The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-26
ONS ARE DUE TN SUIT TO DIVORCE PRINCESS TR0UBETSKO
Tortured Unwed Girl at Last Clues
Name of Betrayer; Baby Was Slain
Age-oid Problem and An instinct
As Old As Eve Rises Again In
Strange Michigan Case Where
Grandmother Is Convicted OF
Staying Infant.

Sioyu'& uu o'A'
HUDSON Mich, Dec. 26.-An
age-old problem and an instinct as
old as Eve rises again in the case
of Mrs. Matte Kirby, who has just
been on trial for killing the name
less child Of her twenty-year-old
unmarried daughter, Alice.
Found Guilty by Jury.
Before crowded courtroom of
curious folk who. day after day,
flocked to hear the sensational de-
tails of the crime, Mrs. Kirby was
found guilty of killing the helpless
infant. who came unwanted into the
world last July. the infant who stood
between her daughter Alice and a
fair name.
Mother love rose over even the
horror of taking life. although a
little, puny, illegitimate one, and
prompted Mrs. Kirby to save Alice
from the lash of the tongue of
scandal.
This mother then. hitherto upright,
q member of the church and a leader
in the w. C. r. u. stained her
hands with the red stain of blood in
the hope that she could keep fair the
name of her child.
And, miged up Nth this mother
lore, this unusual trial brought oslt
another phase of pdssion-the
strange love of Alice Kirby for the
man iDhO had betrayed her, as i,adi-
Gated by her refusal, up to the very
last to name the father of her
child.
Kept Name Secret.
Knowing that he had abandoned
her months before the birth Of her
little son, through all the months
that followed the discovery Of the
birth and subsequent death Of the
child. Alice Kirby steadfastly refused
to disclose the name of her betrayer.
1t was only when her own mother
was on trial on the charge Of putting
the unwelcome infant to death and
that Alice finally gave in and told the
name Of her betrayer.
In the last hours of the trial. which
stirred abe agricultural community
of Lenawee county, pressed by the
prosecuting attorneys who were backed
by the Judge to name the father of the
dead babe. Alice held sturdily out.
And this in the face Of the knowledge
that her sweetheart had definitely
abandoned her and with the letters in
which he told her of his reputation
staring at her, face up, from the table
Of the district attorney. Up to this
point she had held out.
During the cross-examination of
Alice the prosecution had tried by
every legal means to learn the mans
name. -..
A packed courtroom Of curious men
and women listened with strained at
tention. They knew that some one OF
Lenawee county was concerned, and
they all wanted to hear. and possibly
10 gossip.
Mother Is Silent.
Matte Kirby. leader in the w. c.
T. u, mother of Alice. and sitting In
the prisoners cage as suspected
slayer. knew the name and was silent.
The prosecuting attorney addressed
the girl:
would you mind telling us the
name of the young MANI"
The girl who, earlier In the trial,
had willingly barred her own shame. re-
manned silent. There was a breathless
moment and then her head shook
negative reply.
Don't you care to tell7"
mo. sir"
At this point her own counsel en-
tered into the matter.
do You know Of any reason why
You should protect this blackguard
who betrayed your"
Perhaps this last little pressure,
coming after months of persistent
pleading and intimidating, swayed the
girl, or mayhap 1t was the sight of
the letters from the man lying before
her, with the familiar handwriting
letters which said 81 wouldn't marry
you for all the world"
At this point the resistance of
months broke down. She gave the
name Of her betrayer.
He is Jesse Britton, son Of a prom.
inent Hudson farmer. she says.
The Doctors Story.
The story of the birth Of the child,
Mrs. Kirby's establishment at hearing
that her daughter was about to be-
come a mother a few hours prior to
the event were told in the court room
by DIR. c. S. Lane. who attended
Alice.
DR.. Lane testified that he made
three visits to the Kirby home on the
night of July 4. Knowing that the
child would not be born for some time
he went back to the office for his
obstetrical case, and, when he re-
turned, on the suggestion Of Mrs.
Kirby, Alice was moved from the bed
room into the living room ana placed
on a couch. He then made a second
examination, which disclosed that the
abv would he born soon.
"What did Mrs. Kirby say TO you
then?" asked Mr.. Smith.
"Sho asked me whether the baby
would be born alive?"
"Xhat did you tell herr"
81 told her / couldn't tell whether
or not the baby would he born alive"
"Nyhat did she say thenf"
"She said she hoped the child
would not be born alive; II II wasn't
dead when born that IL must be
gotten away"
On his third visit DR.. Lane found
that the child had been born during
his absence.
DR.. Lane testified he handed the
child to the mother. who placed ii on
cloths on the table. He said that