Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-08-04
Rave We a Kidnapper Among Us.

SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS OF A STRANGER.
George II. Smith resides at No. 3l7 LIST street
southeast, in the middle house Of a row of two
story brick dwellings. He hastwo eomely boys,
aged FIX and nine years, the pride of their
parents. Both are notably handsome. At half
past three o'clock yesterday afternoon there
was ring at the door bell OF No, 3l7. Mrs.
Smith being engaged in the cares of the house.
fO'd dire eted Alfred, the oldest boy, 10 answer
the summons The house is t~o story and
basement, being supplied with two bells one az
the psrlor entrance and one at the basement
The ring came from above. 1t was answered by
the boy: who, upon opening the door, was &C
costed by man of genteel appearance, who
inquired tor the residence of Mrs. Lewis The
lady sought resides almost directly opposite on
the same square. The boy indicated the resi-
dence by pointing to IL, when the man, in an
afsble manner, and chuckling him under the
chin, asked the lad to accompany him. Alfred
told him he would, but that he would first pass
below and reach the street from the basement
door, so as TO enable him 10 fssten the psrIor
door. He had proceeded to the lower landing :,
when he was stopped by his mother, who
asked him who bad called. The youth replied
that man wished him to go with him to Mrs
Lewis why" replied the mother. you can
show him the house from the door," ''Yes,"
responded the boy, "but he wants me 10 go with
him." Mrs. Smith says that a suspicion of the
caller at once flashed across her mind She
directed the boy TO remain within. and pro-
eeeded herself TO the basement door, ard again
indicated TO the man the residence of Mrs
Lewis, which he ostensbly sought The lady
then Closed the door ard withdrew inside but
mems OF the stranger, who passed along to ID
street and crossed to the other side and from
thence into LIST street. When nearly ODD D>ite
the house, he drew from his pocket a card aud
looking directly across at the premises he had
just left, wrote something on IL. Mrs Smith
seeing him thus engaged passed TO the parlor
door, opened 1t and stood on the stoop, the bet
ter 10 observe his suspicious actions. Observing
her, the stranger ceased his writing and entered
the gate leading to the house of Mrs. Lewis. OF
course, Mrs. Smith could not hear what his
inquiry vas Soon, however, she heard Mrs.
Lewis. In loud tone, call for her daughter and
ask, "lll.ie, do yOu know where Mr.. Lewis
Smith lives" Upon hearing this Mrs. Smith
told Alfred 10 run TO the middle of the street,
call aloud, and request Mrs. Lewis at once to
come TO her front gate. This she did promptly
who did that man ask for" quoth Mrs.
Smith.
'sWhy he asked for Lewis Smith, - was the
reply.
land he has Just been at nv hsuse and asked
for Mrs. Lewis; do you know him?'
"NO, DO not, was the response. While this
conversation was going on the man began to
retreat Mrs. Smith called after him and told
him that she thought from the first that his in
tention was to kidnap one of her children, and
he had better get Off that square as quickly as
possible. She then again called to Mrs. Lewis
to 60 for policeman and have that man ar
rested. AT this the retracing steps of the man
quickened. Mrs. Lewis passed out of the gate
TO call IN a policeman who lives in the neigh
borhood, when the man passed on a run into G
street and from thence to New jersey avenue.
Some children in that neighborhood assert that
the man VINO had been running took vehicle
at this latter point and was driven rapidly
away. The episode soon became nOised
around and the children kept close last night
Little Alfred thinks he has seen the man in the
neighbOrhOod before, and that he is the same
stranger who gave his younger brother Willie
some candy fortnight ago.