The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-11-19
WAS JAILED last NIGHT !
ADMITS SHE GAVE BIRTH
TO THE CHILD
Denies Killing the Baby Boy;
Condition Is Hysterical;
Relates Story

Lena Williams, aged seventeen,
pretty and fascinating in manner, is in
fail at Albert Lea, having been arrest
ed there late last night in connection
with the finding of a dead boy baby
in a suit case on the city dump sew
eral days ago. The baby had been
choked to death and the perpetrator
hoped to cover up the crime by con-
cealing the infant in q suit case which
had been thrown on pile OF rubbish
In the city limits of Albert Lea. The
suit case was opened by a couple OF
curious boys, who reported their find
to the police.
County Attorney at Work.
County Attorney J. o. Peterson at
once went to work on the case. He
was assisted by the sheriff and police.
An employe of the packing house at
Albert Lea furnished the first clue.
He reported that while on his way to
work early one morning he observed
a man and woman standing near the
dump. They were acting ina rather
suspicious manner. 1t is said tnat the
remark something about the police.
The man Is reported to have replied:
Keep your mouth shut"
Sifted Girls Story.
Yesterday Miss Williams volun-
teered the story that on the same
morning the parties were seen at the
dump, man and woman carrying
suit case came into the Rock Island
railroad depot lunch roem whsre she
remained there few minutes and
then went out Later they returned
to the lunch room, but they did not
have the suitcase. County Attorney
Peterson commenced to sfft the story
told by the girl He concluded that
she was not relating facts. Later in
the day and last evening Miss VIII
liams was grilled until she finally
came through" with the story of how
she gave birth to the child.
Was Alone, ShS Claims.
She told the county attorney that
she gave birth to the babe in her room
at the Majestic hotel, where she
boarded, early on the morning Of Fri
day, November 5. She was alone when
the event occurred. After the new
born infant was cared for man from
Kansas City, whose name she is said
to have given to Attorney Peterson,
in a suitcase and at once left The
girl declared to the county attorney
that she did not kill the infant; that
it was alive when last she saw the
boy.
Went to Work That Morning.
After the man with the suitcase Left
the room, Miss Williams; according to
her story, gathered the bed clothes to-
gether and rolling them up in a bun
die, carried them to the hotel base
ment Whole she burned them in the
furnace. That morning she reported
at the lunch room as usual and work
ed throughout the day as il nothing
had Happened. Miss Williams claim
ed to the county attorney that the
Kansas City man was the father of
the child
Authorities Have Doubts.
It is understood that the Freeborn
county authorities do not place much
credence in that part of the girls
story which connects Kansas City
man with the case. Inquiry at the
Majestic hotel fails to reveal the ap-
pearance there of Kansas City man
on the occasion of the birth of the in
FAINT:
The county attorney has caused Roy
Smith to be held in connection with
the STAIR. Smith is about twenty-five
years of age and has been In the en-
ploy of the Rock Island road for some
time. Of late he has been stationed
at Inver- Grove. He is said to be a
close friend of Miss Williams.
Girl Is Hysterleal.
Miss Williams claims that her home
Is in KEasas City. She has been In
Albert Lea for some time. She was
placed in Jail late last night and has
since been in an hysterical condition.
1t is with difficulty that any informa-
ton can be obtained from her.
Miss Williams is much worried for
her parents will learn OF her plight.
Later today Miss Williams stated
that the man who took the baby from
her room at the hotel is named Woods.
Miss Williams today wrote a letter
to her mother at Kansas City, but did
not refer in any manner to her trou-
ble
1t is said that other arrests will be
made, One woman and two men are
reported to have knowledge of the af-
fair. They will be taken into custody.
SO the story was circulated this after
noon.