Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 May 1917 — BABY BOY LEFT ON DOORSTEP [ARTICLE]

BABY BOY LEFT ON DOORSTEP

At the Home of Mr- and Mrs. i, Frank Stride Thursday Night. A black haired baby boy, apparently a week old, was left on the doorstep at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Shide, who reside near the Rensselaer Lumber Co’s, yards, at about 8:30 o’clock Thursday evening. The baby was lying in a market basket and was wrapped In some old clothing, but there was nothing whatever to indicate who had left the child. Mr. Shide had retired for the night and his wife was preparing to do so when an automobile stopped in front of the house. A moment later some one knocked on the door and as Mrs. Shide was proceeding to it the machine sped away. Upon opening the door she at first saw nothing, and then her eye caught the basket and something moving therein. She at first thought some one had left some cats, but at this instant the little body .in the basket emitted a plaintive cry. There was no longer any doubting as to what the basket contained and taking the little one into the house it was tenderly cared for. That the child was intended for Mr. and Mrs. Shide there is no doubt, as investigation disclosed that an automobile, probably the same one, had just previously driven about the house where they had recently resided. Mr. and Mrs. Shide announced yesterday that they would keep the child.