The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-08-07
MAN AND WIFE REUNITED
After 40 Years Separation.-Confned
in New York Prison for Killing
Federal Colonel.

If any one had risen from the dead
it wouh, probably have caused no
more amazement than that with which
little family living on the farm of
Mrs. Arthur Davis, eight miles from
Cartersville, were overcome yesterday
morning when Anderson p. Pittman,
aged and gray, appeared in their
midst as missed relative who was
supposed to have been long since dead.
The home was that of Mrs. James
Smith, who was originally a Miss
Whitecotton. Mrs. Smiths mother
lives with her.
Anderson Pittman, who proved to
be modern Enoch Arden, after en-
tering thc home and laying down n
staff anl small budget which he car
RE! on his shoulder in walk out
from Cartersvillc, wiped the pcrspira-
tion from his brow and accosted the
Noun" matron with:
"Dn YOU have any ailments in your
homc7'
"No. but why do YOU ask - was
the woman : reply.
"Why. | IN a sort of a travelling
doctor, and thought [ might be Of
service if some one were sick.' With
a nervous impatiencc the old man
dropped his ruse for surprise, and
said:
"Whcre is your mother?'
The Young woman replied:
"She is in the other ROOM"
"Tell her to come here,' he said,
and on her appearance he approached
her and held out his hand, saying,
"Howdy. "Rushia."
When the elderly woman pulled
slightly away. he added:
"Don't he frightened; this is your
husband"
The scene as they embraced rs long
separated husband and wife. was one
that Mrs. Smith. the only eyewitness
will never forget.
The story is one Of intense interest
and probably has not parallel in
Georgia annals. Anderson Pittman
married JcrushaPallew in IIabersham
county just before the civil war. One
child was born to- them, a daughter,
who is the mother of good sized
family and now lives in Alabama.
When his dau"htcr was q babe Pitt
man entered the confederate army as
member of Captain John Porter's
company in the twenty fourth Georgia
infantry which was under LongStreet
in Virginia. Accordin" to his story,
Pittman was captured by the Twenty
fifth New York cavalry on September
II, in Wood county, Va. lie was car
ricd north and remained in New York
prison till the close Of the war. While
prisoner he was ordered by colo
mel named Sanford to open gate. He
started to his task when the officer
told him to run. Finding that he
moved no faster at the command. the
officer advanced and began to ilo9
him. At this Pittman demonstrated
and told the officer unless he dctcsted
ne would kill him. The officer said
'"Inu have no wcapnn..' At this Pitt
man pulled Il sixShoot from his
bootleg that he had succeeded in keep
ing concealed there, and shot the off
Ger several times, the wounds proving
fatal
Pittman was tried by military court
and ordered shot. but having made
friends of some rf the officials anon.
the guard. they intcrccdcl in his be-
nalf and managed I" Get his punish
hcnt shifted to that Of 4 life sentence
in prison, jus, through what process:
he himself is not aware. but suffice i
as the story goes, he remained in pris
on thirty-ninc years and six month:
Texas where he had some relatives
and stayed a short while; then began
the work of hunting up his family
which he said he had little hope o.
finding. as he had written scores O.
letters while in prison. to which he re
ceived no answer, presuming the,
were intercepted.
He went last week to Habershan
county and began inquiry Of his wife .
relatives and learned that the las
known of the family was that the,
had moved years ago to Barlow coun
ty. That durirE his absence his wife
supposing him dead, had married Ben
ton Whitecotttn, who had been killed
in a fight with revenue officers in th'
mountains Of northeast Georgia. They