Omaha daily bee., 1883-02-05
C0BBLlMC A GIRL.
An Iowa rather Has a Hard
Time Recovering Bis
Daughter,
He Finally Finds Her Near
Odell, Nebraska, and Brings
Her Back.
COBBLIkC A GIRL.
Tho story Of tho Chase.

Yesterday there arrived in this city
an elderly gentleman accompanied by
a little girl whose age, on inquiry, wa
given az between nine and ten years,
though her face had an older look,
and her form and indicated
that she was lacking much Of the
vivacity and vigor of the ordinary girl
of that age, when happy and In good
health. The elderly man who had her
In charge proved to be her father, and
he had quite q story to narrate as to
how he had regained possession OF his
daughter after a long and anxious
search.
The man gave his name a. James
Dickinson, and said his home has been
for some time past in Jefferson, Iowa
His wife died about six years ago, his
little girl being then only between
three and four years Of age. He ar
ranged a home for the little girl with
q wealthy family in Monticello, who
did not adopt the child, tho under
standing being that she should remain
there 30 lorg al it was satisfactory
to all concerned Time went on, and
the foster father and mother
had some family troubles, which
led to q divorce. On the day
that this divorce was granted
49, 80, --oko 10 NJ. nIoL{p,op tol1.
Ing him he had better come and get
his little girl, and in compliance with
this request he started at once for
Monticello, bat found he was too late,
the child having been sent away to
some unknown spot by the woman.
The anxious father was naturally de
tsrmlned to get some trace of his
child, but could not get any informa-
ton beyond some faint clues that the
woman had tent the child to live with
one of her sons, who was married and
had . family somewhere in the west.
A short time ago he ascertained
that the weman had started westward,
and thinking that she was. going
In all probability to her sons, and
that probably his daughter was there
also, he followed her on the next
train. He found the woman In LIZ
coin. and kept with her until she
reached tho sons house, about three
miles from Odell. He there found bis
little daughter, living with that family
In q very rough and tumble way, much
in constrast with the comfortable and
even luxurious home which the girl
had enjoyed in Iowa. She was poorly
dressed, and though the weather was
extremely cold, her raiment Was thin
ond worn, she having no warm under
garments, and even her shoes being 30
worn that her feet we're exposed to the
bitter frosts, and n of her feet had
been badly frozen. She had
been helping gather corn, and
doing chores about the place, and
yet she was beguiled With such prom
ises as that she wal soon to have Q
little pony of her own to ride, and
was to have some pigs and calves of
her own to raise and sell, etc. The
father found that the girl was sleep
ing at night upon a pallet of straw In
an unfurnished part of the garnet and
was in all respects undergoing hard
ships which were rapidly making her
look old and worn.
The father insisted on ticking the
child away with him, but there being
opposition shown to this, he went to
Odell and there secured the ser
vices of q constable, who pro
ceeded back to the house witt
him. There was quite a scene
according to the fathers story, one o.
the sons of the old lady pounding or
to him, and the officer having to inter
fere. The child was secured by them
however, and taken back to Odelj
IS where father and daughter stopped a
a hotel while waiting for the train tn,
next morning. The man at who's
house the little girl had been stoppiu,
got some Of his chumn and sympathi7
, ers together and rallied at Odell t
take the child back by main force. Tn
y hotel-keeper, hearing of this, and feal
Ing q row, advised the father to secret
y the little girl uutil mornin,
and In accordance with tn
" advice he placed her in
private family. On taking the tral
~ the next morning the father an
:, daughter were guarded by the depu,
y sheriff and q possee to avoid the @
. peoted attack from 'the gang" ar
under sad, exciting circumstances ii
Of two left. Once more on the journ'
\, an attempt was made by two men
a get the child away from her fathe
=. but this raj thwarted, and they a
rived yesterday atthe transfer all rlgf
:. and In the afternoon started off eaI