Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-06-05
STRANGER THAN FICTION.
A Strange Story Of Crime In che South
Tho Recovery Of a Lost Daush.
ter After a Search Of Four
teen Years.
Marion Cor. News and cOurIer.l

papers 0bout the abduction of Charlie
Ross, and of the hitherto fruitles
efforts made 10 ascertain his where
abouts. The story of the loss an
final recovery of a daughter ate
fourteen years Of constant search ha
recently come to u knowledge
which for thrilling interest ex
ceeds any thing we have ever real
about Charley Ross.
During the late war there lived a
WaynesborO, the county seat of Burkr
county, Georgia, a Mr. and Mrs. Hol
land, the happy parents of two it'll
children, a boy and a girl, Mr.. Hol
land was a practicing lawyer and ,
man of intelligence and standing il
the community. Mrs. Holland was o
a respectable family, and a lady o
education and of good social standing
During the war Mr.. Holland vol
unteered and was a good soldier til
the surrender. About the year 1861
Go a man by the name of Laud
Haithcock appeared in that part o.
Georgia. He passed himself as .
horse.trader and a gentleman eoi
wealth, but in reality was
A HORsETHRF.
He appeared to have plenty OF
money, drove fine horses, smoked fine
cigars, dressed well and was received
into the best society. During Mr..
Hollands absence in the war he in
gratiated himself into the good graces
of Mrs. Holland. A criminal init.
macy sprung up between them, and
when Mr.. Holland returned home in
April, 1865, the fruits of that intimacy
could no longer be concealed. In a
few days after Mr.. Hollands return,
and while waiting an opportunity to
take summary vengeance on Hath
cock. his wife suddenly left with
HaithcOck, carrying with her his little
daughter only three years old. From
that time to this they have never been
seen in that part of the State. About
the time of their sudden departure a
horse and buggy mysteriousiy disap-
peared, when is supposed to have
been stolen by Haithcock, and with
which they made their way to Browns
vile, Marlboro county, in this State,
where Haithcock was born and
brought up. From that time till three
weeks ago Mr.. Holland never heard
anything of the whereabouts Of his
wife and child. He, however,
DID NOT DESPAIR.
During the past fourteen years he
has been constantly engaged, when
ever he could spare the time from his
business, in prosecuting the search for
his child. He travelled over the
greater part of Georgia, and portions
Of Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and
State, but could never obtain tue
slightest clue as to where she was.
He tried advertising in the newspa-
pers, offering large rewards for her
recovery, but nothing came Of it but
heavy bills and grievous disappoiut-
ment. He finally concluded to stay al
home and write to the county officials
Of every county throughout the cum
try. After pursuing this plan for a
long time, he was finally informed BY
one of the county officials Of Marlboro
county that Laud Haithcock lived IN
the Brownsville section Of that count,
with a woman who answered to tn
description of Mr.. Hollands wife
That this woman had a young cir
with her, not Haithcock's child, whose
age and general appearance pointed to
her as r41
THE LONG LOST DAUGHTER.
was first proposed that the girl
run awas from her mother an
go to Georgia. but to make assuranc
sure Mr.. Holland was advise
to come himself, as he alone coul
identify the mother as his former wife.
He accordingly came by rail to Pee
Dee Bridge, on the Wilmington,
Columbia and Augusta railroad
the railroad at that point, he
TO Mr.. James G.. Haselden's.
who lives a few miles from the station.
ing there about dark on the 4th
INST. He remained with Mr.. Hasel-
len that night. After making known
his errand, Mr.. Haselden's sympathies
we're so thoroughly aroused that he
carried him in his bugs, the next
to where Haithcock lives. For
5unately, perhaps. Haithcock, who is
said to be lodging from the revenue
for retailing whisky contrary
to the law. was not at home. On ar.
at his cabin, Mr.. Holland
open the door, which was
partly ajar, and there sat his former
surrounded by her three Hath.
cock ehilden and his own daughter.
He spoke to his wife Familiarity, saying
HOWDY, POLLY ANN"
In great surprise she replied,
: Why, howdy, Will" After shaking
with her he asked, pointing to
q handsome young girl. if that was
She answered it was, He
took the girls hand, and, with tears in
eyes, told her he was her father
that she had been taken from him
when she was only three years old
that he had been searching for her for
the last fourteen years that, thank
God he had found her at last, and
that he had come to take her to a
comfortable home, and from the pov.
erty and misery in which she had been
lie asked her if she was will.
ing to go with him. She replied she
was. Upon this the old woman and
the other children SEQ up
GREAT LAMENTATIoN,
and said she should never 20. They
seized hold Of her, but by some exer.
ton Holland, with her assistance,
succeeded in releasing her, and yet
ting her away from tho house. They
went to the noighbor's where the girl
was hired as an ordinary field hand.
and got the few articles of wearing
apparel which she possessed. After
nurohacinO fnr har a ratr - ala1