The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-25
THE MOST REMARKABLE
 CASE OF IFS CHARACTER
chloroformed and Abducted From Her Room By Unknown Lover, She Effects Escape Twenty
 Hours Later.

no more sensational problem has present. | ed itself than the mysterious abduction and unexpected return of Miss Fannie Sidebotham, the 1S-year-old daughter of MT. and Mrs. J. H. Sidebotham, 729 North Twenty-frst street.
 The clews and the intricate tangle in which the existing facts have interlaced themselves are so meagre and inexpllcible seems sorely needed.
 When Mrs. Sidebotham yesterday morn ing looked into her daughters bedroom the girl was missing. A nasty investiga- 1 ton by the frightened parents brought to light note, in which 1t was stated that the daughter had been abducted by a man who loved her and intended making | her his wife. A broken pane in the window l explained how the man had entered the young girls chamber. The pillow on which she had slept gave forth the odor of chloroform. None of the girls cloth ing was gone, every gament worn on the day previous, even to the shoes and stock ings being left behind
 Just as the grieving household was preparing to retire last night a noise was heard on the porch. The missing girl, frightened into mysteries, had re- turned.
 She wore a mans coat.
 The Girls Story.
 q knew nothing until l felt myself lifted in a carriage" said Miss Side botham. II looked about me, saw that it was dark and was badly frightened. I screamed. I felt a damp hand fall upon my face and remembered no more.
 When next I had gathered my senses I was lying on a bed in darkened loom l heard a mans voice telling a woman that no one must know that 1 was there and that he had made arrangements to carry me away in the morning. Later saw the man. He was very tall. His hair was dark. He said nothing to me.
 "When next 1 looked about me I was still in the darkened room. 1 got up from the bed and stood upon my feet. rushed to window and threw it open. l found a mans coat and placed it about me, leaped from the window and made off. l soon saw that I was near home. I ran as fast as I could and soon stumbled upon the steps. I know nothing further"
 Officer Nix of the police department visited the home last night after the girls return. She expressed a willingness to make an effort to point out the house wherein she was kept a prisoner. The girl led Officer Nix, her brother and a representative of The Age-Herald about the neighborhood of her home, but was unable to point out any definite spot. Miss Sdebotham declares that never again will she occupy a room alone. She slept last night on cot in the room of her mother and father.
 Sensational Facts.
 The story leading up to the disappear ance of Miss Sidebotham was one of the most sensational ever brought to the at tention of the present police force
 After returning from a vacation trip l into Colorado, Miss Sidebotham received the first of series of anonymous let | ters The first letter was received on the 14th day of September. It simply informed the young girl of the fact that she had l inspired the flame of love in the bosom of | a young man in the west, and that this | young man had made up his mind to | claim her as his own. He intimated that he would abduct her. He threatened to | kill her if murder be necessary to prevent her from marrying another
 He stated in the letter that he was un- known to the girl He intimated that he was young. good looking and had a large | fortune.
 l After this letter. numerous others were received, all having the same import. l Each was given to the mother, and when the letters arrived, the young girl was | badly shocked, at one time fainting from fright, and at others bursting into tears weeping hysterically.
 Even more sensational is the fact that Miss Sidebotham dreamed that she would receive these letters and told her mother what they would contain when they did arrive.
 | She dreamed that the man who sent them was young and handsome and rich.
 She dreamed that she would be kid mapped and carried to Europe, whence her parents would receive their first in- | formation as to her condition and where | abouts.
 All of her dreams have come true with | the exception of the last.
 Chief Wier Notified. l After the reception of the first mysteri- ous letter, J. H. Sidebotham father of the young girl. notified Chief Wier, and asked | permission to carry a revolver. | When the girl attended the theatres | she and her escort were often followed | by Steve Sdebotham, her brother, and August May, a friend of the young lady | The family was naturally in a state Of perpetual fear. and every safeguard was l placed about the young girl to prevent | the man, whoever he might be, from car rying out his plans.
 The Sldebotham residence is situated at | 729 North Twenty-seventh street. The | family consists of MT. and Mrs. J. Fl. |. Sidebotham, Steve, the son. and the miss- | ing girl Miss Fannie. She was not at- | tending school, and had not accepted | position in a counting room, although she | was prepared for office work last year | at the Massey Business college. The family conducts boarding house. and as many as twenty-five young men have rooms and take their meals at the