The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-16

BY Love OF
DAUGHT TER
OafauIting Sheriff Found in
St0waTd'SUllform on Stoam,r
After II Years Search.

New York. Jan. 16.-Devotion 10 his
daughter. from whom hs had been sep
arated for twelve years. brought about
| the arrest of Wlokliff Higgins, formerly
sheriff OF Olney county. ILL.,, who was
turned over by Magistrate Brann 10 the
| Centre street police court yesterday 70
the present sheriff OF the place 20 bo
taken back 10 stand trial for cmbezzl
ment
higgins is forty years old and was
long one OF tho leading citizens Of Olney,
finally being elected sheriff lie lived
with his wife and his daughter Louise.
who was at that time little more than
! baby.
Higgins while sheriff. il is said by
those who visited this city 10 take him
! back, became Interested IN a man named
Cornwel, who settled in the town and
professed 20 have large estates In Eng
land, OF which he could secure possession
II he had capital with which 10 push his
Higgins indorsed his scheme. and prin-
| cipally through Higgins wide influence
CornweN succeeded In obtaining $4,000
from residents Of Olnfy. lie then dSap-
Dcared and a few weeks later the sheriff
/ also was missing
Edward @. Hauser was selected 60 suc-
ceed him, and an Investigation disclosed
tho fact that the missing sheriffs ac-
counts we're short Slpd. ~ was believed
that he had fed 10 England 10 secure his
part Of the money ontained BY Cornweu
Louise Higgins, his daughter. remained
} IN OlneY with her mother She was oniy
rve years old when her father dsap-
twelve before her mother was taken from
her and she went 10 live with r. lativcs.
Her love for her father had never lapsed,
although her memory OF him was natu-
rally dimmed by the years that passed
without her seeing him. She attended
School. ana grew mp 10 he a pretty ana
| well-educated young wonaU
II Is believed I'm Olncy that her father
had never ceased 10 correspond with his
daughter and recently there have been
rumors abroad IN the town OF Oluev that
hc bad sent for her 10 join him IN Eng
land and there complete her education.
These rumors spre ad. until they came
to the ears of those who were interested
in the capture Of her father and few
DAYS ago Capt. George Titus received
long communication from the police au-
thorities OF Oluey, telling him the story
| look out for Higgins, who might meet
| his daughter at the steamer tf ne was
living In this country.
Cant. Titus detailed Detective Sergeants
Leeson and Moody TO keep a lookout for
thc girl. and on last Wednesday morning.
on information from Olney they met her
on arrival. and followed her TO the White
| star line dock, and saw her board the
! steamr Cymric. She walked about the
| cabin for "a while without attracting at
tention. and then the detectives saw her
/ steamer. After talking FOR a moment
| the steward went out on the dock and
\ the girl remained on the ship.
Then the detectives questioned one OF
! the cabin boys and learned that the name
| OF the steward was George" Higgins.
\ Light dawued on them at once. They
! had been looking for q passenger on the
! ship, and at once made UP their minds
/ that they had found their man in the
/ employ OF the steamship line. Stepping
| out OH the dock. they spoke 20 Higgins,
and asked him whether he was not from
| Olney,
NO he said. II am from Liverpool -
! lie spoke with a strong English accent,
! and az first the detectives thought they
! had made a mistake, but I.eeson said !:
/ WHY, ] am sure ! knew you in Olney. !
have certainly seen you there
well I was there number Of years
| ago" the steward admitted. and then the
detectives told him who they were and
| what they wanted him for LeesOn told
! the unfortunate girl that her father was
| 4 prisoner an~ weeping she WAS led on
| the ship and taken To quiet boarding
house, while her father accompanied De-
! tective Moody Go police headquarters.