Evening star., 1933-02-09
D.. c. PROBES DEATH
OF BABY AT FARM
Child, 2 Months Old, Is Found
Suffocated While Sleeping
With Woman.

The death by suffocation Of q 4
month-old infant at o children's board
ing home in Anacostia today led to a
probe by the District Health Depart
ment In search Of violations Of the
baby farm" regulations Of February Z,
1924. The infant, Edward Hudgins,
was found Suffocated this morning by
MRS. Elisabeth Zollinhofer. 2612 Thir-
ty-third street, who had taken the in
FAINT to sleep with her In bed last night
when 1t kicked of the bed clothes In
its crib. Mrs. zollinhofer told police
that she took the child into her own
bed because Of the intense cold.
When Mrs. Zollinhofer arose at 4
O'Clock this morning to feed the baby
she found, she said. that the infant had
kicked out of his blankets In the crib
and she took him to bed with her to
keep him warm during one OF the cold
est nights this Winter. On awaking at
Z this morning, Mrs. Zollinhofer felt
the small body strangely still beside her.
Sends Sons for Aid.
Investigation revealed there was no
warmth In his body. and Mrs. Zontn-
hufer sent her son, David, for aid. The
IRE rescue squad was summoned and
ffremen rushed the infant to Casualty
Hospital, where he was pronounced
dead.
Mrs. Zollinhofer told police the In
FAINT charge was brought to her home
about the middle of December by Alice
HudRins, I6 years old. Of Seat Pleasant,
Md. She since had paid board for the
child.
An autopsy at the District Morgue re-
vealed that the infant died OF sunoca-
tion, and DR.. A. Magruder Macdonald,
deputy coroner, withheld Q death Ger
tidcate until Mrs. zollinhofer can be
cumstances Of the tragedy. 1t Is possible
an inquest will be called.
Adjudged Child's Father.
Records of the Juvenile Court show
that Edward Grinder, 81, q night watch
man, living in the 900 block of New
York avenue, was adjudged the father
of the infant on December Is. Grinder
was ordered to contribute So week to
Its support under q suspended bond OF
$1,000.
Mrs. Zollinhofer, . widow, and the
mother of seven children, six Of whom
live with her, takes babies to board as
q means of meeting the household ex-
penses.
Three other boarders under three
years of age are under her care.
Mrs. Zollinhofer said she was not
aware that the child stirred while In
her bed and could not understand how
it might have smothered to death.
Cites Regulations.
Health Oficer William c. Fowler said
that he would assign an inspector TO
investigate whether Mrs. zollinhofer is
actually conducting q boarding estab-
lishment for children. The Commis-
sioners' regulation on the subject, he
said, prohibits persons from accepting
as boarders children under the age OF
Is unless they obtain permit from the
Commissioners. The records Of the
Health Department do not disclose that
any permit has been issued to Mrs.
Zollinhofer.
The permits, DR.. Fowler said, are
given free of charge by the Commits
sioners. Applicants for permits are In
vestigated by health department agents
and must meet certain sanitary stand
ards before the department Will recon-
mend the issuance Of . permit.
The penalty for violating any OF the
sections of the so-called baby farm"
regulations Is a fine of not to 5000 for
the first offense and not to exceed $500
for the second or any subsequent
offense.