The morning news., 1894-08-03
SHE WAS NOT KIDNAPPED.
A Sensational Story Proves 10 Be
Without Foundation.

the Gentleman Who Was Supposed
60 Have Taken the Girl Away
Was on His Way 20 Her Home With
Her While the Search Was in
Progress-He Returns TO Savannah
With Her Mother Last Night and
Makes Things Warm for Detective
Bosseu and Mr.. GetsinEer.
A great sensation evaporated IN air
yesterday, and what was supposed 10 be
a case Of kidnapping proved 10 be moth
ing more than a pleasure trip Of a girl
with a friend Of her mothers
On the steamer Alpha, which arrived
from Beaufort Wednesday afternoon,
were two passengers who attracted some
attention. One was tall, hne-looking
gentleman. apparently about thirty-fve
or forty years old, and the other was a
pretty young girl about twelve years Of
age, who accompanied him.
Among the passengers was Mr.. Stone
who engaged in conversation with the
gentleman referred to during the trip
and was informed by him that he had
come from Charleston with the girl on a
pleasure trip and that they intended visit
ing Tybee He also mentioned the girls
name-Susie Mercer.
A PASSENGER REPORTED THE NATTER.
Mr. Stone thought il was somewhat
strange that young girl should be Jour
neying around over the country with a
man who was no relation to her. The
gentleman had stated by the way, that
he was from Richmond, Va. The Alpha
arrived in the city about o'clock. Some
OF the other passengers thought the
actions of the couple rather strange, as IL
was noticed that they stood in the street
for some time in an undecided manner in
stead of seeking a hotel, and finally
strolled of together.
MIR Stone mentioned his suspicious 10
his friend, Mr.. G. w. Getsinger, who
keeps a saloon at Congress and jefferson
streets. and mentioned the name of the
girl. Mr.. Getsinger at once recalled the
name as that of the daughter Of a lady at
WalterbOrU, IS. C., with whom he was ac-
qualnted. He knew that tine girl had
been placed i'm school in Charleston, and
he could not understand why she should
come to Savannah from Beaufort. He
concluded that there might be something
wrong in this and that it was his duty 10
investigate and see what it meant.
TWO TELEGRAMs SENT.
He consulted with Recorder Wilson,
who advised him 10 call on Detective Bos-
sell. Both Detective BOssel and the
recorder agreed with Mr.. Cretsinger that
the circumstances were very peculiar,
and that the matter would bear investi-
Cation Before taking any steps. how
ever. il was deemed best 10 telegraph the
girls mother Detective Bossell accord
ingly sent the following telegram at 9
O'Clock yesterday morning:
savannah. Ca. Aug p g4-Mrs Susan
Mercer, WATERFORD, > g. Your daughter
here with man. Is 10 with your permission
answer GEORGE W BossELL.
Has.#s.
At O'Clock the following reply was re-
oeived
Take charge OF my daughter. Will come.
Meet me this evening Charleston, train 80. 8.
This confirmed all the suspicious which
had been entertained, and an active
search was at once begun for the two II
was believed that they had gone to Tybee
and Detective Henry Wetherhorn volun-
teered to 20 down to the island and make
the arrest If the couple was there. The
man and the girl were not at Tybee, how
ever, nor could they be found in the city
THE MISTAKE FOUND OUT
Later in the afternoon, about O'Clock,
Detective BosSel was surprised by the
receipt of the following telegram from
Mrs. Mercer:
My daughter has returned es I expected.
Don thank you nor no one. else for any such
message We will investigate this matter
later on. @ Please meet Us at train No 5, this
afternoon.
Mrs. :. MERCER and Y. C. wmBoN
Detective Bossel was completely taken
back BY this message He saw that
somebody had blundered and that un-
pleasant consequences were likely to en-
sue. He determined 10 face the music.
however, ana see the matter out. When
train No. from Charleston arrived al
$50 o'clock he was on hand. Among the
passengers who left the train he had no
GErNf1ra1Frr ~, ,f-fr-
consisting Of a tall gentleman, lady and
little girl, as the people for whom he
was Looking so industrioIsly few hours
before, but who were now looking for
him,
MET WITH A WARM RECEPTION.
When he approached the party ana
made himself known he met with a warm
reception. Both the lady and the gentle
man sOundly berated him for interfering
with matters which did not concern him
and causing a sensation over nothing
Detective BOssell endeavored 10 explain
that he had only performed his duty in
investigating what appeared to be very
serious matter, and that he had the lady's
own authority for doing so. They would
not listen to his explanations and the
gentleman grew so violent in his language
that the detective threatened to take him
20 the barracks.
Mr.. GETsINGER GIVEN RAKTNG own.
Bosseu was so nOnplussed that he did
not think to ask Mrs. Mercer how it was
that her daughter was away from home
without her knowledge, and 10 tell her
that she had asked him 20 take charge Of
her daughterin in her first telegram. After
learning from Detective BOsseu that MIR
Getsinger was the man who had furnished
the Information upon which the search
had been begun, MIR. Wubon, Mrs. Mer-
Ger and her daughter took a hack and
drove TO Mr.. Getsinger's place at Congress
and Jefferson streets. Mr. Getsinger
was scored for Spreading false and dam
aging reports. He defended himself by
saying that he had only acted upon the
Information given him by Mr. Stone, and
that he thought he was doing the lad, a
great service In endeavoring to protect
her daughter The party left MIR Get
singers place declaring that they would
complain 70 theauthorities, and that the
matter would be further investigated
EXPLASATION or THE CASE.
The party probably left the city on the
O'Clock train, as they We're not regis
tered al any Of the hotels last night IL
is supposed that Mr. Wilbon and the lit
tle girl took the morning train back to
WATERFORD which is on a branch of the
Charleston and Savannah railroad. ar
irving there after thn first auetvor, 70 No