The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-20
THE KIDNAPPING OF A BOY.
ONE STREET DESIGNATED As THE
HUCKSTERS' IxCHAhGE.
Comptroller Grceu's Representative and a
Farmer Driven Oh-A Chiid stolen from
the Man who Instigated the DRIVING On.

COmptroilfr Green's Representative ana
Farmer Driven ORA Cbiid stolen from
the man who Instigated the DRIVING Od,
On Wednesday afternoon last Mr.. Dem
mis- Sullivan's child Joseph. three and a half
years Of age, disappeared under circumstances
almost as MYSTERIOUS rs those attending tho ab-
duction OF Charley Ross. Dennis Sullivan Ia a
wholesale grocer at 4i2 Greenwich street, and
lives with his wife and children In tho second
story over his grocery. Joseph was a very well.
grown child for bis age. The naxen hair that
swept his chou lders. his nne complexion, and
his feminine dress gave him the look OF girl.
He was frequently permitted to play on the
sidewalk In front Of the house, and once or
twice he was known to have made tho complete
tour OF the block alone, but be had been trained
to such dread Of passing wagons that he
seldom crossed the street. In his street playing
he conversod freely with grown persons who no.
ticed him In passing, but he did not mate with
children Of his own age. Soon after noon on
Wednesday his mother permitted him and his
brother. fifteen months younger, to go to the
sidewalk for little romp previous to their
afternoon nap; and after they had been out an
hour the younger boy toddled up stairs alone
and was nut to bed
Mrs. Sullivan, supposing that Joseph would
soon be back, resumed her work. and waited
for another hour. He did not return. and she
then went out to look for him. He was no.
where visible. The drivers OF Sullivan's stables,
which are In Washington street just In the rear
OF the store. whittier he sometimes wandered,
had not seen him, neither had any Of the resi-
Gents OF tho block. all Of whom knew him well.
During that day no one was found who had
seen him playing In front OF the store.
MIR. sullivan visited the Police Central once
and the police stations In the neighborhood, but
nothing could be learned. The police promised
assistance, but, apparently satisfied with their
theory that the child had wandered to the
wharf and fallen overheard, they did nothing,
and when Mr.. Sullivan applied at the Leonard
street station, the general alarm and description
which the Central once officials had promise to
semi out at once, had not vet been received.
Mr.. sullivan and his friends have carefully
studied up the drowning theory, and have dis
missed II as Improbable, II not impossible. TO
reach the wharyes Joseph must have crossed
Washington and West streets, which At that
| time Of the day are nlled with passing vehicles.
Again, having passed these dancers. which he
had always Stunned. there are only two narrow
| piers within the range OF his probable wander
ings that ure accessible from the street except
through the doors OF covered wharves. These
two piers surrounded by a coping high
enough to preclude his accidental falling In
while running along the edge, and no always
highly improbable that he lost his balance while
sitting on the coping looking into the dock
Moreover. these piers are at all times alive with
working watermen and playing Ramins, and II
| the boy mad fallen In some one must have seen
| him.
The child was neatly dressed, but not so rich
| ly "a to tempt thieves to abduct him on that
/
recoilect any difncuty that might prompt ma
licious persons to spirit him away for spite.
| Yesterday, however, Mr.. Sullivan recalled to
mind some circumstances that may furnish a
clew TO the mystery Comptroller Green has
designated Greenwich street as . Kind Of out
door exchange for market gardeners aud green
grocers. From 10 o'clock at night often until
| noon the next day Greenwich street, from the
Battery to Eleventh street, is filled with mark ct
riers Each wagon, as II takes its place, is taxed
twenty-five cents by market collector, who
puts u chalk mark on the wagons u receipt
| TDis market cole rtor Is an official OF the Comp
trolier's once, and his receipt Is regard ed
| officis recognition that gives the traders inde-
feasible rtghts. their business 10 carried on 40
noisiIy that Greenwi IN street has few residents
that can afford to live elsewhere. Mr. sullivan
sought to aoate this nuisance, and year ago he
| applied 10 the police captain and that officni
kent his sdewalks clear for while. Things.
| however, soon got as bad AS ever. and IN NOVem-
| Der last Mr, sullivan had one of the farmer, ar
| rested and taken to the rombs. There he was
fined $40. on the next day the farmer resumed
his old stand, and, being backed by "A market
| collector he hoped to mold his place. A police
man was called, aud, after wordy alteration.
both farmer and collector were forced TO move
| on.
Tne farmer employed a carrier VINO was heard
to saw III get even with sullivan II It takes ten
| years. | know all the thieves in the Filth Ward
ana II have them on hin for king away my
| bread and butter" Nothing was thought OF
this until three weeks ago when the same
| farmer and collector resumed their old posi-
| ton. They were again driven away 10y the po-
| lice, and the lat words OF the collector were {:
| " Damn YOU, III square this matter with YOU
| before long" Neither Of these threats made
| much impressions upon Mr. sullivan at the
! time. but taken In connection with the loss Of
/ his child they arouse suspicion.
Mrs. Driscoll md Mrs. Smitn Of 40 Greenwich
| street, uoth tue day before and on the day ~
| the dis .ppeardnCe, three men prov ling
| neor Mr. Sulliyans store. boy named O'lirien
Of Al Gr enwich street saw these men also aud
saw them talking witt the boy some time before
! the disappe rance. MIR. Sullivans behef Is that
they suirIted him away probiOly at the insuga-
| tiOn II those whose priv ileges he had curtaileu.
The boy was dressed in "A green plaid skirt and
gingham apton, but wore no hat. HIS shoes
| were capped at the toes. lie talks pl.inlt, and
| Is unusually intelligent for one Of his age. r.
sullivan offers $JOO for his ret Urn, aud will ask
no questions.