Wichita eagle., 1889-03-01
HUNTED TO THE DEATH.
Story Of a Fondling Deserted by
His Parents in Boston.
Strange Career of Alfred Britt Who Died
Not Long Ago in Poor-House-His
Adoption By Alexander Gray-An
Assassin's Dastardly Deed.
IN. I. Sun.f

he was an inmate of the house for a year
or more, 1t was not until a few days be-
fore his death that be related any facts
about himself.
Britt was born in Boston, and when
three or four days old was put into a
basket with a supply of clothes and one
hundred dollars in money and left on the
doorstep Of a humble mechanic named
Alexander Gray. 1t was one out of a
score Of cases occurring every year, but
instead of the boy being bundled of to
the poor house or an asylum he was taken
in and adopted. Gray was doubtless de-
cided in his action by the money, which,
TO man in his circumstances, and in those
days OF dollar a-day and store-pay at
that seemed a fortune. However, he had
no children of his own, though having
been married six or seven years, and the
wife gladly fell in with the idea of adopt
Ing the little stranger as their own child.
The fine texture of the clothes and the
roll Of money were proofs that the baby's
father belonged to the wealthy class. The
basket and clothes were laid away the
child was tepderly cared for, and the
money was used to better the condition Of
neighbors knew Of the child being left,
and mono of them knew all the circum-
stances.
One day, when the baby had grown to
be child three years old, and could run
about, he was playing in the back yard
when a man sought to steal him away.
The stranger entered by the alley gate
and picked little Alfred up. but savage
dog owned by Gray attacked the man
and made him drop his prey. Mrs. Gray
saw it ali from a window, and the mans
actions convinced her that abduction was
his object. A week later, while the boy
was in the yard again one afternoon, a
large stone was hurled at him and
barely missed his head. Some boys
saw the miscreant as be crept up
the alley to throw the stone, and the po-
lice were furnished with description, but
the search for him awaited nothing. The
detective employed in the case was told
all about the child, and he came to the
conclusion that some one had an object in
putting the boy out of the way. Gray
was cautioned to keep him close, and he
did so for several weeks. One November
evening after lamplight the boy pulled
aside the curtain from a window looking
ont upon the yards Of a factory. He had
not stood there over two minutes when
shot was fired at him. The bullet cut
lock of hair from his head and was buried
In the opposite wall of the room. The new
outrage was reported, and the detective
found that some one had stood at the
corner of q lumber pile about twenty feet
from the window to fire the shot The
ground gave evidence that he had been
o. the watch from that point for several
nights.
There was a patient search, but no re-
ward. 1t was clear now that the boys
life was sought after, and as Gray had an
offer of good situation in Cleveland he
determined to remove to that city. With
the help of the detective he made his
preparations very secretly, his goods
leaving the house after midnight, and the
boy being taken on the train dressed as a
girl. He reached his new home without
adventure, and enjoyed a rest for nearly
q year before the enemy made another
move. One day man came into the shop
where Gray was at work and made some
inquiries Of him and ascerteinei hat he
was Alexander Gray. Two days after
that as Alfred was playing outside the
gate at home with two other children, the
same man who had visited the SHOP drove
up with horse and buggy and alighted
He certainly meant to seize and carry off
the boy, but his object was defeated by
Mrs. Gray, who, with an acquaint-
pnce. suddenly turned the corner on
their way home from a shopping ex-
petition. They ran full upon the
stranger as he was exhibiting a
paper of candies to the children, and be
stammered an apology and got into his
buggy and drove off. After this episode
Gray reasoned that the Boston parties had 4
in some manner traced his whereabouts,
and that he was almost helpless to check
mate their Vaccinations. He subsequent
ly learned that stranger had made in
quiries for him In several other cities, thus
showing that some trusted agent had been /
sent out to hunt the whole country over
until the whole family wss found. Gray
had a brother In Indianapolis, and after
some necessary correspondence the boy
was shipped there in care of a trusted
friend.
1t was a movs which baffied the enemy
for three long years. For the first three
months after Alfred left every expedient
was resorted to that the whereabouts of
the child might be discovered. Pretended
agents and peddlers called at the house
in hopes to get sight of the child if he was
there, and to quiz the mother when they
found no traces of him. GRAY had a
box at the post Office, and strangers
came there and asked for his ls+.arS bu. /
could not obtain them. So-called de-
tectives waylaid Gray and charged that
he was under suspicion of having killed
the boy in ft of passion, and that he
must produce Alfred or suffer arrest, but
they could not scare him into revealing
the secret. Some of the neighbors pot
promise Of five hundred dollars reward to
tell the boys whereabouts, but as none of
them had been taken into the confidence
OF the Grays they could make no head
way. Now and then, for q whole wear
after the boy left Cleveland, Gray had
proof that the enemy were on the alert,
but they finally seemed to tire of the use
less chase, and for the next two years
nothing occurred to alarm him anew.
When Alfred was seven years old be
was so handsome in feature and bright of
intellect that he was often poin ted cut on
the street, and on three or four occasions
his wonderful res emblance to prom
inent citizen of Boston was remarked by
New Engianders. Mrs. Gray mourn
ed 10 much for him that Gray decided to
remove TO Cincinnati, where ne hoped to
nave Alfred with him. He made a secret
move again, got the how from Iudianap-