The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-08-16
Victims Father Charges :;
Soldier With kidnapping


ma girl involved in the desertion case
that he had heard indirectly thai
Atchla had been placed in Jail here,
,equesting,. If this proved correct
tnat he be held until his arrival i,
Columbia to swear out warrant
against him..
Inquiry proved, however, that
Atc.la had not been arrested as yel
or if so that his identity has beer.
hidden under an assumed name.
William G. Atchla, soldier of the
ut."ery at Camp Bragg, N. c., i.
waited by the Columbia Travellers
Md his whereabouts at present being
st,,tiy unknown-and in this con-
.ec;ion there comes to light the pit.
! hI! story of a sixteen year old girl >
"A South Carolina town, who, seekina
Il light on the gay colored wings o.
ror.ance was deceived and deserte
ny him last Y3ek while in this city,
Ii. ing come here on his promise O.!
Immediate mari iage. If the Travel
e,s' Air succeeded in locating tbs
C.,jp Bragg soldier warrant charg
mE kidr apping and desertion is to b.
sworn cut against him, it is stated.
The Camp Bragg commander Wi.
also have charge against the uni
formed adventurer, should he
found, a wire from the cantonmen
ut Fayetteville received by the Ais
CO Ole Saturday in reply TO their in
quiries giving the information that
he is A. w. o. l. from there-mean-
ing in non-military terms that he Is
absent without leave.
The young girl involved in the case
is a pretty, vivacious and intelligen,
young woman, according to the Trav.
elers' Aid, coming from a good family
in her community. Her youth. an
ne.pe: ence are blamed as prim>
cause in the romance which turne
out so badly. she having placed th'
utmost faith in the good intentions }.
her sweetheart.
The Greek proprietor of the New
York Cafe in Columbia first brought
the kidnapping story to the attention
of the local Travellers Aid. The
roung couple, it seems had arrivet
in Columbia and after staying on
day and night they went into this es
tabiishment to have dinner. During
the course of the meal, it is related
the soldier excused himself to go ou
for a few minutes. He made it
point not to return.
In short while the bitter truth
was revealed Ito the young woman
that she had been deserted; that t..
charming youpg man whom she hat
painted in glowing colors in her fancy
and ITO whom she had trusted her.
self without u erve had deceived hei
in the most fthless fashion. l.
leap the bittea experience she. WA:
alone in .ths pital city withou
The =e1 A, being Mn.
hearted, brought the young woman t,
, the friendly aims of the Aid bureau
at the Union station and further
volunteered to Ray $500, the expense
of ticket to her home. Ihe Al,
people then m.de arrangemen fo
her return.
, Dressed in neat travelling suit
!. and exhibiting all the marks ot
breeding that come from. a good fan
, ly connection and much distressed tn,
: girl told III a fragmentary manner o
her experience and expressed her will
lingness to go back home.
AS related by the unfortunate gir
the runaway trip that was to hav.
ended with marriage at Augusta, Ga
on the ardent solicitation of her com
ranion, began during a swinimin
party at her home town, the coup!,
leaving from this point, and going BY
the house of a friend where suit
case had been left in preparation.
At another city in this state it is
said the soldier and the girl stopped
over and then came on to Columbia
the re%t day. On later investiga.
tion, the Travellers Aid >discovere !
that the couple had stopped at CO.
! lumbia hotel while here.
Word was received by the local Aid
bureau from bureau near her home
that the young woman was cared for
after arriving at that point and sent
on to her home. The tears and dis
tress there can only be imagined as
one Of the sealed pages in the un-
happy romance Columbia Record.
Soviet Agrees to