The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-24
WOMAN CONFESSES
 MURDER|NG BABIES
Is Responsible for Eight
 Deaths in Infirmary
USED oxALIC ACID
Turned Acid Into Milk Bottles to Sicken the Babies so They Would Give the Nurses Trouble.
 Believe She Is Prmented

New York, February 23.-The mystery of eight deaths of babies in the Brooklyn Nursery and Infants hospital was solved tonight, the police say. by the confession of Winifred Ankers kitchen woman at the hospital, admitting that she placed oxalic acid in the babies milk bottles.
 The alleged confession was obtained by a police detective after two hours deten- ton of the woman who had been under surveillance since autopsies developed the probability that the infants had been pois- oned.
 Acid in Milk
 "On Saturday night after the bottles had been prepared for the babies" the police version of the confession runs, '1 put two or three drops of oxalic acid into the bottles. I did not do it with intent to kill the babies, but I wanted to get square with the nurses who were my enemies.'
 The police believe the Ankers woman is .demented. Her story they regard as true. however. and 1t was officially stated that she would be arrested on charges of homI- eide tomorrow. It was considered ad- visable to leave her at the hospital tonight under guard
 Winifred Ankers is 24 years old. She came to the hospital last July with her infant. and after placing the baby in the care of the hospital found work in the kitchen. She had been regarded as a phegmatic sort of character, but occa- sionally displayed temper, complaining of the small pay and poor food she said she received.
 Suspected Monday
 Suspicion was not directed toward ner until four of the babies had dled on Sun day and Monday. With the death Of a fifth baby an autopsy was performed and microscopic examination indicated the presence of oxalic acid or some similar poison. It was recalled that recently the Ankers woman had persisted in wanting some oxalic acid for cleaning copper ves- sels and that she had finally been given permission to buy an ounce of it. The authorities were guarded, however, Tn talk ing definite action against the woman un- til thorough chemical analysis could be made.
 When visited by the police officers to- right the young woman was told thas unless she related the whole truth 1t would be necessary to remove her baby to some other hospital and she thereupon made the alleged confession.
 The Ankers woman was formally ar rested later, but is still held at the hos pital under police guard. When the threat was made that her child would be sent to another hospital unless she told the truth the woman who had been denying all evening any blame in connection with the death of the babies, suddenly became frantic She jumped from her chair. shak- ing her fists at the officers.
 Attached to Baby
 If you take my baby from me I'll kill you" she screamed. She then sank back into chair, crying hystericaliy.
 When the officers calmed her she said well, I'll tell you all about it. and wont on to relate how she turned the oxalic acid into the milk bottles in the ice box.
 T did 1t in hurry. fearing some one would come" ,she said. And I don't know how many bottles put it in" There was another interruption by mysteries, and then she lamented:
 T did not want to kill the babies. All wanted to do was to make them sick I knew if they were sick they would be cross and cry and cause d lot of troub.e for the nurses. The nurses have snubbcd me and they were my enemies. I am very sorry for the poor bahles'
 The police, in looking up the woman's record, found that she was an orphan born Gerber, and was adopted by fanny named Ankers. She was left a legacy of s1O0 and when she became of age she left her foster parents and lived a life of ir- regularity. baby was born to her at q Brooklyn hospital recently. She was very much attached to the child it was said at the nursery where she worked, but had practically no regard for the other infants there.