The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-06-23
A TALE OF TWO CITIES.
4 Strangely Romantic Story Of tha Reunion
Of q Mother and DauSh~
ter.
Dramatic Episode in Chicago Court After 6,
Separation Of the Parties Foe
-, - Thirteen Years

terday, ind repertorial endeavors have
brought out all the facts in the strange and
eventful history Of persons who are right here
IT. home. 81. .-:.,!
In yesterdays Tribune an item appeared In
the law column announcing that . petition for
habeas corpus had boon fled by Miles Martin
in behalf of Sylvia Lear, alias Minnie Belle
Purcell, against the superior Of the House Of
the Good Shepherd, claiming that Sylvia was
stolen from her mother some years ago. Later,
Judge Barnun issued the writ, snd yesterday
morning John D. Gredlebaugh, An officer Of
Pinkerton's detective agency, acting for tina
ch:ld-a bright and interesting girl of over:
eleven years-into court There appeared a.
the same time q handsome woman OF middle
ago, elegantly and becomingly attired, and II
was observed by several present that there was
the little girl who bore two names, but the child
did not show any signs Of recognition The
lady, who gszed on her lovingly and interested
ly, showed that there was something more Than
ordinary agitating her mind. II
There were but few persons In the court
room at the time, and, when he judge an
nounced that he was ready to hear the testimo-
ny in the habeas corpus case above re1eIred TO;
Geo. H. Kettelle informed him thst he appeared
az attorney for Mrs. W, whose nsme is not
given in FULL for reasons that will sppear fur
Their on, and that she claimed the custody Of the
child as ito mother. Now comes, through tho
testimony,
It was the merry Christmas time OF 1862
when the marrlage-bells rang out at Peoria for
a young, blushing and handsome glr! Miss
Carrie -. A comfortable home had been
the bride attired, as most brides are, and the
minister and the guests were in readiness The
hour for the ceremony had arrived, but tho
bridegroom came not, and the waiting bride
and guests became impatient niue lates II
was discovered that tho young man had fled
from the city for some reason unexplained, bat
it was conjectured that he had suddenly
changed his mind. aud had decided not to wet5
the young girl. who was thrown into greats
grief on learning the truth of the report that
her lover and intended husband had gone. The
house that but short time before was all hap
piness, was soon transferred into gloomy
abode, the expectant guests having been'
dismissed, and the almost heart broken
young woman retired to her room and fell a.
victim to severe illness. Time passed. and:
the fruits of o too-confding and susceptible.
but innocent, love manifested itself in the
form Of female child The little stranger
named Sylvia Lear To enable the young
mother to conceal her indiscretion, and permit
of her seeking home in Chicago, married
sister took the baby in charge to rear it at her
mother coming to this city to reside. Then
came news of her child's death. Four years
after she left Peoria Carrie ~ received word
that her sister vas dying and she repaired to
nation before life went out that the child had
been left by her sister in the parlor of the Gen.
trail hotel at Peoria, the sisters husband, it is
said, being unwilling to bear the expense OF
KEEPING THE LITTLE ONE
The mother of the child had married an csz
unable man in the meantime in this city, audi.
she resolved to search for the little walf, whom
she had loved so tender1y, and which bitter
fate had compelled her to relinquish to others.
She employed Detective Hartman, and through
him sought Mr. Philippe who was the propri-
etor Of the Central hotel, of Peoria, aud he re-
membered the child, and said his wife had
taken care of it for while, and finally gave it
to young woman named Ellen Kirby, who
afterwards married a man named Sanders, and
later another named Purcell She called the
waif Minnie Belle Purcell The husband of
Mrs. Purcell died, and the widow came to Chi
cage to live. Mrs W. lost trace Of her;
child for some time after that; but Mrs. Phil
lipps who took kindly interest III the matter in
!. formed her that it was in Peoria with old Mrs.
Kirby, mother Of Mrs. Purcell. That was.
! about two years ago, when the mother went to
be found, and she was told that it was not
there. Unable tn learn the whereabouts Of tho
little one, who had evidently been hidden, Mra..
W. returned to Chicago and from the de-
tective learned that Mrs. Purcell had died
She found the physician who attended her dur
ing her illness, and. from him the anxious
mother learned that her daughter-now nearly
twelve years old-was in the House Of the
Kirby had placed her, in June last Mrs.
W sought Lawyer Kettelle. who took i'm
mediate steps to restore the lost one to its
! parent The mother superior Of the House of
the Good Shepherd was appealed to. but she
INVESTIGATION TO BE MADE.
/ Omcer Credlebaugh was, therefore, en-
ploysl to get the real facts in the case, and at
J the hearing before Judge Barnum admitted the
truth Of tie statemant Of the clild's strange
|. 1ietory.
OF course, the long lost daughter did not rec
ognize her mother In the handsome woman be-
| fore her, but the mother knew and felt that
I the court to give her in her charge. Judge
( Barnum wac rerceptibly moved by the recital
| of the strange and interesting story and tho
| presence Of the mother and child. The latter
had boon we'll treated and cared for and she
did not at first take kindly to the lady who Was
| 90 anxious 70 receive some recognition from =
daughter who had never known what it was to
the . da.. her
were proven and were admitted by Officer
Credlebaugh. The court, therefore, awarded
the mother the custody of her estranged chilli
manifested q mothers joy on receiving hor
and when they loft the court room tho child
almost the image of her mother-clung to her
lovingly and seemed glad over the result Tho
known responsibility Of Mrs. W and hor
husband, who Rave large circle Of good
friends. and the sad misfortune Of her early
days, havo caused the mantle Of charity to fail
over her and hers, and her full name is not
| given for those reasonA
Little Sylvia Lear has found good homo and
| . fond and loving mother who has had sad ex-
periences and profted by them.
Detective Hartman and his assistants have
been employed . good while in tracing up tho
whereabouts of the persons who wore ii charge
forts that the mother was kept posted, and en-
abled at last to secure tho charge of one ehe
held 50 dear. The case has scarcely parallel
in the history Of the city: