From: Sherri Hall [ldrbelties@earthlink.net] Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2003 7:08 PM To: KY-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [KYF] NEWS: Trial of Lizzie Bennett Ball, 1921, Bell Co. Submitted by Mary Lou Husdon Middlesboro Daily News, Middlesboro, KY Jan. 25, 1921 Alleged Mother Of Dead Baby Held To Bell Grand Jury Lizzie Bennett Ball,Charged With Disposing Of Child's Body In Unnatural Way, Is Held Without Bail - Mother Under $300 Bond. Pineville, Jan. 25 -- Evidence submitted at the preliminary hearing yesterday in the case of Lizzie Bennett Ball, charged with using unnatural means in disposing of a new-born baby, of which she is alleged to be the mother, while circumstances was strongly against her, and as a result she was held without bail to await the action of the next session of the grand jury convening next month. Evidence submitted by Dr. Lattimore, who was engaged by the county to investigate the case professionally, it is alleged pointed to the woman as being the mother of the child. It developed at the hearing that J.H. Ball who, it was stated, was the woman's husband, was not legally married to her but was his common law wife. Disclosures showed that the baby was discovered several hours after it was born in an outhouse adjoining property occupied by Tansy Bennett, mother of the accused woman, in the mining camp of the Coleman Mining company, about six miles from Pineville. Additional evidence submitted by witnesses was of such an indecent nature that it is unprintable. Mrs. Tansy Bennett, mother of the girl, was held in $300 bail as an accessory, while Barker Smiddy, alleged paramour of the young woman, was released because of insufficient evidence to connect him with the crime. The hearing was before County Judge Robert Vanbevers, and according to those present it disclosed evidence of such a nauseating nature that several person present connected with the case left before it was finished. ______________________________