The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-09-14
THE LOST TURTLE,
Good Reasons Why Lizzie Williams
 Wanted to Find It.

| THE LOST TURTLE,
 Good Reasons Why Lizzie William.
 Wanted to Find It.
 A tragedy long forgotten Is recalled by the finding of turtle lost for more
 than fifty years. Had it been found
 at the time it would have been the
 cause of proving young girls right
 to the name of her father some sixty years ago.
 MT. Williams, with his wife and child
 settled on small farm more than sev-
 enty years ago in White Haven, Pa.
 then small farming town. After liv-
 Ing at the place few years, coal was
 discovered on the farm. A company
 was started at once, and MT. Williams
 was elected president of the company.
 Mrs. Williams, having died before this
 time, left little Lizzie in the care of her
 father. She was bright, happy child,
 and had for playmate Bob" Smith,
 a boy about three years older than her self.
 Bob" is still living and keeps the
 old roadhouse on the plank road at | White Haven.
 | The turtle was found by pr. Brown while fishing in a brook near White Haven. Surprised at seeing turtle with blue shell, he picked it up and,
 washing it, discovered on the shell a
 painting of little girl, and also some
 writing, which at the time he could hardly make out, but upon looking at it through a glass, he was able to deci- pher the following: Lizzie Williams, daughter of Thomas and Lizzie Will jams, born June 1, 1883, London, En- gland"
 Having been told the story of the lost turtle when a boy, he took it at once to old Bob Smith, who. after hav- ing examined it, said: "Yes, that is the lost turtle, but if it had only been found years ago how different things might have been, and what trouble it would have saved I remember as if it were to-day when MT. Williams painted and put that writing on It. He was sitting in the woods painting picture COW, when Lizzie took 1t to him, and Liz asked him 10 paint some thing upon it's shell and laughingly he said, All right little girl; I'll paint your picture on it!' He painted the shell blue, and then painted on 1t the picture.
 "The next day I met him sitting on log in the woods, with the turtle in his hand. Giving 1t to me to put in the back yard, he said: See! I have cut out Llzzie's name and where she was born on the she'll The turtle was seen in the back yard for long while, but one day was missed. In October, 1853 MT. Williams was found shot through the heart. Whether he was killed or committed suicide was never known"
 The father of Bob Smith took Lizzie to his home and was appointed her guardian. A few months after the death of MT. Williams, a man of the name of Joe Patch claimed to be cousin of Williams and entitled to his property, because no will had been left He hinted that Lizzie was not the daughter of his cousin The people of White Haven laughed at this, but when the case came to court Lizzie had no papers to show that she was the child of MT Williams, nor did she re- member where she was born
 As the case was about to be decided, Bob stood up and told the judge about the turtle, and said if the judge would | give time before deciding the case he | would try to. find the turtle, which, he | was sure, had the place of Lizzie's | birth cut out on the shell. The court l gave him six months time.
 The whole town looked for that tur- tle. but it could not be found, and the was given to Joe Patch after ls.. &l.a if kin Lizzie. on hearing the verdict, 'elt the disgrace and, taking it to | leart, lay at the point of death for many days. On recovering from her !, she insisted that she would lever live with any one until she found hat turtle and removed the stain from Ter dead parents name. She also re- used to marry Bob Smith until the urtle should be found.
 She went to live in small hut near In old coal mine, and could be seen very day for years hunting among the ,rass for the turtle. The children to call her Crazy Liz" lnd she would only smile, but never top looking. Some five years ago she vas found lying on the grass near her nut, too weak to walk. When carried Il, she asked one of the children to go or Bob Smith, her old friend. Smith rived just before she died. Taking lis hand in hers, she said: Bob, be- ore I die, promise me that you will try 0 find that turtle and prove to the world that L have right to the name f Lizzie Williams. After I am buried ut a white slab over my grave, but o name until you can prove my right 0 it."
 Now that the turtle has been found CT name will at last appear on that tile white slab which stands over her