The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-08-22
RECOVERY OF A STOLEN CHILD.

it en- route for home at Fort Wayne. In
diana, father with his 10 year old boy,
whose history has proved an adventurous
one. The gentleman, whose name was
T. Ii. Huntley, married a lady, about
eleven years ago, in the above mentioned
place. They were in easy circumstances
he being at the time silent partner in a
dry goodshouse in that city. The first
year of their married life passed off very
pleasantly, and about the close Of the year
this son was born. When it was about
six months old it was stolen from the
cradle during the momentary abstance Of
its mother in the evening.
On her return the alarm was given,
and thorough scarab instituted, but
without result. No trace Of the child
was discovered for many years. The
shock proved too severe for the young
mother, and short illness closed her life
forever. The unhappy father then re,
solved to find his boy, if he were still
among the living. Advertisements were
inserted in the prominent newspapers Of
the day, but no clue was brought to light.
Time and money were spent In lavish
manner, but with the same result The
almost broken hearted father gave up the
search in despair, and his life has been "a
gloomy one since then.
About six months ago he received a
letter from a man in Buffalo, N. Y, with
whom he had dealings years bofore, and
whom by some Of the tricks Of trade he
had ruined financially. 1t was done in a
business transaction, and Huntley sup
posed it had been amicably settled. But
this man, it seems, had sworn vengeance
on Huntley for the hand he had in ruin
ing him, and only awaited opportunity to
strike the fatal blow. Hearing that he
had married, and was we'll to do in life,
he came to Fort Wayne and began to
work at his trade, black -smithing He
watched his chance and resolved on steal
ing Huntley's infant son. 1t was easily
accomplished, and the dead was done.-
He carried the child with him into the
country and bird farmer and wife to
care for it, under the pretense that it was
his own. As he offered liberal sum
the bargain was made, and he went his
way.
He, for a few months paid certain
sum regularly for the support of the child
but the remittances at last failed, and
they knew not the address of the suppos
ed father. Nevertheless they endeavored
to find him under the name he had given
them, but as it was an assumed one, they
of course, failed to find him. But mean
while the babe had grown to be win
some boy, and they were, in fact, 10th tc
part with him. They soon afterwards
moved to this State, where they have now
resided for about seven years.
The boy received all the care and at
tention that two loving hearts with no of
spring of their own could bestow He
was kept in real ignorance of his parent.
age, and supposed his present benefActors
were his own father and mother. lie
was carefully schoolcd, and gave great
promise Of further usefulness. His fos
ter parents loved him as they would their
own, and when they arrived on this coast
made up their minds that the strange
father was dead and they were entitled
to the child. But death bed repent
ancc caused the man to confess the wrong
and the letter Mr. Huntlev received told
the story. He Immediately set out to find
the family who had his child, and learn.
ed with some difficulty that they had mov.
ed to this State
| He soon made the necessary arrange
ments, and was on his way within a short
time. He arrived at Portland on the
steamer Ajac aud commenced his search
fortunately he ran across a citizen of this
place who knew the family he was
in search of, and together they arrived
in Salem Thursday last. That afternoon
they drove out to the mans farm situated
about twelve miles from the city. On ar
irving there, who should answer their
summons but the very object of their
search. There was strong family re.
sembance, aud after considerable arguing
and comparing of dates and places, the
fathers claim was indspuutably establish
ed
The boy could scarcely realize the
change, but under fair promises and amid
the novelty of the situation, he was finally
induced to accompany his parent back TO
Indiana. The farmers wife could hardly
endure the thought of his leaving, but
she was forced to acknowledge submis-
sion to the fathers claim Sunday morn
ing the family came into the city and
parted with the boy amid the tears of all
observers, and ere this the father and
child, SO long separated aud SO strangely
united, are we'll on their way to their dis
tant home Oregon Statesman.