Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-29
AN UNHAPPY T 4
A Curious Case Before the Courts Of
GeOrgia---A Daughters Startling
Discovery Ia a Morning
Newspaper.

Special Dispatch TO the Courier Journal
MACON, GA, March pa very
curious case is before the courts Of
this State, involving the custody Of a
young girl. About seventeen years
ago a young girl of striking beauty,
belonging to one at the most respect
able families in Georgia, was married
to a gentleman. of good position.
Shortly after their union a daughter
was born to them. About this time
the young mother yielded to the
temptations of the world and broke
her marital VOWS. 1t is even said
that she was untrue to her husband
Immediately after marriage, and that
he was not the father of her child.
At any rate they were separated,
and she plunged into the deepest
debauchery. Her rare beauty gave her
great %notoriety, and for years she
queened it over the fast men of
Georgia, living in luxury and selecting
her lovers. She never kept her child
with her, but about even years ago
placed it in the Appleton Home at
Macon, which is under charge of the
Episcopal church. The child living
there grew up to young womanhoOd,
being TO- about sixteen years of age,
and possessed Of great personal charms.
In the meantime the mother wrote
cOnctantly to the daughter, and Occa-
siOnally visited her, representing that
she made a living by taking in sewing
and doing millinery work. A few days
ago the young girl was brought from
the Home to Atlanta by a messen-
ger sent by the mother, and received
in a close carriage. She was carried
to the house of a relative, the mother
saying that she did not dare to take
her pure child to her own house, where
she must have discovered the true state
of things. Thegirl beggedto be allowed
togo with her mother, to whom she was
very much attached, and the mother,
not having the strength to tell her the
truth, took her to the house in which
she lived alone. The matter leaked
out in some way, and the morning pa
pers had a full account Of the matter.
The paper fell ints the girls hands
before the mother had seen it, and she
read the whole story, discovering the
horrible situation in which she was
placed, 1t seems thoroughly estab-
lished that the mother had no designs
on her daughter, but hat she was de-
voted to her, and intended to send her
to some relatives in Texas, where she
might live in a pure atmosphere and
might have a bright and peaceful life.
Soon after reading the article, the girl
dressed and left the house, saying she
that she was going to visit the Episoo-
pal minister.
An hour or two later, a carriage
drove. up to the mothers door, con
tanning the sheriff and two ministers,
with a writ of habeas corpus for the
girl. They found the girl already
gone, and returning to the parsonage
found her there. The mother, who
has accumulated considerable money,
employed lawyers and went into the
courts to recover her daughter. The
case has been before the courts, but
has not yet been tried. The church
has able counsel and declare that the
child will never be given up to the
mother, adding that while she was
anxious to go to her before she knew
her character, now begs to be kept
away from her. The mother is de.
termined to go to the very highest
courts with her appeal, averring that
she means to give her child a respect.
able home and a fair chance in life.
She says the girl has begged her fol
months to take her from the CHARITY
Home, saying that the matron hae
said she was going to bind her out as 0
servant. At present the girl is with
the Episcopal minister in Atlanta, and
is esteemed as a young woman of no
Bile and %endearing qualities. The
greatest interest prevails over the case
and it may become a cause celebre.
The legislature of Maine has deter
mined to sell all the islands off the
coast owned by the State,