The Charlotte Democrat., 1874-09-07
Stealing Children.

The Philadelphia Kidnapping exeites
great and absorbing interest in the breasts
of all fathers and mothers who may be
brought to suffer in similar way. A most
remarkable case OF abduction of two chill
dren occurred about twenty years since ia
OswegO.
A man and his wife came over from Can
ada and purchased small dwelling on the
outskirts of the village, the man plying his
trade, which was that of tailor. in hired
shop not far distant. The couple were
| childless, but the woman spoke TO her neigh
bors of the prospect of having two children
| of her husbands brother, who had died in
England, and would send the children to this
country when a good chance offered. Ae-
| cordingly, the man shut up his shop sudden,
ly one day, saying he had heard of the arri-
val of his brothers children at New York
and was going to fetch them. In due time
he returned with the children, boy of four
and girl of two years of age. The little
girl was pretty and fair and was the favor
ite; the boy was inclined to play truant, and
was kept closely at home. This propensity
to leave home grew upon him. and ono
night at dark he called at gcntleman's
house and begged piteously that he would
go home with him and make peace with
his uncle for staying out so late.
When between seven and eight years of
age he strayed to the depot, and secreting
himself in car was taken to Syracuse,
where the great State Agricultural Fair
was beng held. He followed the crowd to
the fair grounds, and while running about
with childish eagerness to view the strange
sights was accosted by lady who asked
his name, his residence, and every partiea-
lar of his lie, and at last told him she was
convinced he was her son, and that she
should take him back to Oswego and claim
him of tie man who pretended to be his
uncle.
As soon as the lady demanded the child,
the pretended uncle fled to Canada, and
his frightened wife, being assured she
should not be arrested if she gave truth
ful account of the abduction, confessed. hep
husbands crime. The children were both
stolen. The man had gone over to Hoboken
while i'll New York, and seeing the little
girl neglected by her nurse, snatched her
up and ran aboard of ferry boat Just On
the point of starting. He took her on .
street car III New York, went on board the
Hudson river boat and proceeded TO Alba
ny. Going up State street he saw the boy.
who at that early age had run away from
home, and with promises Of candy and fruit
induced him 10 go with him to the cars of
the Central railroad which were just going
out. Thus he secured the children, which
he easily palmed off as the orphans of his
brother. The distracted parents who bad
lost their child three years before at Hobo
ken had given her up as lost, as there seem
ed no doubt she had fallen Into the water,
aud great search had been made for her
body. Their joy at finding their little
girl again was unbounded. The parties arc
all now living. The mother of the boy, he.
ing widow, and this her only son, had
never given mp the search. Knowing his
propensity TO stray, she naturally supposed
he was safe somewhere, and never tired in
the great object OF her life, looking for her
child. She always attended great gather.
ings OF people, eircuses, shows, fairs, &C.,
in the hope she would find him, until mt
last a strange chance threw him in her
hands.