Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-08-12
Mystery Unrayeled-A Strange Story

the sudden and mysterious disappearance
of 1Ir. Jeremiah Perez, a well-to-dO
grocer on Sabin street, leaving wife and
two children (all Of whom are now liylng)
and at about the same time the as sudden
disappearance OF Mrs Harrington, wife of
Thomas NJ. Harrington, who was then
hYlng IN one of Mr.. Perce's tenements
MT Perez left the city on pretense of
gong to New York to transact business
and never returned 1t was at the time
supposed that the two had eloped, but
nothing certain was known in regard to
the matter. A short time afterward-
about six months, as those knowing the
facts now reCOllect it-Mrs. Harrington
returned IN an apparently penitent mood
and had an interview with her husband,
at which she received permission to take
one OF her children, named Mary, little
girl Of five years there were three chill
dren III all, a sister older and a brother
younger than Nary, down street with her
to purchase fol her some needed articles
OF apparel, and was to return with her by
six O'Clock that evening. From that
time the father heard nothing from the
child or the mother until within few
weeks, and they have long been supposed
to have been dead. Nor did the family
and friends Of Mr. Perez hear ANYTHING
from him, though the most strenuous eff
forts were put forth to discover his where
abouts. The Odd Fellows, he having
been prominent among them, sent out
men in search of him, in the hope of find
Ing something concerning him which
would remove the stain from his charac
ter, but without avail. while his relatives
sought for him as unsuccessfully. The
family and friends of Mrs Harrington al
50 strove to learn something of her, but
her tracks were effectuaIly covered up,
and they got no trace. Some of her rela-
tiyes believed she might have fallen vic
tim to railroad or steamboat accident,
there being several Of these reported about
shat time while Mr.. Perce's friends were
unwillingly forced to the beliefthat he had
been murdered. Timenpassed on, the
missing ones we're legally declared dead.
and the affair was well-nigh forgotten by
all except those intimately interested.
Very recently, however, public attention
was attracted to the following advertise
ment, inserted in the Providence Bulletin
and J01unal:
WANTED.-TO know the whereabouts Of
any person by the name of Harding, Studley
or harrington, who has resided in Providence
for the past twelve or fourteen years, or of
any persons who are akin to any family of
this name. \ lady in this city who has rela-
tlVcs with these names is DESTROYS of hear
ing from them. Address Nat G. Barter, bust
ness manager Sentinel and Pioneer Fort Scott
Kansas
This was seen the same evening by Mr.
Harrington, the brother of the Girl who
had been SO long missing, who at once for
warded Geographic dispatch to the above
address, stating that there were parties 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 eight clock the nextm
ing, and by noon (oh the wonders of the
:
eeived here which brought to young Mr..
Harrington and his father the joyful news
that their lOng-lOst sister and daughter
whom they had for so many years believed
to be dead was still living. Letters fol-
lowed as rapidly as Uncle Sans mail ar
engagements would allow, and it was soon
ascertained beyond the shadow of adoubt
that the news brought by the telegraph
was true. Although so young when she
was taken away, the girl, now married and
the mother of two children, yet remem-
bered enough of her 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 arrange
ments she left her home in Fort Scott to
pay visit to her relatives, and arrived in
this city few days ago. The Joy of her
meeting with her father, brother and other
relatives can be better imagined than de-
scribed
From Mrs. Barriers strange story the
following facts are gathered: She dis
tinctly remembers her mother promising
her father to take her back at six O'Clock
on the day she was stolen. She says she
was with her mother two or three DAYS be
fore she realized that she was being taken
away from home. She remembers Mr..
Perez joining them, but does not know
where, not at that age being acquainted
with towns, cities, ETC., but it was some
where while they were travelling, and soon
after they left this city. He, it seemed,
had changed his name to Charles Pierce
&the lie as long q, and at once taught her
to call herself q" Mary Pierce, " threatening
her with severe punishment if she called
1t anything else or if she told anyone her
name had ever been Harrington. They
spent about a year in Dubuque, Iowa, and
st. Paul, Mimi, and then went to Texas,
where Mr.. Perez was engaged in raising
cattle and sheep, at times doing very we'll
and at times not so well. They remained
in Texas for some years and then removed
10 Baxter Springs, Kan, uhcre Mr.. Perez,
who had been failing in health for
connie of wears died ahOut fO,,rtoo, 1-oo,,