St Louis Post Dispatch St. Louis, MO February 19, 1887 SURNAMES: BYRD "An Unfortunate Girl. Startling Revelations in a Criminal Trial at White Plains, N.Y." New York, February 19. A pale-faced girl on crutches was assisted into the Westchester County Court at White Plains yesterday by two policemen, who had been sent to bring her from the County Almshouse. The girl and everybody else supposed that she was the daughter of W. A. BYRD, a prosperous upholsterer of Mount Vernon, who was on trial on a charge of the unnatural offense of criminally assaulting his own child. When placed on the witness stand the child burst into tears and between her sobs told a sad story of her experience in the BYRD family's home. Her physical anguish was intense and, combined with her evident mental distress, served to gain for her deep sympathy of judge, jury, counsel and spectators. Between her sobs, she stated that her name was Charlotte BYRD, and that she was paralyzed in her lower limbs as a result of giving birth to a child three months ago. She deposed that she was the daughter of the defendant, and that during the early part of last year he forced an entrance into her bed room and had assaulted her. The offense, she said, was repeated at intervals for several months, until it became evident that she was about to become a mother and then Mr. BYRD sent her to the Whetmore Hospital in New York City, where her child was born. When she partially recovered she was removed home. Sent to the Almshouse "But my parents would not let me into the house and I had to go to the alms-house," continued the girl with another burst of tears. Miss BYRD, during her sad story, repeatedly cast appealing glances at her supposed parents, who sat side by side near her. Her narrative was so sad and her despair so evident that several of the spectators were moved to tears. BYRD then took the stand and caused a sensation when he was asked if he was the father of Miss BYRD. "No, I'm not," he replied, looking steadily at the crippled girl, whose face turned ghastly pale, while her eyes opened with astonishment. When the hum of excitement had died away BYRD proceeded to explain that the young woman was only an adopted child. He swore in positive terms that he had not assaulted her. Before the so-called Miss BYRD had recovered from the stupor of despair into which she was thrown, Mrs. BYRD, wife of the upholsterer, took the stand and proceeded to support her husband's statement. She swore most positively that she had never had a child and that she adopted the girl fourteen years ago. At the time Charlotte changed parents there were no questions asked, and Mrs. BYRD did not know the child's real name or any particulars of her birth. She said she was sure that her husband had not assaulted Charlotte. Evidence was introduced to show that Mr. BYRD bore an excellent character, and the jury, after an absence of a few minutes came into court with a verdict of not guilty. The unfortunate girl, who was almost insensible through grief and physical anguish, was carried from the room to the wagon which was waiting for her to take her back to the Poor-house. It is not believed that she will live long. SOURCE: http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/link.php?action=detail&id=84437 NOTES: The terms Westchester County almshouse and poorhouse were used interchangeably.