Sale Of Babies Is Charge Against Trio

Chronicle (Levin), 7 December 1949, Page 5

Sale Of Babies Is Charge Against Trio

(N.Z.P.A.-

— Reuter.

CoDvriahtJ

Received Tuesbay 7 p.m. t NEW YORK, Dec. 5. Two lawyers and a housewife were charged with eonspiracy and illegal dealings in babies on an international basis, at fees ranging as high as 2000 dollars. Ernest Mittler, assistant district attorney, who announeed the arrests on ;a six-count grand jury information, said the trio eondueted "big time business done on an assembly line basis." Those arrested were Irwin Slater, aged 38; Ilarry Wolfson, aged 37, and Mrs Bess Bernard, aged 44. Mr Mittler said he estimated the trio had netted over 100,000 dollars in the last 1^ months in operations that extended from Miami and Cuba along the eastern seaboard as^far north as Boston. He added that last January the trio concentrated on Miami which he desctfbe.d as "a mecca for unwed mothers from all parts of the country, who could easily lose themselves there." Mr Mittler alleged that last year between 25 and 30 babies were , brought from Miami alone and then sold to persons in New York and nearby states •without proper adoption procedures. He said it was the lirst time information was laid under the newly signed law making it a crime to receive profit for assisting in the placement of babies, by unauthorised agencieS. | Bail was fixed at 1000 dollars eaeh after the three defendahts had pleaded ^not guilty in spocial sessions. •