American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1827-09-07

20 the calm Of resignation and despair. 1T will he
easy to conceive, that not the tranquil mourn
mr. Of parents, who have seen their child buried
unde, the clnsls of the valley.
Sonp time last winter, the father received let
Ter, mailed at the Natrhez pnst office, informing
him that If he would enclose fifty dollars in let
ter to The writer and would send the mother Of the
child unaccompanietl by any other person, to
certain house in Arkansas, which he designated,
w;th two hundred dollars more. the writer enga-
yed that certain woman in the designated house
should deliver up the child to its mother The
letter was written in gentlcmaniy hand, and sign
ed Thomas Iutty.
The nlan of the distracted parents was settled
by advice Of many people in Louisiana, who enter
ed warmly into their feelings letter, stating
all the circumstances Of the case, was written to
thc most master at Natchez. Another, agreeable
10 ali the requirements Of rutty, and enclosing
bank note Of fifty dollars, was addressed to him.
tn the letter to the postmaster he was directed to
watch for the man who should call for the other
letter, and have him apprehended At the proper
time, a man of gentlemanly appearance and man
ners, with the dialect Of foreigner, cnquired for
the letter. The postmaster, by design, made diff
Guilty and delay in making change, and detained
The man until an officer was procured, and he was
,nnrehendcd. He was found to be man who kept
n school for some time in the vicinity of Natchez.
whose singular and cautious habits had already ex-
cited suspicion He proved himself shrewd, sulky,
and pertinaciously obstinate in his purpose, to con
fess nothing, and to throw the whole burden of
proof on the magistrate, before whom he was tried
lie would not admit the identity of the letter with
Mia own. and denied that his name was Thomas
'Tutty. He was charged with having fabricated
the story. that he knew where the child was, and
would cause to be delivered to its parents merely
with the base purpose Of extorting money from the
affection Of the parents. He continued to affirm,
that lie knew where the child was, and proved that
he was acquainted with the long way between
Natchez aud the residence of MIR. Clark, by an
swering, with the utmost promptncss and intel-
renee, questions about the numerous bayons,
swamps, and passes in the distance, but with a
particularity intended purpu>ely to perplex him.
On the suspicious fact Of his having enquired for
The letter directed to Thomas Tutty, be was com
mitted to PRISM.
The parents who repaired to Natchez anu varl-
Gus peoples WIN took deep interest in this strange
and terrible aff.r, exhausted their ingenuity to no
purpose in efforts to get something out Of the prison
er, that might furnish clue by which to find the
child He told the father, that in place where il
was supposed he would pass in search OF the child
he would find the clothes which the child wore when
Il di,appearcd and bones having the appearance
Of those Of child of his years. that had been de
vourcd by beasts. But he assured him, that the
bones we're not those Of the child, but Of an animal
placed therc 10 produce that IMPRESSION. cush an
investigation was found to be the fact. Yet strange
70 tell, nothing could extort from the man the sligh-
test information that had amy other tendency than
still more to excite the imagination, and harrow up
the feelings IT the parent.
Meanwhile number Of respectable people OF
Natchcz, stimulated by their intense interest, the
warm blood OF the south. and their impatient fond
ness for summary justice, and thinking probably
that little Gliding could do this man no possibly
harm. took him by night from the prison, and gave
him pretty severe drubbing. intimating between
intervals Of discipline. that whenever he found the
application transccnding the bounds OF health and
pleasant feeling, any useful information touching
tlc child would save them the trouble Of carrying
the opcration any farther. The man shrugged and
seemed for long time disposed to pcrscvere III his
customary closeness. But at a time when the thing
vas evidently very unpleasant. he seemed TO re
lent, and said that if they would send to a certain
house between fuity and fifty miles from Natchez
in Mississippi, the people there would tell them
where thcy might find the child. The sheriff, who
stated that he disapproved OF these proceedings
and was moreover Ill at the time, was no sooner
apprized of this information. than he started al
midnight for the designated house. When he ar
rived, he fonnd that the people were OF a goof
character, and perceived in moment that he was
on a false scent, and that the prisoner had givet
this information only ogct rid OF correction.
The parents and the people, having exhausted
every effort upon the pertnacious silence and un
shrinking obsinacy Of the prisoner. to no purpose
became fully impressed that he had indeed beer
concerned in the stealing Of the child, but that HI
no longer knew any thing about its present cont'
tion and had been induced to what he had done
merely to obtain money by trining with parenta
anxiety and affection. They consented TO the en-
largement Of the prisoner, on condition that n
should return with the parents in the hope tina
threats or promised rewards. or a returning sens
Of Justice and humanity, when he should arrlv
where the clothes OF the child were laid, might ye
;ndncn Ii ~ ,,,t them nn a clue 10 finding him.