Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-11-25
KIDNAPPED.


tort money from Mr.. Ross by stealing
his son Charley. The kidnapping OF
children for the sake of gain or revenge
has been practiced for hundreds OF
years. There are doubtless to-day in
this country score or more OF Charley
Ross cases, but as the parents are not
rich and prominent, and the search not
aided by legislative action and the unit
ed press, they are seldom heard OF by the
great public.
The case of Willie Albright, an Eng
lish lad, was full of strange adventures.
He lived at Sheffield with his parents
until five years of age. His father was
employed in a great factory there and
his mother was a dressmaker for the
neighborhood. They lived in a cottage
in the suburbs of the town, and at the
age of four the boy was permitted To
run about the neighborhoOd a good
deal. At FIVE, when he was kidnapped,
he was sent to the stores to make pur-
chases, and knew all the streets clear
to the factory in which his father work
ed. One day in 1861, about 2o'clock In
the afternoon, he was sent to store
three blocks away after some buttons.
Before me reached it a strange man ac-
costed him and asked his name. He
then gave Willie some sweetmeats and
asked him to 60 and look at Punch
and Judy show in the town, promising
to return with him in half hour. The
boy eagerly set off with him, and was
taken to the railroad depot and placed
on train in charge Of middle-aged
woman who gave HIM some more sweet
meats and was very kindly spoken. Size
said the show had moved away and
they were going after 1t, and the noVel-
ty of the child's position prevented him
feeling any anxiety. When the detec-
tives came to take the case up, as they
did two days after the boy disappeared,
they got no clue whatever. Although
he had walked a mile or two hand In
hand with the abductor along crowded
streets, NOBODY remembered seeing the
pair. They had gone openly to the
| railroad station, but no one there had
noticed them. The guard on the train
dim!y remembered woman ana child
in compartment, but could give no
description. AS the Albrights were
poor and lowiy, no great stir was Great
ed. and no great effort was made by the
detectives to restore the boy to his par
eDts.
The boy was taken from Sheffield TO
Liverpool, being SO well treated on the
way that he had no thought OF his
home. At Liverpool he was told that
his name was John Manton, and that
the woman was his mother. When he
disputed the point he was soundiy
whipped. His hair were cut close, his
dress entirely changed, and a liquid
was rubbed on his skin which turned II
dark. Except when he asked to go
home, or denied that his name was
John Manton, he was kindly treated
and after he had been beaten seven or
eight times he accepted the new NAME
and ceased to refer to his parents.
Young as he was this was stroke oi
policy on his part. lie realized that he
had been stolen from home and he kept
repeating to himself that his true name
was Willie Albright. and that he lived
at Sheffield.
After couple of. weeks lessons in
tumbling and tight-rope walking were
given TO the boy. He was never per-
mitted to 90 out alone or to converse
with strangers. and it soon came natu'
raj for him to call the woman mother
In the course of couple of months the
past seemed dream to him, and ht
would have forgotten all about it had
he not kept repeating to himself: VI
am not Johnny Manton, but Willie AL
bright, and they stole me away from
Sheffield" He was in Liverpool six
weeks before he knew the name OF the
CITY. When he had been taught how
to dance, sing, tumble. and walk
tight rope-a matter of three months
time-he was taken around the country
with small show, which the woman
owned in part. The novelty of trave
was so agreeable that he almost forgo
his situation, and was for two or three
wears quite coutent. There was no on'
to teach him how to read or write, bu
he was quick -witted, and could reason
beyond his years. He had hopes that
the show would some day reach Shef
field, and he would slip out and rur
home, but the people of course CAREFUL.
avoided the place. Once, when the.
were showing at Doncaster,a few mile
away, Willie observed man who's
face had familiar look, gazing at hin
ia an honest manner, and PRESENT..
heard him say to friend
1.-THE laddie keeps me thinking of tn
child who was stolen away from neigh
Dor Albright; hut of course it can't b
the one."
The boy was about to call out tina
his name was Willie Albright, Whe
the woman, who always kept an eagl
owe on him. came closer, and intimidat