Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-15
POLICE FIND BODY
OF BUDD|E BLAKE
Formal Charge Of Murder Is
Lodged Against Mother at
Atlantic City.
BuRIEs FACE IN PILLOW
Authorities Believe She Sacrificed
Son to Win Affections of
Husband.
Inv un;v,rraI scrxio..l

ATLANTIC CITY. y. j.. Dec. H.
In a last frantic effort TO win back
no love OF her husband. Mrs. Esther
Blake TAcTficd her hve-year-old son.
James Jr.. hy tossing him TO his death
in the ocean.
This was tho theory advanced by the
police after the body OF little Bud
die" who was reported by his mother
as having been kidnapped by two uni
formed negroes who held her up Fri
day evening, was washed ashore this
morning. four blocks below the pier
from which he apparently had been
thrown into the swirling waters.
Immediately after the battered and
bruised body OF the lad had been
given up by the sea. a formal charge
VI murder was preferred against the
mother and she was removed from
her home at Nentnor TO the Atlantic
slightest trace OF emotion she received
the news that her boy was dead and
manifested no surprise when Chiet OF
moiice "ililain w. spraSne read inc
warrant accusing her OF the murder
Menns She Wants TO Die.
The only feeling .hc displayed a,
FIRST was one Of bitterness toward
SpraSue for accusing her OF Killing
her boy. But OF a sudden she turned
he hospital ward and moaned that
she wanted 10 d!e--that she had
nothlng N,an,gE mere 70 live for and only
join he. little "Buddie" in death
Burying her face In the pillow. she
cried that she couldn't stand the ter;
begged that Hnc be left alone TO face
her SORROWS.
Fleeing together the shrcds in the
woman and her husband. 4 Ph!ladel
phia broker, the police came 10 the
conclusion today that it was her over
towering love for hith and her ardent
desire TO win him back that impeiled
her 10 send their boy to his death
IL was battle OF mother love aEains,
that, instead OF dimmins with four
years OF separation. only increased as
Time rolled on.
Tries to Hekindle Flame.
Time and again she had sough, 10
and gone out. but TO no avail. Bake
her. 20 he told Chief Sprague and
reconciliat!on. He never denied heE
Gren. ''Budde" and the ten-year- old
EsthsS.a s5 pr,viieEe EraTtsd ysits her un;
husband and wife in Baltimore four
years ago. He too. often saw her
but was ever frank in declaring that
she never again could be wife TO
him.
While Chief sprague con,ended to-
day that the woman's mental con-
powering love FOR her husband which
actuated her TO slay her son. She had
tween her and her husband. She knew
hat Blake had always cared more for
The lad than for. her. even before the
.eGai separation.
Thrown Prom Ocean Pier.
In throwing the youngster to his
death from tho pier at the foot OF
south Cambridge Avenue on Friday
was not, bent on avenEing herself on
the husband and father Tor the love
he denied her. but TO arouse in him
be denied. and which might eventuate
in their getting together once more.
Ih:,t the murder was premeditated
Chief SIprague declares he has nc
doubt. lie insisted today that he has
every reason to believe that she has
Tor years been addicted to drugs. and
mat this was at the bottom OF the
marital differences OF the couple. II
was the husband who was granted the
separation and custody of the two chill
dren, leaving Baltimore immediately
made his home with his wife's mother
Mrs. Clara Miller, and his sister-in ia a;
Miss Maud Miller.
Followed From Place to Place.
Whatever has been the underlying
Use of their trouble Blake has been
eritable and gallant in refraining
~~om making any attacks on his wife s
conduct; con ; He told Chief Sprague that
she had followed him from place to
place ever since their separation, al
EayS taking room on the block or
2 the vicinity, SO as TO be nearby
anat. ne pointed out. was perfectly
>or her children could NOT dim desn;te
1~d wife. we" "us"aho
~. ~ was ss,, no. until today, when bud
revealed the motive which he claims
,mpelled the woman to slay her child
m, nnn hisn1 ad iong b coast guards and police
quest OF the body, but it was discov-
cred by Samuel Blair. of IL Essex Ave.
nue.. Margate City, as he was walking
Tho little figure. clad in tbo er,,
WOODEN sweater suit in which he had
been dressed by his grandmother Fr, ru
day sas,,o aern9on' o,UI was dscerned in the
board walk at the foot Of New fIarnn rne
Avenue. Blair waded out waist deer
and carried the body to the beach. IIe
Spraguc.
Father Awaits Word.
When the telephone rang p,o,,o
who had been up all night helping In
the search ,n tSs al9ng the beach was sit
ly awaiting news. When the chief re-
ceived the message the anxious father
read oI In his ssSprs,ss1n that fatal news
10 he told that the sea had given nm
little "Buddie" As if in a daze he
, the two hurried to the beach. At sight
OF the form OF his boy, huddied in n
wet heap on the white sands, he COW
cred his face with hands and broke
There was a Jagged cut on bud
dies" head. another under the nose,
Continued on Second Page.J