UNKNOWN, male fetus died 1877

UNKNOWN

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 9/14/2024 at 17:08:07

On Wednesday morning, while at work on the railroad track between the creek bridge and the depot, about five rods South of the former, the attention of a laborer was directed to a package lying on the rip-rapped bank about six feet above the water's edge. It was a parcel wrapped in several thicknesses of paper and cloth, and had evidently been thrown from the sidewalk to the river, but fell upon the bank.

Opening the package, the man was horrified to find therein the body of a male fetus, probably four months old, and which had evidently been lying on the bank for ten days or more.

Coroner Morgan impaneled a jury, and an investigation was had of the circumstances, as far as possible, but without obtaining facts other than those above stated. The crime committed was one of a nature so abhorrent and so repulsive that we are loath to believe that it was the work of any one in this community, but, sooner or later, the person guilty must be discovered.

~Lansing Mirror, Friday, November 16, 1877; pg 1

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A male foetus of about four months development, was found on the river bank just below the railroad bridge in this city, last Wednesday morning, but some section men who were passing and discovered the mysterious looking package. It was closely done up in cloth and paper and must have lain there or some where else several days. The unusual procedure of holding a coroner's inquest was resorted to, but for what purpose we do not know, for there was certainly nothing developed that brought any light upon the mysterious circumstance. The package may have floated down the river from some point above, for we do not believe there is any body in goodly Lansing would commit the horrible crime which seems to have been perpetrated. If there is, we hope they will be discovered and punished.

~North Iowa Journal, Wednesday, November 21, 1877; pg 4