On This Date in Minnesota History: April 22

April 22, 1909 – “Not guilty,” was the verdict returned by the jury in the Royal M. Bly case at 9:10 this evening, after it had been out for more than 28 hours. Bly was indicted jointly with Dr. W. C. Van Damme, the charge against him being that he assisted in a criminal operation. The acquittal was the result of his second trial for complicity in the now famous “suitcase baby” case, the jury disagreeing in the first instance. Dr. Van Damme was found guilty and is now serving time at the Stillwater state prison, the sentence imposed on him being five years.

The defense was conducted by Louis Gjertsen, assisted by W. E. Hewitt. The prosecution was in the hands of the county attorney. Mary Leagh, the mother of the baby, and Dr. Van Damme were the star witnesses. The latter testified that Bly had received part of the money.

The innocent cause of the affair, who has become famous as the “suitcase baby,” has finally received a name of his own, and will hereafter be known as Belair Leagh. He was christened in the city jail today in the presence of the matron, several officers, his mother and his mother’s sister. The name selected by the mother is that of Patrolman John G. Belair, the man who saved the infant’s life by his prompt action on the morning it was found in the Blue Ribbon Saloon.

The Minneapolis Tribune; “Royal M. Bly Found Guiltless by Jury. Out for 28 Hours, Body Comes to an Agreement in Case. Charged With Complicity in Matter of ‘Suitcase’ Baby.”; April 23, 1909; p. 6.
Intoxicated doctor forgets he has newborn baby in his suitcase; see Feb. 24, 2018 blog.

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