El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-06-02
GIRL MOTHER
IS GIVEN BABY


CONTINUED from Page one)
tody of Mrs. Emma Webster. county
probation officer.
As the single word yes" was read
from the verdict. in answer to the
Question as to whether the veniremen
found that Bernice Baker was the
mother OF the child. Mrs. Mcconnell
straightened in her chair as though
unable to believe what she heard
Then she sank back. covered her face
with her hands and sObbed. Bernice
Baker started from her chair as the
clerk began reading As the meaning
Of the verdict became clear TO her she
turned and placed her head on the
shoulder Of her husband, breaking
into happy sobs.
Can't 7 have him right now7' she
asked eagerly
The order issued by Judge P r
Price requires that the child shall re-
main in the custody Of Mrs. Webster.
during the two days which the res
nondents have to perfect their ap-
nlication for a new trial It was or
dered by the court that both the rela- I
tor and the respondent, Mrs. Baker
and Mrs Mcconnell respectively. shall
be permitted TO see the child. in the
discretion and under supervision Of
Mrs. Webster, during the two days
which must elapse before the child
can finally be given. to its mother.
Adopted Many Babies
The trial began with the introduce
the effect that Mrs. Mcconnell had /
made a practice Of ADOPTING babies /
which she made her husband believe
were her own.
Mrs. Nora Coils. also OF Santa |
Rita. mother Of Bernice Baker. was
the first witness called. She related /
the Incidents Of the childs birth az 4
the Salvation Army home here and his /
subsequent delivery TO Mrs Neon I
nell. whom Mrs. Coils claimed 10 1
declared that Mrs. Mcconnell had told /
her OF adopting seven>children- all Of /
which the RESPONDENT IS said to have I
claimed were believed by her husband /
to he his own.
This testimony was followed by a /
recital by Mrs. Coils Of her efforts
10 regain the child for her daughter
and her daughters constant grief
over the loss Of her child
The respondents opened their case
with a detailed description Of the
birth Of - children TO Mrs Neon
nell. six OF them within the past two
years. CITY birth statistics, offered IN
evidence. showed that the following
births had been recorded by the Nc
page az. Certificate No. 37gs-date
OF birth. February II. 1913; name OF
child. Donald Mcconnell
Page 367: Certificate No. 400
date Of birth. June ;, 1875 name OF
child, Edward Allen MeConnell-
Page 469. certificate NO. Sbls-
date Of birth February %. 1913: name
OF child. Mary Estelle Mcconnell.
PAGE 49,. certificate 30. 5956-datei
OF birth, May 3. 1913: name OF child
Emmett Bruce Mcconnell.
Page 3: certificate No. 59-date Of
birth. January 6. 1920: name Of child.
Lawrence Stewart Mcconnell.
Page 8: certificate No. 60-date Of
birth, January S. 1890: name OF child
John Dyer Mcconnell
Registered Wrong Date.
Mrs Mcconnell later in her testi-
monv stated that Lawrence Neon
nell was born the night OF December
30 instead OF January s.
why did you register him as hay-
Ing been born on January s, with
John Dyer McConnell2~ she was
asked
ITO avoid Just what has arisen. a
question as TO his birth" she replied
Both the relator and respondent IN
reduced the testimony OF physicians
regarding the possibility OF Mrs. Nc
-onnelrs having given birth 70 the
Tx children IN two years.
Para1lee Jones. a negro washwoman
living at q21 East Third street. testi-
led 10 being present when the child,
involved in the litigation, was born
Q
Yrs. Mcconnell was on her knees on 2
pallet in the kitchen when the baby
vas born and that M Mcconnell was
IN bed. at deaths door. from serl-
BUS Illness. The negress gave details
regarding the birth. which conceded
With the story OF Mrs. Mcconnell.
In his closing argument. Dan jack
son, who with ". H Fryer conducted
he case FOR the relator. attacked this
testimony
If the witness IS telling the truth
he said. then Mrs Mcconnell framed
~ this unusually remarkable birth
% fool her husband And II she was
capable OF fooling a man with as
much experience as he has, then this
I'D negro was quite easy prey for
her. too. She was ike putty in Mrs
ilcConnelTs hands"
Praise lIotherIy Instincts.
Both 8lr. Fryer and Mr.. Jackson /
laid tribute to the motherly instincts
4 Mrs. Mcconnell and TO her never
,easing interest in the welfare OF the
children in her home
1Ir. Mcconnell conducted his own
,ase as leading attorney for the res
londen Associated with him was
Andrew J. Wilson, his law partner
During the trial M Mcconnell took
he stand and told OF the birth Of Is
children to his wife at various towns
n the south and west, and OF the
ieath OF six OF the children He
claimed to have personally known
hat his wife was expecting child
ust prior TO the birth Of Bruce. and
declared that he was never fooled BY
lis wife during their married life"
NO amount Of proof that could be
filtered viii ever make me believe
hat Bruce IS not my own natural
.hild," he said.
The testimony IN the case closed at
loon Tuesday and the attorneys be
IL.