Mayhew - Katie - kidnapped - back - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

An interesting case is that of Katie Mayhew, the daughter of Frank Mayhew and wife, who will be remembered by all who resided here a dozen years ago. Frank Mayhew was a painter and married Alice Hardee, sister of W. B. Hardee. One daughter, Katie, was born to them and they were finally divorced, Mayhew going back to his family in New York. Mrs. Mayhew kept the child, under a decree of the court. Eleven years ago, however, Katie, then between six and seven years of age, suddenly disappeared. She had gone out on the streets to play, and not returning on time, search for her began. She was not found, however, and no tidings were heard of her until Tuesday when W. B. Hardee received a letter from her. The letter was written in New York City and stated that she had been kidnapped while at play by Mayhew’s people, who had taken her to California, where they remained for two years. Later they returned to New York and kept her there until about two weeks ago when she escaped from them. She at once embraced the first opportunity she had had in all these years to write to her people here. She desired greatly to come to them and Mr. Hardee lost no time in forwarding her transportation. She is, therefore, expected to reach here within a few days. Her mother is married again, being the wife of Frank Neff, of Danville, Ill.