Graham guardian., 1906-09-07
After 80 Years in Prison

Anderson P. Pittman, who wa
supposed to have died in north
ern prison during the war betweel
the States, surprised his wife ant
her relatives last Friday weel
ago by making his appearance a
the country home of Mrs. Jane,
Smith, eight miles from Carriers
vile.
TO complete the surprise, Mr.
Pittman accosted the young matron
who met him at the door with:
"Do you have any ailments in
your homer"
"No, but why do you ask?" the
woman replied.
"Why, Pm sort Of travelling
doctor and thought l might be OF
service if someone were sick. Z"
With nervous impatience the old
man dropped his ruse, and asked:
Where is your motherH
"ln' the other room," was the
reply.
"TeIl her to come here" he said,
and when she came he held out his
hand and said, "Howdy Rushia."
THE old woman did not recog.
nize him until be told her who be
was and identified himself by a
certain mark on his face.
The story is one of intense in
terest, with probably no parallel in
Georgia's history. Just before the
war began, PIttman married Jeru
shia Ballew in Habersbam county.
One child, daughter, was born TO
them, who is now the mother of
considrra bic family in Alabama.
Plttman went To the Virginia army
with the 25th Georgia regiment,
and, according to his story, was
captured IN battle and taken TO
New York prison. While pris
oner he was ordered by Il colonel
named Sanford to open gate.
He started to run. Finding that
he moved no faster at the com
mand, the officer advanced and be
gan to fog him. At this Pittman
demonstrated and told the officer
that unless he dcsisted be would
kill him the officer replied,
''You have no weapon" At this
Pittman pulled SIX shooter from
his boothleg that he had succeeded
in concealing there and shot the
officer several times, fatally.
Plttman was tried by military
court and ordered shot, but having
made friends of some of the off
cials among the guard, they inter
ceded in his behalf and managed |
to get his punishment shifted to
that of life sentence IN prison
and he remained incarcerated |
thirty-nine years and six months
and then got release. He went
to Texas, where he had some reIa.
tives and stayed short while; and |
then began the work Of hunting
up his family. He went week be-
fore last to Habersham county and !
began inquiry of his wife's rela-
tives and learned that the last
known of the family was that they |
bad moved years ago to Barlow
county. During his absence his
wife, supposing him dead, had
married Benton Whitecotton. who
was afterward killed in fight
with revenue officers in northeast
Georgia. They had reared a con-
siderable family of children.
The wife was found at the home
IF her daughter, who was also a
laughter of her second husband.
Pittman is now SO years old, his
wife is ten years younger.
The old man concluded his story
Is follows:
"They tried to wear the life out
If me in prison, but, thank God!
here is little of it left for me to
'njoy with my family. Pve got
20 acres Of land that they got of
nine because they supposed l was
lead, which am going to recover
" law, and hope to settle down
IN it and be happy. l must have
ha' daughter of mine in Alabama
With me who | gave the name of
AdelInc' before the war got me-"