The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-08-01
Qbe Qintes, Mem Bluonrfelo, 1]a.
A Long Search for n Kidnapped Child
She Is Found Through Masonic aid.

She is Found Through Masonic aid.
Helen McKibbee child ten years of age
whose father resides in Montrose Pa, has
just been sent home after forced absence
Of over seven months, having been stolen by
man named Haywood brother of
McKibbee's first wife. While out walking
in September last she was seized by Hay
wood and placed in buggy and driven
rapidly away. Just how far they rode
Helen does not remember but it was for
many hours, and then they stopped only
for short time, and she was taken on
board the cars. Haywood impressed it
upon her mind that if she called him by
that name, made any alarm, or dared to
hold any conversation with strangers her
life should be the forfeit He also tried to
fiatter her, and between his ferocious
threats and his promises of new clothing
and fine jewelry the little girl rendered him
obedience. 'ut H
Helen remembers passing through Cleve-
land and her steamboat ride to Detroit,
and then she found herself in Lansing and
was informed by Haywood that her home
would henceforth be there. During the
evening of her arrival she was taken to the
North end of the city, and to the house of
resident whose character for integrity, hon.
esty and manly worth has never been ques-
toned until now. She was there told that
her name had been changed to Gage, and
that she must never tell any person word
about her other name, parents or home.
The citizen has several relatives in Lansing
and this Haywood is distantly related to
each one, this fact probably inducing him
to put the stolen girl into the hands he did.
In few days Helen was provided with
books and sent to the Fourth Ward Union
School, her name being put upon the
records as Gage.
AS soon as Helen's absence was known
every means was used to trace her. The
girl had had her photograph taken a few
weeks before, and one of them was re-
copied, and a specimen sent to every point
and to every official where there was the
slightest hope Of success ; but every effort
failed to track the villain further than to
the point where he took the cars.
A firm of lawyers all of the parties noted
for being equally good detectives, was then
secured by the father, and they got out
handbills, advertisements, circulars, and
sought in every way to discover the girls
abiding place but they got not so much as
trace. The victims parents were half
crazed with grief, the case gained notoriety
throughout the whole State, and, as last
hope, the lawyers determined to appeal to
the Masonic fraternity throughout the
United States for assistance. This was in
May last, after seven months of weary and
fruitless search. A circular containing a
close description Of the girl and detailing
the circumstances Of the case, was mailed
to several hundred lodges-one of them to
that at North Lansing. George II. Greene,
W. NJ, reading the circular over, it was
passed to some of the brethren, and the
neighbors Of the man who had the girl in
charge came to the conclusion that Helen
was the one soughtafter.
The lawyers were notified, and one of
them accompanied by the father, at once
proceeded to Lansing but though they
thought they had acted with great secrecy,
when they reached the house it was found
locked and the girl was again spirited away.
The search was still vigorously continued
and at last woman who had taken the girl
with her, was traced to the interior of the
State, and the officer succeeded in obtaining
her and has just placed her again with her
parents The officers are now in search
of Haywood in order to arrest him. >d1