Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-06-20

HE WESTERN QUARTERLY REVIEW


by the Reverend Timothy Flint, author Of Fran
cis Berrien, &c. 1t is a work which, whilst i
is conducted with its present ability, cannot fai
to secure the patronage of the literary world
and to those who are fond of Reviews, il il
heartily and warmly recommended. Whils
looking over its pages, few days since, on
attention was arrested, by an article on th'
subject of the " Lost Child" subject tha
has caused great excitement in the westerI
States:
AS our readers may not recollect the circum'
stances Of this extraordinary affair, we will re-
late them, in as few words as possible.
A boy, about four years of age, some time
in the year 1926, was missed by his parents
who resided in the West, and dlgent search
was made to recover him, without the least
success, nor were any tidings had of him, save
what was afforded by negro man, who stated
that he saw him taken up, by two men on
horseback; but whittier they directed their
steps he could not tell; and thus were the pa
rents left in the most distressing state of anxiety
and suspense. A year had nearly elapsed, when
a letter, post-marked and dated at Nat
chez, Mississippi, was received, in which
the parents were informed, that if they would
forward fifty dollars to the writer, the fate of
their boy should be made known to them, and
on the payment Oftwo hundred more, he should
be delivered, at a certain house in Arkansaw
On the receipt of the letter, the father of the
child informed the Post-Master at Natchez of
its contents, addressed a note to the writer.
Mr. Thomas Tulty, tall Irishman, who az the
proper time, called at tie Post-Oflice for his
letter, and was arrested, and charged with hav-
ing stolen the lost child. The result of the
affair is thus told by Mr. Flint, the Editor of
the work to which we have already alluded:
meanwhile a number of the respectable
people Of Natchez, stimulated by their ense
interest, the warm blood of the south, an
their impatient fondness for summary justice;
and thinking probably, that little hiding
could do the Irishman no possible harm, and
might operate upon his impertmbable close
ness the benefit of course of gymna sites, took
him by night from the prison, and gave him a
pretty severe drubbing, miimating between
the intervals of discipline, that whenever he
found the application transcending the bounds
of health and pleasant feeling, any useful in
formation, touching the child, would save them
the trouble Of carrying the operation any far
ther. The Irishman shrugged, and seemed for
a long time disposed TO persevere in his Gus
tomary closeness, and receive all the benefits
of the prescription. But at a point, where the
thing was becoming evidently very unpleasant,
he seemed to relent, and said, that if they
would send to certain house between forty
and fifty miles from Natchez, in Mississippi the
people there would tell them where they might
find the child. The sheriff, who stated, that
he had disapproved of these proceedings, and
was, moreover, ill at the time, was no sooner
apprized of this information, than he started at
midnight for the designated house When he
arrived there, he found that the people were of
good character, and perceived in moment,
that he was on a false scent. and that the pris-
oner had given this information only to get rid
of correction.
The parents and the people, having exhaust
ed every effort upon the pertlnacious silence,
and unshrnking obstinacy of the prisoner to
no purpose, became fully impressed, that he
had indeed, been concerned in the ling of
the child, but that he no longer knew any
thing about its present condition, and had been
induced to what ne had done, merely TO obtain
money, by trfing with parental anxiety and
affection. They consented 10 the enlargement
Of the prisoner on nOHe prosequi, on condi-
tion, that he should return with the parents, in
the hope, that threats, or promised rewards, or
a returning sense of Justice and humanity,
when he should arrive where the clothes the
child were laid, might yet induce him to put
them on a clue to finding him.
He was accordingly enlarged, and crossed
the Mississippi in the same ferry boat with
the parents on their return home. II had been
intimated to him, that uress he
would frankly communicate to Mr.. Clark on
the Journey, all that he knew about the child,
as soon as they should have travelled beyond
he settlements, he would be put to DEATH
Having advanced Beyond the settlement of
Concordia, he asked Mr.. Clark, how long he |
Intended TO allow him TO live; the reply was, if |
lie pe,si d in Withholding information about
he child, perhaps thirty-sx hours. Mr. Clark
,arried a pistol in his belt The Irshman
ushed upon him, seized the pistol, and snap
'ed it at his breast. Although he had primed
md loaded it himself, it fortunately missed
ire. Failing in his purposes, the Irshman
'roke away and made for bayou, TO which
hey were approaching He plunged in, dis
ppeared, and was drowned, and thus extin-
,ushed the only visible hope Of clue to un-
avol this mysterious and tragical affair"
There is something exceedingly horrible in
he foregoing tale, and we are LEFT to won
or and 10 be astonshed, that the Irishman
referred death, to the delivering Of the child,
'hilst our sympathies are awakened, and VIC
re led to condole with the wretched parents,
tho have been lefl in the most agonizing state
{ suspense, whilst the fate of darling child
involved in an inexplicable mystery.