The Daily Cincinnati Republican, And Commercial Register

From the N. Transcript.
FOUNDLINGS.

There is no public benevolent institution in our city, the officers of which are so liable to be imposed upon, and where so much successful fraud is practised, as the Alms House, and especially that department of it which is appropriated to the reception of foundlings. To persons who know not the extent of depravity and crime in this city, it may appear passing strange that within the last 12 months, no less than 31 futile efforts have been made by cruel and unnatural parents, to throw upon the public charge the burden of supporting their progeny, (in most instances the fruits of disgraceful and illicit intercourse,) which they represented to be foundlings, and to have been discovered in some secluded or unfrequented place. By the vigilance and discernment of Col. Mann, the very efficient clerk of the establishment, the infamous designs of these unprincipled wretches have been frustrated, and their inhumanity and baseness been made to recoil upon the heads of their vile projectors. Although, however, by good management and the exercise of a commendable scrutiny, this great number of contemplated villanies has been promptly detected, yet there are many others which have been consummated despite every endeavor to ascertain the guilt of the perpetrators, and to prevent the completion of their plans.

Two instances of this kind occurred during the last week—both of a barbarous and aggravated character. We give the following particulars, as related to us by one of the Commissioners, under whose immediate cognizance they came, but for present withhold the names of the persons implicated, because of judicial inquiries that have been instituted for the purpose of bringing them to justice.

On Monday last, a respectable lady, residing in Delancey street, took a fine healthy child to the Alms House, under the following circumstances: She stated that on the Friday previous, an elegantly attired young female, who called herself Emily Johnson, called at her house and wished to engage board, at the same time representing that she was a milliner, and that she had come from Brooklyn, (where her friends were living,) to engage as a superintendent in Broadway. Her appearance was so juvenile, and withal so prepossessing, that the truth of her story was not suspected for a moment, and she was without hesitation received as an inmate of the house. She went out at an early hour on Saturday morning, saying that she was going to her employ, and returned at the usual dinner time, after which she retired to her room, and was not seen again till the evening. She then complained of being somewhat indisposed, but said that the ensuing day being the Sabbath, she would not have any work to do, and could then recruit her health. On Sunday evening she appeared to be perfectly restored, and about half-past six o'clock, went out for the purpose, as she alleged, of going to church. She had not left the house many minutes, before Mrs. S—, her landlady, heard the cries of an infant proceed from one of the rooms, and on entering the apartment occupied by her new boarder, she found a little new-born urchin kicking and screaming on the bed. She was astounded at the circumstance, as she had not observed any symptoms of Miss J. being enceinte, nor did any person in the house suspect that such was her situation. On recovering from her surprise, she called upon a neighbor to assist her in dressing the deserted infant, and when this was accomplished, enquiries were instituted to discover, if possible, the whereabouts of the unkind and guilty mother. All exertions to procure any information on the subject were fruitless. It was ascertained that she had given a wrong name, and therefore a clue to her apprehension could not be obtained: The only alternative left Mrs. S. in such emergency was to place the child under the guardianship and care of the Commissioners of the Alms House, and to them she applied, and made a recital of the above singular occurrence. They of course readily undertook the charge, and provided in their usual humane manner for its being properly attended to. Since it has been in their custody, they have been unremitting in their endeavors to discover the mother, and, we are happy to say, not entirely without success. Information was received on Friday evening, which is likely to lead to the arrest of the fugitive parent, and unless some very extraordinary circumstances are adduced to counteract the strong impressions at present entertained against her, or some very powerful interest is enlisted—she must inevitably suffer most severely for her horrible barbarity. If the conjectures of the gentlemen who are in pursuit of her are correct, she is the daughter of a very respectable and wealthy citizen of Brooklyn. To avoid the disgrace which she was aware must ensue on exposure of her unchaste indiscretion, she had resorted to every expedient to disguise her situation; and up to the very moment of giving birth to her illegitimate offspring, no one knew of her pregnancy but a younger sister, whom she alone made a confidante.

Sad and distressing as is this affair, and seriously afflicting as it must be to the friends and relatives of the unfortunate female—should she be subjected to a criminal prosecution, we hesitate not to give publicity to the facts, as they have been communicated to us, merely though it be to caution other transgressors against speculating too widely on the indulgence or the lethargy of the officers who have the management of the almshouse institution.