The sun., 1901-12-29
WANTS PARENTAGE DISCLOSED
CIVIL WAR MYSTERY DROUGHT
Up IN THE COURTS.
Union Soldier brought Home q Child and
Concealed His Antecetients-Tho Ssn
Now Has a German Namc and Asks
That the Old Soldier lie Made TO Tell All

Miller Of this city in behalf of August Friedt
hotter, as he is known. a resident Of Port
Nue, borough on the opposite side OF the
Ioughiogheny River from McKeesport
by means of It the complainant seeks "a
establish his identity, having reason to
believe that he Is entitled to property and
that he was fraudcntly deprived of his
rights over thirty years ago, when he was
an infant. Friedi hoffer believes that he was
sold into bondage by relatives who were
Interested in getting him out of the way
carried North by discharged soldier OF
the Union Army and given away by this
man TO u family named Frledthoffer. who
raised him as their own son.
II is within the last few years that the
man learned that his parentage was un-
known and that he made an effort TO es-
tablish his identity. William Hite. the
defendant in the bill in equity. positively
refused to give him any information
concerning himself or his parents and
even ceased TO speak to him. Being with
out means, Friedthofrer allowed the myste cry
70 remain unopened until recently, when
his story was told TO a friend, who volun-
,eered to furnish the funds for the employ
ment OF an attorney.
About the year 1866 Hite returned from
tho army to his home at Greenoch, four
miles south of McKeesport. after having
served in the Union Army from the begin
ming to the end of the war. His army record,
az found in the files Of the War Department
az Washington, shows that he was a good
soldier When he returned home he brought
with him a curly. golden haired little boy,
pretty little fellow, with blue eyes. The
boy answered TO the name of Charley. Hite
did not account for the boy 10 any of the
inquisitive neighbors who asked about him
and the coming of the child was soon for
gotten. After a time. when Hite was in a
communicative humor, he would tell some
thing about the boy. The stories all had
the same general trend but many variations.
The story most generally heard by tho neigh
bors and the one which passed in their
minds for the correct one was about as
follows:
After a great battle had been fought
between the Union and Confederate troops
in one Of the Southern States Hite was
wandering over the field and came upon n
fine old mansion which stood in the thick
of the fight and was almost ruined by shot
and she'll Supposing it TO be deserted he
entered and searched throu gh the house.
While wandering about the building he
found baby lying in a crib The child
awoke and, reaching up its arms to him
called him Papa" He took the little one
in his arms when the child informed him
that he was hungry. Hite gave the boy
something 10 eat from his haversack and
then searched for the family. He finally
became convinced that they had all deserted
the child. and he took him TO camp with
him. When he was discharged he brought
the little one home How he kept him at
the camp and cared for him until such time
a. he was able TO return home with him he
never explained.
One variation Of this story was TO the
effect that when Hitc entered the old man
sion he was met 10y the mother Of the child
rh. explained that his father was dead
and that everything they owned had been
swept away by the contcnding armies
The woman was about dying with consump-
ton and legged the soldier to take her
chill 4 and ind a home for him A varia-
ion of this story places the grandmother
pf the hoy in the position occupied 10y the
mother and is TO the effect mat his father
and mother were dead and the grand
uother gave him away 20 keep him from
starving
These are about the only explanations
Hitc has ever given for his possession OF
30 many different places that It j. difficult
20 determine where n was. lie told old
Nrs fuedthoffer that 10" got The boy m
Galveston. Tex, again IN Florida, then IN
South Carolina, IN Maryland. ia Virginia,
and almost every state that associated
i-.lf with the southern Coufederacy
After Hite returned from th" civil War
h. enlisted again iu the Regular army and
trrN.d uutil the rlring Of lsds In July
Uf that wear he gave the boy 10 Michael
IfIafaFlAN.4F "A uI a fllIINlss-s
who lived Oh the opposit" side Of the river
from MCkrospJrt aud who were anxious
% g. child 20 rails" a. their
pNu ~. wioie what be- called au
al t,p'Iuu pal-'T Tor this transfer 4
a.- aduIf.t -pn a.. Nichao fri"i'hor"r
yut -urr,ud.r- aIi claim upon hi- person
"r upon Wial 'ie may produce hy hi- Gaming
.'wrf lh" paIrf b. i'i"--'d by Anton
llu0WHu and Phillip llrlm-'rtt"T. bath ~
vtum lr' ,"t living and Who are veil
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~Ifus ufur lltHr IIH irirdthunrrr sscuIsI
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