New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-12
THE STRANGE STORY OF4 CHILD.

| CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE APPEARANCE AND DIsAP-
PEARANCE OF LITTLE BESSIE BELL GRAY
CASCADE, Mimi. Nov. 11.-AbOut fifteen
months ago. Mrs. Orange Brooks OF this place. was
passing the railroad station in the City Of Rochester
this State, and little girl, the latter about six
wears of age stepped from train. The man, accOstng
Mrs Brooks who utter stranger TO him, requested
her to take charge of the child for few days. as he was
travelling and it was incOnvenent keep the child with
him. Mrs Brooks assented, taking the child home with
her The man gave his name as Thayer and
that of the child as Bessie Bell Gray. Thayer
claimed to have from ST. Paul and said that Bessie
was sent to his by Mrs. Gray, who was living in
milwaukee, to keep her from being given into the hands
Of one Koenan, a Catholic, to whom Bessie had been
yep hut from whom she had been taken account Of
the severity Of his wife,
Thayer came once or fyice to the child but did
little toward her support Bessie seemed to like him and
to regard him as guardian but she became much at
tacbed TO the Brooks family and they TO her. Recently
r. d. Whitehead, or calling himself by that name
appeared at Mrs BroOss and demanded the child as
ward of the Humane Society" OF Mlwau-
kee Bessie protested with sobs and tears
that she could not go with him, saying, lie was always
coming to my mother and askin for and she sent
all alone jn the night TO MI Thayer at St. Paul. TO get
me AWAY from Whitehead. Don't let him have me -
The man TO whom she had been bound was a Catholic
and the printed report Of the Humane Society which
Whitehead brought with him. went TO show that the In
dusIias Schools which he places children are CathOnc
schoos Failing to Bessie he went, he said, TO
Milwaukee to get proper papers. He returned and the
case WAS tried in court but decided against him. White
head was backed up by a man in Rochester, who goes
alout the country selling glasses. He scented
ont the Iay in which Bessie Mrs. BroOtss and
informed Whitehead of her whereabouts. How came he
to snnpose that it matter OF any interest TO man
in another city, that strange child was living quietly
with a farm family IN Minnesota
sent 10 visit q nelShOor, Wlnc Nhltcncad
in town as she in such state OF excitement and
terror Thayer also came for her He said Bessie has
Whitehead did not deny this statement though
he rcnresened Bessies mother being the poorest OF
The moor keeping house for the Thayers BcssieIsad,
INV mother told me to say Mir. Gray was my
hmIasrd da,,JIs on the street The Impression here
i that Bessie q stolen child that Mrs. Gray Is not her
and that probably she has property that some one
Intends 10 keep and has turned her out 10 woman who
ma De in the secret, or may not.
Where is Bessie now : No one knows While the four
men were sduabbng over the possession OF her, the
negbhor with whom she stopping was told that she
lad been turned TO Mr. Thayer, and that he would
send for her in the night, by trusy whom Bessie
knew and with whom she would CO." At twilight such
nerson called and Bessie went with him, gladly. II
snnnosed sie had gone to r Thayers but ut midnight
netber marty getting her Whitehead she born In
New Uanpshire Who she, that four grown should
no snuahiug In this way her possession Surely
noorhouse child as they say she is-and Bessie her
self says we used TO live in the pOOrhouse cannot be
OF nch consequence to hc unless there is something
under and back of all If she has any relatives, II Is
nitv they do not know her condition.
a. q Wilson OF Rochester, Is cOguizant OF the matter
Desse pretty and afectiOnae, but shows the nenect
of had training or rather OF no training at all.