FULL TEXT: In Hull police court this morning, before Judge Roland Millar and a crowd which packed every inch of available space in the court room, the preliminary trial of Diana Lacroix, of South Hull, who is charged with the murder of an infant child known as “baby Villaneuve” whose death took place at her home, off the Chelsea road, on February 10th last.
The evidence given this morning was similar to that produced at the coroner’s inquest, which held Mrs. Lacroix criminally responsible for the death of three children at her home.
An important point for the defence was brought out by the production of three death certificates issued by Dr. J. F. Champagne of Hull, for the three children with whose death certificates issued by Dr. J. F. Champagne of Hull, for the three children whose deaths Mrs. Lacroix is charged. Two of them, issued in January, certified that the babies designated as “Joseph Albert” and “Marius” died from cerebral trouble and the third, “Baby Villaneuve” from stomach trouble induced by malnutrition.
~ For Further Charges. ~
Crown Attorney P. B. Major conduced the case for the Crown and intimated that two further charges of murder would be preferred against Mrs. Lacroix this afternoon, in connection with the deaths at her home of “Baby Riendeau” and “Baby Lalonde.”
Owing to other cases intervening the murder trial did not start until late in the morning and is being continued this afternoon.
Mr. Henri Gauthier, undertaker, Victoria street, Hull, testified that he had since August last been called to the Lacroix home at South Hull to take charge of seven infants which had died there. In each instance he had been summoned by Mrs. Lacroix, and young men, the fathers of the children had arranged about the funerals.Witness said he had been called to take charge of the Villaneuve baby on February tenth and described the locale of Mrs. Lacroix’s home as being in what had been known as the “Red Light district.”
Evidence as to the character of the former owner of the Lacroix residence, George Braithwaite, was objected to by Mr. A. Fournier for the defence, and his objection was sustained.
~ Received Death Certificate. ~In reply to counsel for the defence, witness stated he had received a death certificate from Dr. Champagne for the Villaneuve baby dated February 16th, but he was not sure as to the date he received it. He denied that he had received any instructions regarding the retaining of the body without burial, from any police officer, until notified by Coroner Dr. J. Isabelle, towards the end of February.
He explained that while the three bodies of the dead children, two of which had died in January had been kept at the morgue, as it was customary, in order to avoid special single funerals for infants in winter time.
Mrs. Narbonne, living on the Chelsea road, about an acre from the Lacroix home, testified she had escorted Miss Villaneuve with her sister-in-law and baby Villeneuve to the Lacroix home, some time in January. As far as she could tell them, the baby seemed in perfect health. She had seen it two weeks later, when it had changed so she was hardly able to recognize it.
In cross-examination by Mr. Fournier, however, witness said that while she did not remember the date, she thought that when she had seen the baby after it had been taken to Mrs. Lacroix’s home, it was about a day or two before it died. Mrs. Lacroix had explained the condition of the baby by stating it was ill when brought to her.
~ Directed Women to Farm. ~
Witness admitted having on several occasions directed women with children to the Lacroix residence, she thought about five different times, but denied she knew Mrs. Lacroix was keeping a baby farm or what remuneration if any she received.
“You don’t think she kept those children for nothing do you?” asked Crown Attorney Major.
“No, replied witness. She remembered when baby Villeneuve had been taken there, after Mrs. Lacroix had undressed it, she had remembered that it was a “fine baby.”
Witness denied a suggestion by Mr. Fournier that she had admitted in the presence of witness that she had declare Baby Villaneuve was in good health when taken to the Lacrioix home, because she had been threatened by a detective with six months in jail if she did not.
“You deny that you made this statement at any time since February 28th?” asked defence counsel.
“I never said that,” replied witness. “I did tell my mother and father and a Mr. Willie Pottel that it was healthy when it went there.”
~ Saw Babies Being Fed. ~
Witness said she saw the babies being fed by Mrs. Lacroix on some occasions.
“Was the nourishment that which would be given to rich or poor babies,” asked Crown Attorney Major.
“I don’t know what the rich get,” said Mrs. Narbonne, amid laughter in the court.
Dr. Champagne said he had attended the Lacroix home for five sick infants on six occasions since December 12th. Three of the babies had died, two of them from cerebral trouble and a third from stomach trouble. In his opinion the five children were only moderately nourished. “Did you not say in your evidence at the inquest that they were all very poorly nourished,” asked the Crown.
~ “Moderately Nourished.” ~
“No, I said moderately nourished,” replied witness, who added that if a child was troubled with its stomach it could not assimilate nourishment, whether poor or rich.
“You would not hold a nurse responsible for the death of a child, under those conditions, would you?” asked Mr. Fournier. Witness replied in the negative. When witness saw Baby Villaneuve the day before it died it was suffering from malnutrition and would not take nourishment of any kind. “Did not Mrs. Lacroix on this occasion suggest the child being sent to a hospital?” asked defence counsel.
“I don’t remember. She might have, but in any case it would have been useless to adopt this course, the child was too far gone,” said Dr. Champagne.
["Hardly Able To Recognize Child After Fortnight – Woman Who Accompanied Mother with Baby to Lacroix Home Gives Evidence at Preliminary Hearing. – Mrs. Lacroix Due To Face Further Charges – Hull Courtroom Crowded as Trial of Alleged Baby Farm Keeper Gets Under Way.” The Ottawa Evening Sun (Ontario, Canada), Mar. 9, 1927, pp. 1, 6]
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FULL TEXT: Hull, Que., March 19 – Mrs. Diana Lacroix, proprietress of a baby farm here, faces a manslaughter charge in connection with the death of three of seven infants in her keeping. Evidence showed the babies died of insufficient and impure nourishment and lack of care. Their bodies, it was stated, were like skeletons.
After the bodies of seven infants were found a coroner’s jury was called to inquire about the case. Upon hearing the evidence submitted the jury at once returned a verdict holding Mrs. Lacroix criminally responsible for the deaths.
A warrant for Mrs. Lacroix’s arrest was issued and a charge of manslaughter was placed against her.
It is intimated by the authorities that when she comes to trial further evidence will be submitted by the prosecution, to show that the baby farm was conducted on an extensive scale, as many as eight babies being kept there at one time, and that since August last, seven deaths have occurred there.
A mother of one of the children testified that on January 20 she had take the baby, only a month and a half old, but weighing six and three-quarter pounds and perfectly healthy, to Mrs. Lacroix. On February 10 it was dead and in such a terrible changed condition that the mother almost fainted when she saw it.
Dr. J. E. Champagne of Hull testified he had paid five visits to the Lacroix establishment and had attended five children of whom had died. In each case he had found the children to be suffering from acute lack of nourishment.
The “shack” which is the Lacroix home, is on an offshoot of the Chelsea road known as “Stovepipe Alley” because most of the residents were negroes. It is a one story building of the log cabin type, with hardly enough accommodation for two persons, decidedly unsanitary, and with no facilities for handling children of tender years, delicate or otherwise.
[“Death of 7 Babies Charged to Head of Baby Farm,” The Bee (Danville, Va.), Mar. 21, 1927, p. 4]
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FULL TEXT: The trial in connection with the death of Baby Riendeau for which Mrs. Diana Lacroix, aged baby farm keeper of South Hull is alleged to be responsible, commenced this morning and a new jury was empanelled Mrs. Lacroix has already been found not guilty of a similar charge.
Only two witnesses were examined at the morning session and the evidence brought before the court was of a nature parallel to that reviewed in the first murder trial. It is expected that this trial. It is expected that this trial and that for the alleged murder of Baby Lalonde will together last but three days.
Mrs. Lacroix sitting quietly in the witness box, looked haggard and worn, her long imprisonment having told very materially on her.
The counsel for the defence was Alphonse Fournier and J. A. Parent was the Crown Attorney, Judge J. C. Walsh of Montreal is presiding. The court room, which was practically deserted today, few persons being aware that the second trial was to be commenced today.
[“Mrs. Lacroix On Trial Once More – Aged Baby Farm Keeper Again Before Judge and Jury In High Court.” The Ottawa Evening Citizen (Ontario, Canada), Jun. 20, 1937, p. 3]
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Diana Lacroix, South Hull, Ontario, Canada
CHRONOLOGY
1926 – 4 deaths of babies: Aug., Oct., Dec.
Jan. 25, 1927 – Unidentified baby dies.
Jan. 27, 1927 – Unidentified baby dies.
Feb. 5, 1927 – Unidentified baby dies.
Feb. 8, 1927 – Coroner’s investigation.
Feb. 10, 1927 – Baby Villaneuve placed with Lacroix.
Feb. 19, 1927 – Baby Villaneuve dies.
Feb. 29, 1927 – Beatrice Villeneuve (23) testifies; mother of dead baby.
Mar. 1, 1927 – Diana Lacroix summoned to magistrate’s court, Hull.
Mar. 3, 1927 – Diana Lacroix (60) charged with murder of Baby Villaneuve; Hull Court.
Mar. 4, 1927 – autopsies conducted on 3 babies.
Jun. 8, 1927 – acquitted of death of Baby Villaneuve.
Jun. 9, 1927 – charged with murders of Baby Ridenau, Baby Lalonde.
Jun. 20, 1927 – Trial commences: deaths of Baby Ridenau, Baby Lalonde.
Reports on outcome not yet located.
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For more cases of “Baby Farmers,” professional child care providers who murdered children see The Forgotten Serial Killers.
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