Special to the Sentinel
Winchester, Ind., May 21.-Last Saturday a fine-looking young lady, neatly clad, but evidently laboring under great
trouble, boarded John Van Talburg's train at Selma, moneyless, claiming she lived at Union City, whither she was
bound. Van took the situation in at a glance, and permitted her to pass. Upon arrival on the train at this
place the woman alighted, and requested the driver of the Franklin House cab to convey her to a boarding house
at once. She was taken to George Irvin's boarding house, on North Main street, not a moment too soon, as she was
already in the pangs of child-birth, and fell to the floor completely exhausted before a bed could be prepared
for her. Medical aid was summoned, and she was relieved of the child in less than 15 minutes after her arrival.
Township Trustee, S. D. Coats who officially guaranteed all necessary expenses, ascertained that her name was
Laura Hagan; residence, Muncie; that she had until the time of disappearence last Wednesday, occupied an enviable
position in the best society there; that she had been seduced by a prominent attorney of that place-this being
his third victim-and sent from home penniless by the wretch who had so ruthlessly disgraced her. She was started
out as a book agent among stranders only four days before the child's birth by the brute, and had walked upward of
six miles to reach the train that brought her here. Being almost barefooted, her feet were badly lacerated and swollen
by her long walk. Her mother was notified of her condition immediately upon her disappearance by an aunt. The shock
proved too much for her, and she now lies in a critical condition. The child died this morning. The young lady is in
a precarious condition. Her aunt arrived here this afternoon from whom the above facts were elicited.
A follow-up article the following day indicates much of the story is bogus with the exception of the death of the baby.
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