The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-07-15
Mrs. Stewart Sent to Wind
sor for Abandoning
Her Baby
TERM is NOT LESS
THAN THREE YEARS
Counsel Suggested Suspension of Sen
tence, but Judge Cudworth Thought
Gravity of offense Merited Something
More Severe.

In the municipal court this morn
ing Judge A. E. Cudworth sentenced
Mrs. Hazel (Thompson1 Stewart of Gull
ford to hard labor in the state prison at
Windsor for term of not less than
three years nor more than four years and
six months for abandoning her baby boy,
three weeks old, and exposing him in a
manner to endanger his life. As pre-
viously stated, Mrs. Stewart left the
baby on the veranda at Jason L. Bakers
in Guilford early Thursday morning of
last week, was arrested that evening and
on Friday entered plea of guilty before
Acting Judge Clarence NJ. Miller, who
continued the case until today for SEN
tence.
In a statement to the court States At
torney W. K. Daley reviewed the case,
stating that Mrs. Stewart secured di-
vorce at the last September term of court
and that the baby was born in the
Northampton, Mass, hospital June 81
and was brought to Brattleboro a week
ago last Saturday and taken to the home
of Mrs Charles Laduke of Prospect hill,
where he remained until his mother took
him away Wednesday evening of last
week.
Mr.. Daley said that Mrs. Stewart told
contradictory stories, one being that the
note addressed to Mr. and Mrs Baker.
which she left with the baby at the Baker
home and in which she asked them to
keep the boy, was written for her in the
hospital by another young woman before
| the baby was born. lie said that when
| Mrs. Stewards attention was called to
| the fact that the sex of the child was
written in the note she said that blank
space was left in the note until the baby
was born and the word fellow" was then
written in.
Even if that explanation was true Mr.
Daley couldn't understand why the note
was addressed so early to Mr.. and Mrs
Baker when Mrs. Stewart had stated that
she didn't plan on leaving the child il
Guilford until after she brought him tC
Brattleboro.
In reply to the latter statement Attor,
ney John L. Gale of Guilford, counsel fol
Mrs. Stewart, said that he apparently
had neglected to tell Mr.. Daley what
Mrs. Stewards explanation of that as
pect of the case was. Attorney Gal,
said Mrs. Stewart told him, and he be
lieved her statement to be true, that sh'
knew of family of Bakers in Pittsfield
Mass, who were without children, wher
she intended to leave the baby, and tina
she did not decide to leave him in Gull
\ ford until after coming to Brattleboro
He suggested the court to consider TIL
4 extremity that she was in and the fac
that she had pleaded guilty, and he sug
gested that whatever sentence was i'm
posed be suspended.
Judge Cudworth told Mrs Stewar
that the punishment would bear heavil
upon her father and mother, who wer
respectable people and knew nothing Q
her offense until after her arrest, an
that she made a serious mistake i'll try
ing to shield and protect some man VIII
was guilty with her. He said he coul
not feel that he had done his duty il h
adopted the suggestion of her counse
, He then imposed sentence as stated.