The New York herald., 1874-07-28
CHILD STEALING IN NEW YORK.

IL has been q source OF wonder to many who do
not know Of the lower phases OF lie in New York
how many pretty children are from dlssipated
parents. For instance one goes along the street
and is met py drunken, i'l-featured, half CLAD
woman who carries good looking, well dressed
cbild in her arms. She soicits aims and the
petitioned person, moved by the presence OF the
little one contributes few pennies for its sup
port, which, IN nine cases out OF ten, spent for
GIN.
These children IN the majority OF instances, DO
not belong to the women who beg with them.
They are in some cases borrowed, In others hired,
and in many stolen. The general reader may hoot
this last assertion as improbable and impossible,
ont IL is nevertheless fact. The women who do
the stealing are crafty only as regards the wlles
they resort TO to get drunk. They do not steal
the children to blacEmaI, they only use them AS
objects to excite the sympathes OF the charitable,
and the awful contrast between rum.sOdden
woman and bright eyed Guild is not calculated to
escape the notice of those who are not naturally
charitable, and consequently men OF the world
with cold hearts are often duped by these begging
thieves
Those who are increduous about such things
being done in New YORK may have their DOUBTS re-
moved by an eXpanatI OF the mOd,Ls OperGnd
of its votaries. One OF these cut throat beggars
Is going along the street and child appar-
entity unmatched, seduces 1t around the corner,
and, oy promises OF good things induces the enid
go with her. On the way she begs from every one
she meets and is more or less successful in her I'M
pOrtunities Tor money. Her harvest does not come.
however until the chnd. disappointed and wearied
with walking begins to cry aloud, and kind
hearted people inquire the cause OF the tears, and
ling mas not eaten morsel OF food since the night
before. lnquirers would rather brlng the child To
restaurant or TO sheaf houses thsn srqst h tnat
ness to attend to. and must either leave the child
TO starve OF trust the woman. She is trusted,
keeps the money and makes otner dupes When
the days WORK is done and the child is OF more
use she tells it TO stand on the corner for minute
till SHE goes to buy some thing. The child remains,
the woman goes ner way, and the policeman ap-
pears on the scene and takes the little one to the
station house Here ne remains for some time,
until a general inquiry is sent out OF head
quarters lor missing child. Word IS sent
/ back that it is at such ana such a station. The
mo ther mas been looking for her child all day
around the nelghborhoOd and, womdn-ltke, has
/ had no method 10 her search, She only asked
! those who were least likely to have seen her lost
one. and around she goes, IN frantic grief, search
ing in vain, until the husband comes home he.
more practical than his be tier half Immediately
goes 70 the station house to inquire the child IS
not there. and Information is sent to head
quarters, from whence 1t Is telegraphed out TO the
other stations. and the child is lound. The follow
Ing case, when came up In the TOmbs yesterday,
viii corroborate the above:-
About ten weeks ago the husband OF Mary
Sheehy, OF No. 70 Washington street, left her or
parts unknown. Since tnat time she has been
begging, and on sunday she, by the process above
spoken OF, sole enid belonging TO Maria HOnl,
OF No. 90 Frankfort street. Mrs. Hohl was looking
ont OF the wlnGow and saw the woman lay ha nds on
her child. She did not give any ALARM but i'm
nedately ran down stairs to catch the woman.
When she got TO the sidewalk neither woman nor
child was 70 be seen. Futile search was made for
the little one, and sunday night the parents did
not sleep.
Yesterday morning Oficer Quinn OF the Twenty.
seventh precinct, arrested Mary Sheehy on u
charge OF larceny. Mary had three children with
her. two OF which she claimed her own; the
other, she said, mad followed her. The child was
sent TO headquarters. where the father and
mother recognized IL. The mother was sent down
10 the Twenty-seventh precinct by Superintend-
ent Waing. and there sne identified Mary sheehy
as the woman who had stolen her child. Judge
Wandell held Mary. III default of $1,000, 10 answer
the charge OF abduction.