Grimsby Baby Case Unmasks 1900s Infant Trafficking Ring

In 1907, a traveling showbiz couple, Herbert Smith and Lottie Roberts, were arrested in Grimsby on suspicion of causing the death of a two-week-old baby. This incident, however, led to the shocking discovery of a widespread baby trafficking operation.

The couple, who performed musical hall acts, had been preying on desperate parents, particularly those with illegitimate children. They advertised themselves as a couple seeking to adopt, promising a good home for a fee of up to £15.

Instead of providing loving families, Smith and Roberts delivered the infants to "baby farmers" – individuals who would care for the children for a small weekly payment, often neglecting them until they died. The couple used fake identities and addresses, making it difficult to trace them.