Miami - N.Y. Baby Ring Bared

December 6, 1949

The importation of 25 to 30 babies from Miami - described by a prosecutor as "a mecca for unwed mothers from all parts of the country" - was disclosed here yesterday in creminal proceedings against an asserted baby-peddling ring which charged as much as $2,000 per child. Named in the six-count grand jury information were two lawyers and a 44-year-old housewife.

It was the first such accusation made since enactment of the law making it an additional crime to help an unauthorized agency to make a profit b placing babies, District Attorney Hogan said.

Charged with conspiracy and illegal placement for adoption were Irwin Slater, 38, of 13 70th St., Brooklyn, with offices at 67 W. 44th St.; Harry Wolfson, 37, his assistant, of 260 Ocean parkway, also Brooklyn, and Mrs. Bess Bernard, 44, of 825 West End Ave.

The operations, according to Assistant DA Ernest Mittler, were "a big-time business done on assembly-line basis,", with Slater "in charge of production," Wolfson as "his office manager" and Mrs. Bernard "in charge of placement and transportation of the babies."

In Miami, Mittler explains, the unwed mothers "could easily lose themselves". The babies that were brought north, he said, were "sold" here and in nearby states.

Slater assertedly drafted formal agreements "just like a bill of sale for a piece of property" and insserted a clause that the payments were for all fees and adoption services. However, Mittler said, he knows of no case where Slater and the others actually brought an adoption proceeding for foster parents.

In Special Sessions, Slater and Mrs. Bernard were held in $1,000 bail each and the sae amount was fixed for Wolfson. A trial date will be set Dec. 12.

Slater had previously been held on a Magristrate's Court charge of placing babies illegally, which was dismissed in view of the information. Mrs. Bernard also had been under bail charged with assault on a policeman and interfering with the process of justice.

Two DA's detectives complained that while going through Mrs. Bernard's apartment, armed with a search warrant, she wrested a notebook from one of them, scratching and kicking, and tossed it to her father, whereupon the old man outran the second detective and escaped with it.

In a statement after arraignment, Slater asserted he had acted merely as an intermediary and said 85% of adoption cases were privately handled in this manner. Wolfson said he was a friend of Slater, but neither a partner nor associate, and had not participated in his activities in any way.