Sunday, December 3, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: December 3

December 3, 1903 – Washington County Sheriff Ostrom and Deputy Sheriff Jarchow went to Minneapolis today, where they arrested Miss Helena McIntosh. They returned with their prisoner in the afternoon.

Miss McIntosh was charged with having thrown the body of her new-born infant into the pig yard at the home of her brother, John McIntosh, on the north shore of Square Lake, where it was found last Friday by boys.

Miss McIntosh at first denied the charge, but later confessed and told the following story:

For some months she had been employed as a house servant in Arcola, but was discharged when her condition was discovered. She went to her brother’s home, where the child was born without the knowledge of her brother or his family. She says the baby was born alive, but lived only 30 minutes, and was dead when she hid it in the fodder pile in the pig yard.

When the body was discovered she fled to Minneapolis, where her hiding place was discovered by the sheriff. She is now in the Washington County jail in Stillwater.

Mackintosh is 24 years of age and a native of Buffalo, NY.

The Minneapolis Tribune; “Young Woman Is Arrested. Miss Mackintosh, Charged With Having Thrown Away Body of Infant Is Taken to Stillwater Jail.”; Dec. 4, 1903; p. 2.
_________________________

The Dec. 8 Washington County grand jury refused to indict Helena McIntosh, charged with having murdered her child. According to the Stillwater Messenger, “No doubt she had the sympathy of the jury in her trouble. She certainly had the sympathy of the public generally.”

Stillwater Messenger; Dec. 12, 1903; p. 4.


The historic Washington County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of 
Historic Places on Aug. 26, 1971.

Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain Aug. 26, 2014, 
as long as acknowledgement included.


               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.

                                                        


 Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com





No comments:

Post a Comment