
Webb obtained a good position In
Lansing Wishing 10 take the baby,
he went for 1t, but was told that he
was $37 behind with the child's board.
He had not that amount then, but left
the babe until he could send the
money.
Webb says he sent money regularly
for weeks. and after several months
came to claim the child. To his great
surprise he was informed that the
baby had been placed In the Provi-
dence hospital several months before.
He went to that institution and
learned that no child named Webb had
been placed there. and q search of the
records shows there was no child there
of the age and description Of the Webb
baby.
When appealed to again, Mrs.
Lentes said the child had been given
out for adoption by the sisters three
weeks after she placed 1t in the home,
but the sisters declared this untrue.
The Webbs show number Of letters
from Mrs. Lentes, written to them
while they were in Lansing, in which
she tells OF the progress the baby was
making, how he was growing and
walking and even talking. Now, she
says the child was In the House OF
Providence at the time these letters
were written.
Mrs. Lentes claims these letters
were written by her daughter, and she
also says this daughter was with her
when this child was taken to the
House of Providence. She claimed to
be unable to tell where the girl was
working when questioned by Judge
Murphy, but q deputy sheriff learned
her place OF employment, and she VIII
be brought in and questioned.
Mrs. Lentes admitted that she fire.
quently gives children out for adop-
ton, and the Webbs fear this IL what
she did with their child.
IL never saw parents in q more
pitiable plight than these young peo-
ple," Judge Murphy stated, after he
had questioned all the parties con-
cerned Il am disposed to do any
thing in my power to find this child.
don't think Mrs. Lentes is telling all
she knows, and will hold her here
until | question this daughter"
The Webbs are almost heartbroken
over the affair.
I'VE saw our baby regularly until
we moved to Lansing" Mr.. Webb
stated, land he always seemed to be
we'll cared for. Then Mrs. Lentes
wrote that he was growing and get
ting along we'll, and now to learn
that he is lost is terrible. can think
Of nothing else. When go along the
street and see a little child feel like
stealing It."