The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-08-07
J. CARD G1BBoN
Four Years Apart.

ton little Leola Videto has at last
been restored to her mother. During
all these years the little girl has been
in the custody of father, who, if all
accounts be true, has treated her with
incredible brutality.
The scene when the mother and
child met at police headquarters yes
terday was affecting and brought tears
to the eyes of those who witnessed it.
With glad cry that was intense in
it's fullness Of joy the child sprang
from the side of Detective Barrett and
throwing her dimpled arms around her
mothers neck sobbed on her bosom.
Fifty feet away the father was a
prisoner, and was shut off from the
happy picture by strong walls.
Four years ago in Erie, Pa, Frank
Videto, his wife and little child,
Leola, lived. Videto was painter
and earned good living for his little
family. From some unaccountable
cause Videto developed bad traits of
character and the once happy home
was transformed to one of tears and
misery.
The man began to vent his spleen
upon his child, it is charged, and his
frequent abuse of her was the cause Of
frequent interference by the neigh
bors. Finally Videto's wife, as last
resort, began suit for divorce and OBJ
tained a legal separation from her
husband. Mrs. Videto was in con.
slant fear that her husband would
steal her child, which was awarded to
her by the court that granted the
divorce.
To prevent any such thing the child
was placed to board in a charitable
institution in Erie, the mother paying
the expenses out Of her daily earn
ings.
Finally the mother fell i'll, and
while she hovered between life and
death Videto went to the home where
the child was staying, and under mis-
representations, as it is claimed, Sc
cured possession Of her.
After long illness Mrs. Vidcto re-
covered only to find her child gone.
No trace Of Videto could be found,
although the most thorough search
was made for him.
The mother knowing we'll the nature
of the father feared her child was lost
to her forever.
Eighteen months ago she married
H. l. Gillis, of Erie, and has since
lived in that place. The only shadow
of grief in the happy home was the
uncertainty overhapging the fate OF
the little girl.
Seven weeks ago, when all hope had
been abandoned, Mrs. Gillis saw in an
old newspaper the story Of a man s
brutality to child. The story was
from Montgomery, Ala, and gave the
man s name as Videto.
The aid of the police was called for
and correspondence opened with Chief
Gerald, of Montgomery. After half a
dozen letters had been exchanged,
Chief Gerald wrote Mrs. Gillis that
her presence in Montgomery was neces-
sary in order that she might obtain
possession Of the child.
Two weeks ago Mrs. Gillis arrived
in Montgomery and found that Vidcto
had left the day before, taking the
child with him.
The Montgomery detectives, after
hard work, located Videto in Atlanta
and Monday night Mrs. Gillis and
Detective Murphy arrived in the city
and laid the case before Chief Con-
molly,
Detective Barrett was detailed on
the case and located Videto at the ex-
position grounds, where he was en-
ployed as a painter. His boarding
house, at IS Houston street, was
visited early yesterday morning and
little Leola was found. The people Of
the boarding house told Detective
Barrett of Videto's frequent abuse Of
the child, which, according to them,
was unfatherly.
Videto was arrested at 10 o'clock
yesterday morning and carried to
police headquarters, where he was
placed under guard.
Mrs. Gillis was notified and went
down at once to claim the child.
After some time Videto agreed to
give up the child to her mother. He
has married since leaving Erie, and
the officers claim without obtaining a
divorce from his first wife. This fact,
with the charge Of kidnapping, which
Mrs. Gillis assured him would not be
pushed, were powerful inducements
for him to give up the child.
Mrs. Gillis left with little Leola for
Erie yesterday afternoon. Shortly
after their departure Eidcto was re-
leased from custody. He absolutely
refused to talk of the case.-dtlanta
Constitution, July 81.
Seventeen private soldiers of the
French army, in Bonaparte S time, by
thoir hroyory and talents. raised them