The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-25
.TROUTS TELL OF
ADOPTING CHILD
Arrangements With Foster
Parents Made by Henry c.
Beattie, Jr.
Especial to The Times-Dispatoh. ]

| Roanoke, Va. July 24.-At the st.
James Hotel, this city. are Mr.. and Mrs.
P. N Trout. who little more than
year and half ago adopted the child
born to Beulah Binford, OF Richmond.
| and OF which Henry c. Beattie, Jr., in
lail for wife murder. is supposed to DO
the father. Mr.. and Mrs. Trout and
their daughter. Miss Madeline, came to
this city three weeks ago. and Mr..
! Trout since that time has been In
charge of the merry-go-round Mt Noun
tain Park. Mrs. Trout was seen by u
reporter tonight and gave "a detailed
account of the adoption of the child
whose mother and father are now be-
| mind prison bars.
In January, 1910. a short while after
the family had moved to Richmond from
Eastern Maryland. Mr.. and Mrs. Trout
adopted the four months old baby. The
child had been in the care Of Mrs. Jes-
sic Binford. the mother of Beulah. who
at the time was living on Broad Street.
Richmond.
According to accounts given Mrs.
Trout by Mrs Binford, the child was
born in Raleigh, y. c.. and had been
brought to the home Of its grand
mother, when it was but two weeks
old. The mother, Beulah Binford, left
the child in the care of the grand
mother, and departed from Richmond
with ball player. While Beulah Bin
ford was away from Richmond she
wrote to her mother and often asked
about the child. and promised to send
money and presents to the baby she
had deserted.
The following account of the adop.
ton it appeared in one of the Rich
mond papers, was preserved BY Mrs
Trout:
IN the City Circuit Court to-day an
order was issued by Judge Scott au-
thorizing p. n. Trout and Mollie L.
Trout to adopt Henry C. Bintord, an
infant. sThe adoption is with the
mothers consent"
Name Is Changed.
+ At the time the child was adopted.
the name was changed to Henry c..
Trout, on petition of the foster pa
rents. 1t was through the efforts OF
the daughter. Madeline, that Mr.. and
Mrs. Trout came into possession OF the
unfortunate baby Madeline asked the
colored woman who did the washing
I for the family, If she knew of any
body who had a child that they would
like to have adopted. The woman
( mentioned the baby who was In the
| care of Mrs. Bnford. and later Mrs.
/ Trout and her daughter went to see
| the child. Though the child WAS more
| than four months old, 1t was SO small
| and was in such bad health that Mrs.
| Trout hesitated about taking 1t.
Mrs. Binford who 1t seems had
| separated from her husband. had given
up her position in q large department
store to devote her time TO the care
of the child. and was in extremely poor
circumstances. When she was inform
ed that Mrs. Trout was thinking OF
! adopting the baby, she Immediately
telephoned Beattie and was notified
that he would call on Mrs. Trout the
following day. He came to ,her home
in his automobile accompanied by an
other man. On addressing Mrs Trout.
he said that he had come on ticklish
business, and that he would prefer 10
speak to her inside the door
He was admitted. He asked If Mrs
Trout had been to see the baby and
she told him that she had. but was
afraid il was too sickly to adopt.
Henry c. Beattie. Jr.. then proceeded
| to explain that they" had mixed him
up In the case. because he was soft.
Mrs Trout replied that the child
resembled him too much for him 10
| deny that he was the father. After
| Beatte had made many promises to
aid in supporting the child. Mrs. Trout
consented 10 adopt IT. Madeline wen,
after the baby In a carriage. and took
| II home through a heavy snow storm
warmly wrapped in a blanket. Mrs
Trout said that for while the child
| was a great deal Of trouble, it's eyes
being sore. and it required medical at
teption in other ways. With proper
care, however. it soon began TO grow
| and gain strength. She said that II
! was a very attractive child. and was
handled by everybody who happened
to see 1t, Beattie's treatment OF the
| child was marked by the same cold
| and heartless Indifference that has
| characterized his demeanor all through
| the developments of the terrible trag-
edy OF which he is accused He prom
ised to pay Mrs. Trout for keeping the
| child. and on several occasions was
asked for help which he refused to
give. On one occasion he was phoned
| and asked If he would help pay doc
tor bill He replied: Now you have
adopted it. and it's yours. I've cut (,
( out"
! He touched the baby but once while
Iit was in possession of MRS. Trout. At
! that time he measured its finger for n
diamond ring that he promised to send.
AT the same time he said he intended
TO give the baby trunk for its clothes.
| None OF these promises were kept
| on July 8. 1910. the child died Of
| cholera infantum after being sick but
| day Mrs Trout said that she i'm
mediately tried TO communicate with
Beattie by telephone, but that eacn
| time she called he was reported 10 be
/ out of the city. Finally MIR. Haight
! of the Richmond Burial Company.
went after Beattie and brought him
! to the house at 403 West Marshall
Street. After speaking to Mrs Trout
he said: This is one of the grandest
things that ever happened"
/ Beattie paid FOR the casket which
! cost according to Mrs Tront,s rncnl