In 1907, Perth woman Alice Mitchell was arrested for the murder of
five-month-old Ethel Booth. During the inquest and subsequent trial, the
state's citizens were horrified to learn that at least 37 infants had
died in Mitchell's care in the previous six years. It became clear that
she had been running a 'baby farm, ' making a profit out of caring for
the children of single mothers and other 'unfortunate women.' The Alice
Mitchell murder trial gripped the city of Perth and the nation. This
book retraces this infamous 'baby farm' tragedy, which led to
legislative changes to protect children's welfare.