Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

Fredericksburg, June 16.

a Female monster,

On Saturday last a little child was left at the house of a respectable man of color in the suburbs of the town, under circumstances indicating a degree of moral depravity in the being that seemed to be his mother, that well entitles her to the epithet of a female monster! The circumstances of the transaction, as related by the woman of the house, are simply as follows:

On the morning of Saturday, a strange white man called at her door and asked several questions about the town and neighborhood, and among others, whether there was a poor house in the town, and on going away, said that a woman with a child would pass along in a short time, and requested that she might be permitted to rest there until he returned. In about an hour, a white woman with a white child did come and stop at the house, and soon after the man returned with refreshments for her.

He had some private and apparently mysterious conversation with the woman, and they both very soon departed, in opposite directions, leaving the hapless child standing in the street! The woman of the house finding the child thus abandoned, kindly took him in the house, expecting that his parents (for such she supposed them to be,) would soon return, but the unnatural wretches returned not.

The man is described to be about 40 or 45 years of age—rather spare and of middle stature—light complexion—head bald—hair and whiskers sandy. His clothes were good, but dirty. It is strongly suspected he is the same person who was on that day soliciting aid of the masonic societies, in the character of a distressed brother.

The woman was not of so good an appearance, being dressed in a calicoe habit, dirty and slovenly. She was probably about 25 or 26 years of age. He addressed her by the name of Susan.

The poor little offcast boy appears to be about four years old. His hair is of a light sun-burnt colour: his eyes a dark hazel, a little inclined to be crossed: and when he is angry, his brows are contracted into a dark vindictive scowl. His dress consists of a coarse white Virginia cotton frock—

His ideas are very contracted, and his language vulgar and indistinct. —He bears evident marks of the grossest mental neglect and personal illtreatment. He can give no account of himself. He knows no name but that of Robert, by which the woman called him. He called the woman Suke.

He frequently says, "Suke is gone."

He sometimes speaks of "the baby."

His throat was sore and bruised as if from choaking: he said "suke did it." There was also a bruise on his side, as if from a kick, and his feet were sore and swollen with walking.

We have been thus far particular in describing the man and the woman that the public may be guarded against them, and in the hope that they may be brought to justice for this most unnatural act, which cries aloud for condign punishment.

It is conjectured by some that the poor boy is not the child of the woman who has thus abandoned him, but that he has been kidnapped from some poor parents, who are now bewailing the loss of their child in bitter grief; and has been used by these people as their son for the purpose of extorting charity from the public, until finding him become burdensome, they have left him to his fate.

Transactions of this nature are so uncommon among us, that this has excited the most lively indignation among our citizens; and it is ardently hoped that a publication of the circumstances may lead to a complete development of all the facts and the punishment of the guilty.

The woman said she came from near Richmond. She did not appear to be acquainted with towns.

The child is safely lodged at the poor house, where he will be taken care of.