The Mother Who Walked into the County Jail

Mr. Alexander Allen, chairman of the board of county commissioners, received a summons from Providence hospital Monday. There he was presented to a buxom, healthy-looking young woman with a baby in her arms. She gave the name of Miss Whalon and her home as a little town in Western Minnesota. She said she went to San Francisco in March to hide her shame and there became a mother. She remained there until last week, when she was induced to come to Seattle, on the report that there was an orphans' home here where she could leave the child until she chose to reclaim it. However, when she arrived here, she got into a carriage and was driven to the hospital, although in excellent health. She had exhausted her funds in San Francisco and had only $3 left. She took Mr. Allen's breath away by informing him that she wished him to take charge of the infant and keep it for a couple of years until she should be able to claim it, as she was in great haste to return to her home in Minnesota for fear her brothers would begin to investigate the cause of her absence. Mr. Allen informed her that the only way he could assist her would be to send the child to the county farm. He said, however, that he had frequent applications from respectable families for infants, and he could probably find a good home for the little one provided she would sign a paper releasing all claim to the child. The mother spurned both propositions, as she said she would not think of sending it to the county farm and did not want to release her claim. Mr. Allen informed her that the county will refuse all responsibility in the matter unless the woman and child are sent to the county farm. He says that there has been an epidemic of similar cases recently and unfortunate women seem to be flocking here from all quarters of the country to have their offspring provided for.