Available from: UVM Electronic text Archive
URL: http://etext.uvm.edu
Prepared for the University of Vermont Electronic Text Archive.
Scanner: Visioneer 6100 (36 bit, 600x1200). Text OCR by Visioneer.
Quote marks retained as data. All "M" and "N" dashes converted to two hyphens or one hyphen, respectively. All unambiguous end-of-line hyphens have been removed, and the trailing part of a word has been joined to the preceding line. Some text realigned to left for purposes of readability, at discretion of editors.
On March 6, 1914 [Richard Martin Walton], illegitimate, was born to [Dora Clifford Walton] in the Massachusetts State Infirmary, Tewksbury, to which place [Dora] had been transferred from the State Reformatory at Framingham.
[Dora] was committed to the Massachusetts Reformatory on the charge of adultery with a colored man named [Richard Abelstone] (or [Abel Stone]). [Abelstone] claimed the baby [Richard Martin Walton] as his child.
[Dora] was discharged from the Reformatory in November, 1914. The records in regard to her are blank from that date until 1919 when she appeared in Vermont with a new consort, a new baby, and a little boy who appeared to be about five years old, and whom she called Louis S____. She stated that the father of the child was Louis S____ who had died about six months before. [Dora's] statement is all we have to connect this man S___ with her at all.
Now, this little boy known now as Louis S____ has very delicate features, blue eyes and light hair. He is in the State Industrial School.
The enquiry that I would like to make of you is whether you have any record as to the appearance of the child [Richard Martin Walton]. My object in making this enquiry is to find out whether there was any evidence of colored blood. We feel that Louis S____ and [Richard Walton] are one and the same, but we would like to have all the evidence we can in regard to this matter.
Any help that you may be able to give would be very greatly appreciated.
Publication Restrictions:
The images and text on this web site are solely for education and research
uses. With the exception of government documents, images and texts may not
be used in digital or print form by organizations or commercial
enterprises except with written permission of the copyright holder or the
repository of origin. The materials may be used in digital or print form
with appropriate source citation in unpublished reports, classroom
instruction, research, community forums, and other non-profit
activities.
Permission required for reproduction.
Vermont Public Records
Central Services Division
Route 2, Middlesex
Drawer 33
Montpelier, VT 05633