The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-06-04
KIDNAPPING.
The Story Of C. E. Hill of Naples.

A New York despatch to Tuesdays PRESS
told of the arrest there of G. E. Hill, a Maine
man, on charge of kidnapping his son, sworn
to by his wife, Mr.. Hill is native of Naples
in this State, where his father owned farm
and where his brother still resides. He left
Maine in early youth, engaged in business in
New York. and in 1858 went to Shanghai as
representative Of the firm of William II. Fogg
& Co. At present he is wealthy engineer
and railroad contractor engaged in business in
China, where he has taken several important
contracts for supplying machinery and arms
to, and building railroads for the Chinese gov
eminent:
After few years in China he returned to
this country for his health by way of San
Francisco. While coming overland he met his
future wife, Elizabeth Adams, in the West.
An acquaintance led to proposal OF marriage
on his part, which was bitterly opposed by
Miss Adams father, who is said to have been
an adventurer. Mr.. Hill returned to China
alone, but shortly afterward wrote to Miss
Adams to come over to him, and sent her
money for the purpose. She consented and
crossed alone. being consigned to the care of
the captain of the vessel, and was married to
Mr.. Hill in 1862. After three years in China,
as she was in a delicate condition of health,
she returned and became the mother OF twins
soon after. In 1866 she sailed for China with
her children, but off the coast of Northern
China the ship encountered hurricane and
was wrecked The survivors. after drifting
about on raft for some days, were rescued
by fishing vessel. and Mrs Hill finally
children, however, subsequently died from the
exposure, the other being the boy who is the
cause of the present. trouble. 1t is said that
about this Tins Mr.. Hill settled his large prop
erty, obtained through contracts and transac-
tions in real estate, upon his wife, on condi-
ton of her allowing him one-half of the in
come. Soon domestic troubles arose, and af-
ter a few years Mrs. Hill left China and in
1875 made visit to Europe Her husband
twice came after her to return, but she re-
fused, and placing her son at school in Bridge
port, Conn, took up her residence there.
On Mr.. Hills last visit, just as he was
about to return to China, in October, 1873,
papers were served upon him in a divorce suit
instituted by Mrs. Hill in the Connecticut
courts on the grounds of desertion and adult
terry. He at first began a cross suit, bringing
similar charges, but soon withdrew it and OPP
posed Mrs. Hills suit Meanwhile an injunc-
ton was granted restraining him from taking
the son from the school at Bridgeport. Seeing
that her divorce suit would be decided against
her, Mrs. Hill with her son suddenly left
Bridgeport for Syracuse, and soon after Mr..
Hill went back to China. The injunction was
dissolved. Mr.. Hill recently returned from
China, and on Saturday last went to New
York. On Tuesday he arrived in Syracuse.
There he engaged carriage, and driving to
where his son was at school, he waited until
the boy came out with his teacher. Mr.. Hill
tapped the boy on the shoulder, and he, look
ing around and obeying his first impulse,
started to run. Mr.. Hill called him back told
him that he was his father and induced him to
enter the carriage The father manifested the
warmest affection for his son, taking him into
his arms and telling him how mlch he had de-
sired to see him. Mr.. Hill states that he in
duced the boy to write to his mother where he
had gone and with whom, aud the pair took
the first train for New York. Tho result of
this letter was their arrest on. their arrival