The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-08
A ROMANTIC STjaY.
A Child stolen for the Purpose Of Reward
Its Deserti0n, Good Fortune md Happy
Recovery.
[Fr0m the Peoria t1li.) Transcript

From the Peoria t1l1.) Transcript
In the winter OF 1865 there resiued in Terre Haute
Ind, q Mr.. william Cook, who mad wife and one
visit with the little fellow to friend, and while
preached by gentlemaalv looking parsonage who
after pattfng and foldllng the little boy, asked per-
mission to take taxi him GU, and buy him some candy
with the boy. The lady waited for bis return but he
did not come back Tue tune for the departure Of the
train drew near, but still the child could not be
found A search, lasting througd days and months,
was unsuccessful IN revealing the Whereabouts OF the
missing boy Advertisements were inserted In the
leading papers, and the skill OF the detective force
was resorted 10, but all without avail. The parents
were nnally forced to tue convection that their child
had either been murdered or had died OF grief In
the year 1851 Clark Conrad formerly member OF
the Second regiment Michigan infantry. WA ar
rested IN the northern part OF this State charge
OF breaking open SAFE He was convicted and sent
TO Joliet. Mr.. l.. Il. Berry, or Pontlac an Old New
York detective hearing OF the abduction OF tue child
had worked the case So far as to lead him to think
Conrad knew something about the matter. By
working upon Conrad and promising TO use his in
nuence TO get him pardoned tor the CRIME OF safe
breaking he induced him to divuiRe the wherea-
bouts OF the child and the particulars OF Rpduc-
tion. Conrad acknowledged the abduction, and
sad 1t was done for the purpose OF obtaining the
reward which he supposed would be offered by the
parents OF the child. When he took the child from
the depot he delivered II into the hands OF woman
whom he claims as bis wife. she was to keep II until
the rewafd was offered; but fear'n2 detection and
arrest she escaped TO Michigan vita Conrad. The
officers were In close pursuit OF Conrad To arrest him
for the safe breaking operation, and the pair were
Obliged to abandon the cnlld in Union city, Mich.
Tne county authorities there took charge of the
chld and sent 1t to the poorhouse. The boy was an
interesting one and was supposed 70 lie an orphan.
Rev. Mr. and MIS-. H1rshberger, tue Episcopal min
lster aud lady Of that town toOK the child from the
p00rn0use and adopted IL as their own. As they
chdiess they soon learned to love their charge as
their own, and the boy learned to love them aud
regarded them as his parents.
few weeks ago detective Berry went to Union
CITY and informed the foster parents that he iu
child. The grief OF the new parents was uncOntrol-
able, and when the true parents arrived the Others
would not give up the child until compelled to do so
by due cOurse OF law. Mrs. HarshbeS2er feared all
the time that the enid was yet victim OF conspi
racy, and on the l7th or this mouth accompanied
the boy to his old home and there gave hIm M
when satisfied all was right. The mutual love the
mothers entertained for the child caused lively
love for each other to spring up in their hearts, and
when Mrs. Harshbcrger returned 10 her home she
was somewhat consoied for the loss OF her adopted
child with the knowledge that she would always he
welcome 10 AIS home aud might See nIin whenever
she wound.