Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-24
Threat Brings Statement.

Inc statement followed nervous col
lapse which she suffered when the police,
after long period of questioning, ac-
cused her directly of having killed the
babies who died in the hospital. 1t was a
threat that her own child. who. strangely
enough. while a patient in the hospital,
did not suffer from the mysterious poison
ing. would be taken from her and placed
in an institution where Mrs. Ankers
would never see him again. that led to
the confession.
Lieut.. Mackirdy had been assigned to
take charge OF the investigation that was
begun when the hospital ply sicians and
officers communicated some of the strange
features of the children's deaths to the
police. Since Thursday afternoon he had
had Mrs. Ankers under suspicion, and
questioned her almost constantly.
Lieut. Mackirdy determined last night
to accuse her directly of having murdered
the children. Up to that time neither
the police nor the physicians, including
those from the coroners office; had been
able definitely to determine whether the
deaths of the eight babies had been
caused by poisoning or whether they had
died from spinal meningitis.
Accused of the Crime.
He had left off questioning the woman
only at 6 o'clock last night, after having
been with her most of. the afternoon.
Soon after clock last night he returned
to the hospital Mrs. Ankers was sum-
moned before Lieut. Mackirdy and Mr..
Warbasse.
When the preliminary conversation was
over Mackirdy declared he accused the
maid fatty of having placed oxalic acid
in the milk that had been prepared last
Saturday night in the dietary kitchens OF
the institution She denied it. Mackirdy
insisted he knew what he was talking
about and told her that the only reason
for summoning her into that final confer
ence was to place her under arrest.
Lieut. Mackirdy continued questioning
and she persisted in denying his formal
accusation. Finally, the police official de-
clared, he decided to play on her love for
her baby, VIII h she took to the institu-
ton when she lent there to work several
months ago.
IF you don't tell me all you know
about the death of these children he
said he told her, i will place you in
prison. Then l will place your own child
in an institution where 1t will be impos-
sible for you ever to see him again. F"
Falls on Her Knees in Pleading.
Before he had finished speaking this
time. Mackirdy declared. Mrs. Ankers
discarded the display of stolidity she had
maintained UP to then and began to cry.
Failing on her knees in front Of the
policeman and the district attorney, the
lieutenant asserted. Mrs. Ankers pleaded
with them not to take her child from
her.
AZ did it, | did it, Mr.. Warbasse and
Lieut.. Mackirdy declared Mrs. Ankers
walled as she lay on the floor. striking
her breast with her arms. Don't take
my child and 1 will tell you all
know about it,
Then. according to the police lieutenant
and Mr.. Warbasse, Mrs. Ankcrs said that
she had purchased the oxalic acid sew
eral days ago at the direction of one OF
| the head nurses in the hospital. 1t was
to be used for cleansing purposes. Only
part OF it was kept by Mrs Ankers, ac-
cording to the police. version Of her
story. q.
The nurses in the hospital had no,
shown a disposition to be friendly witt
Mrs. Ankers, she said. She dislil<ed theil
attitude. Saturday night. Lieut.. Mac
kirby and the assistant district attorney
declared she told them. Mrs. Ankers tool
the bottle of acid and crept into the
rooms where the prepared milk was kept
| She removed shoppers In each OF the bot
| ties. The shoppers are of medicated cot
each OF the bottles. Probably twelve o.
the bottles of milk were touched by her
according to what the police asserted
Then she heard some one approaching
she is reported to have said, and shu
| down the cover to the ice chest in which
/ the bottles We're and hurried out of tn,
| room by another door.
No Intention of Causing Death.
/ Throughout all of her statement tn,
| police say. Mrs. Ankers declared that while
she knew it was poison she was placing
| in the bottles of milk, she had no inten
ton of killing any of the children. Sh
declared, the police asserted. that all sh
desired to do was to make the children
ill enough to cause the nurses and other,
| in the hospital who had ''snubbed' hel
trouble.
| At the hospital at midnight ii was re
ported that two of the four children win
are still III In the institution will die.
/ Before the alleged confession of Mrs
| Ankers was obtained by the police tn
i officers Of the institution in which sh
had been employed determined TO hav
her examined by an alienist. Dr. w. II
Atten OF No. 100 Greene avenue. Brook
lyn. was retained. He had not examine
Mrs. Ankers before she was arrested.