The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-12-03

story given him by his squaw foster
mother of his Introduction to the Ute
Indians; namely. that he had been
brought to the chief by a white man
who had paid the former to keep him
and not let him get back to civilization.
The lawyer agreed to open an investi-
cation at his own expense by advertis-
ing the story In a number Of news
papers.
Since nothing came of the advertise
ment, John entered college resolved to
pay his way by attaining scholarships
finished his first year of study when
the lawyer who had taken his case sent
for him and told him that he had
heard from the advertisement, which
he had kept inserting from time to
time. A man named MARYLAND had
replied to it, saying that he had long
been seeking a child who had been
stolen about the time John was taken
to the Indians. This person had called
at the attorneys Office and when he
saw the baby clothes marked G. L. W.
at once exclaimed:
"Foundw
He told the following story: Cuth-
bert Whitridge, a wealthy gentleman,
and his wife for years after their mar
rage had no child. Then a son was
born to them whom they named
Charles Louis. Mrs. Whitridge died
when the boy was not quite three
years old and shortly after her death
the boy disappeared. Every effort was
made TO trace him without avail.
Since no demand for ransom was made
it was supposed that the child had
either fallen to his death or been taken
by gypsies who had adopted him. His
father Cuthbert Whitridge. had made
will naming Edward MARYLAND
executor. leaving his property to his
son provided he appeared to claim it
within twenty years. After that it
was to go to the testator's brother.
This brother Ambrose Whitridge. after
Cuthbert's death. had striven to break
the will to secure the property. main
tanning a legal contest for fifteen
years. but meeting repeated defeats
The suit had been expensive to defend.
but the estate was very valuable.
Ute John. or Charles Louis Whit
ridge, finding himself heir to a fortune.
learned his sweetheart's address and
wrote her of his changed condition. He
and his counsel believed that his uncle
had stolen. or employed some one to
steal. him when a child and take him
west and lose him among the Indians.
Louis Whitridge being DESTROYS to pun
fish his uncle, if guilty, after consulta-
ton with his counsel, employed a de
tective to endeavor to get evidence
against him. This was also necessary
since the uncle would not acknowledge
him as heir to his property. The de-
tective bribed a housemaid to admit
him to the premises when her master
was away. and he found in desk a
stating. 'The job Is done-send me the
balance" No name was signed to the
letter. The locket contained lock of
auburn hair. and the letters NJ F.. W.
were engraved within it. Louis moth
er's hair was the exact color Of this
lock and her name was Mary Elizabeth
In this discovery there was evidence
to show that Ambrose Whitridge had
been Instrumental in the abduction Of
the child who stood between him and
a fortune and had hired a man to lose
him to the world. Louis. acting on the
advice Of his lawyer. invited hfs uncle
to meet him for conference in the
attorneys office for the purpose Of /:
compromise. When Ambrose Whit
ridge arrived he learned that the com
promise intended was his signing of
all claim to the disputed property OF
being prosec uted criminally for abdue
ton. He chose the former.
Before returning to college Loui
Whitridge visited the military station
where Captain now Lieutenant Colo
mel Trowhridge served and met his
sweetheart whom he had not seen TO,
several years. Since the girl had re
manned constant to her Ute John" the
meeting was 4 happy one. She con
scented to Johns applying to her father
for her. and his consent was granted on
condition that the pair wait till Edith
came of age and Louis had been gradu
Rted from college.