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SALE OF BABY STARTS PROBE IN N. ORLEANSExtensive T raffic in Lit-tie Lives is Alleged by Investigators After Efforts Lasting Year.fBy Associated Press)NEW ORLEANS, June 2T.~-Fol-lowing the surrender of Mrs. T. P. Hodgins, midwife, after having been sought by police for the alleged sale of a, three-we6ks-old girl baby for $75, to a woman operative of the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, a widespread investigation of maternity hospitals by the district attorney’s office today got under way.On the belief that child sale was no uncommon occurrence in New Orleans, owing to the casual manner in which Mrs. Hodgins bickered over the details of the selling and certain confidential evidence ■ laid before him by Miss Susan K. Gil-lean, executive head of the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, District Attorney Eugene Stanley asserted that an intensive search would be made to bring to task midwives of questionable practice,Long Investigation The revealing of traffic in babies came after a year's investigation by the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty t.o Children. In the instance which led to the arrest of Mrs. T. P. Hodgins, attention was attracted by a carefully worded newspaper advertisement in which babies were offered for adoption. A blind number was given to be corresponded with.Miss Gillean, of the welfare society, tried vainly for months to entrap women who advertised babies for adoption, Each time she met with failure as women operatives aroused suspicion.When the particular advertisement of a baby for adoption appeared in one of the local newspapers, leading to the midwife's arrest, Miss Gillean assigned .a young woman worker In her office to the case. The young , woman answered the advertisement and received a telephone call from Mrs, Hodgins. •An appointment was mads to see the baby girl. The young • woman said she wanted the baby and the midwife is alleged to have made it plain that the taking out of adoption papers was not necessary. The young woman left with the baby in her arms after giving a check for ?37,50, one half of the sum agreed upon.With a receipt signed by Mrs. Hodgins in her possession, the woman operative called upon District Attorney Stanley. It was decided to work quietly on further investigations to entrap other offenders, but the news Jeaked out and the arrest of Mrs. Hodgins followed.Owing to the absence in the Louisiana criminal cod6 of any law prohibiting the sale of babies, Mrs. Hodgins has been charged merely with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Newspaper Details
Laurel Daily Leader
Laurel, Mississippi, US
Mon, Jun 27, 1927
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Nona E.
NA, 04 Sep 2024
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