The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-08-05
A RHODE ISLAND MYSTERY.
Strange story of an E1opement ana It's
Resu1ts-A Child slolen Twenty-fiNe
Years go Just Found.

Tears n 20 sust oahus
lFrcm the Providence Journal, July al
Many of our older citizens will readily
recall the excitement that was createu
twenty-three years ago at the mysterious
disappearance of Mr.. Jeremiah ferce, a
well-bo-do grocer OF Sabin Street, leaVihg
a wife and two children (all of whom are
now liyinp). and at about the same time
the sudden disappearance of Mrs. Harring-
ton. wife of Thomas M. Harrington. A
short time afferward-about six months
Mrs. Harrington returnedin an apparently
penitent mood, and had an interview with
her husband, at which she received per-
mission to take one of her children, named
Mary, five years of age. There were three
children in all, sister older and brother
Younger than Nary down the street with
her to purchase for her some needed artl-
cles of apparel, and was to return with
her by 6 O'Clock that evening. From that
time the father heard nothing more from
either child or the mother until within a
few weeks. and they have long been sup
posed to be dead. Nor did the family and
friends of Mr.. Perez hear any thing from
him. In the EUsning Bulletin of Friday,
May 81 last. appeared the following:
UvANTED-To know the whereabouts Of any
w person by the name OF Harding, Studley,
or Harrington, who has resided IN Provldence
for the last twelve or fourteen years, or of any
persons who are akin to any family of this name.
lady in this city who has relatives with these
names is DESTROYS Of hearing from them. Ad-
dress Nat. G.. Barter. Business Manager, semi
mel aud Pioneer, Fort Scott, Kansas.
This was seen the same evening by Mr..
Harrington, the BROTHER of the girl who
had been so long missing, and he at once
forwarded a telegram to the above al.
dress, saving that there were persons OF
all these names living in this city, and that
one of them had daughter stolen about
twenty-three years ago, who had never
been heard from. This was received at
Fort Scott at s o'clock the next morning,
and by noon dispatch in answer was re-
ceived here which brought young Mr..
Harrington and his father the joyful news
that their long-lost sister and daughter
was still living.
The girl. now married and the mother
of two children, vet remembered enough
Of early life to assure her relatives in this
city OF this, had not her mother, who is
still living, put her in possession of other
facts. AS soon as she could make ar
engagements she came from her home in
Fort Scott to visit her relatives, and ar
rived in this city a few days ago. She dis
tinctly remembers her mother promising
her father to take her back at six O'Clock
on the day on which she was stolen. She
saws she was with her mother two or three
DAYS before she realized that she was be-
ing taken away from home. She remem-
bers Mr.. Perez joining them, but does not
know where. He had changed his name
to Charles Pierce, and taught her to cal
herself" Mary Pierce" They spent about
year in Dubuque and st. Paul, and ther
went to Texis, where Mr.. Perez was en-
gagged in raising cattle and sheep, at times
doing very well, and at times not so well
They remained in Texas for some years,
and then removed to near Baxter Springs
Kansas. where Mr.. Perez, who had beer
failing in health for two years, died abou
fourteen years ago, leaving three sons by
Mrs. Harrington. all of whom are living
She saws he was ar one time UniverSalis
cler yman, and at another Spiritualist
In all her wanderings she never forgO
that her name was Harrington. She as
sumed her own name as soon as Mr.. Perez
died, and at once set herself to work Il
learn if possible the whereabouts of hel
father and other relatives, should any o
of them be alive. Time passed on, she
grew to womanhoOd, and married Mr.
Nat. @. Barter, business manager OF thu
Sentinel and Pioneer, Fort Scott, Kansas
where she now lives.