Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1879-10-08
hild-Stealing as a Trade.

90 many novels, plays anu operas nlnBe
upon the theft of children from their
homes that it is rather strange the crime is
not more frequent. There cannot be a
doubt that dramas of the Jack Sheppard
and Dick Turpin order increase the felo-
MES they ostensibly deprecate. Some
years ago, when it was proposed to forbid
the representation of the former play in
London, careful inquiries were made re-
specting its effect upon the average
audience, and the pernicious tendency OF
such pieces was thus made clear to the
public mind. Boys became thieves because
their imaginations were fired by the daring
deeds and romantic adventures of the
great experts of the profession. Mr..
Sheppard despite the tremendous effort of
Blueskin, might bangle at last on Tyburn
Tree, and Mr.. Turpin, with his "bonny
black Bess," might die ignobly in the
highway, but the splendor of their pre-
vious life eclipsed the shame of their de-
parture from it, and foolish youths were
many who, if they could only live as they
did, would be content like them to die.
There is not, to be sure, as much glory
to the juvenile eye in abduction as in high
way robbery, but the former is usually safer
and often much more lucrative. The
passion of revenge, too, as we'll as that of
cupidity may be gratiied by it; so that on
the whole, perhaps, it is somewhat re-
markable that the fate of the young hero
of "Guy Mannering" or the young
heroine of the Bohemian Girl" does not
find more frequent illustration in real life
The highwaymen, it is to be Observed
always come to grief; whereas the child
stealers seldom or never do. The abductor
of the Ross child, for example, is still un.
discovered, and such case as that of the
man Schuyler, who was arrested on We'd
nesday night in Buffalo, we are rarely
called on to record. Schuyler appears 70
have gone into kidnapping children as a
regular business, and, but for the lucky
| accident of his capture, many homes might
have been made desolate by his depreda-
| tons. The act of this man which led 10
his arrest was curiously audacious, but very
simple young girl, the daughter of a
promr ent citizen of Buffalo, MIR. Town.
send Davis, was at school, taking a music
lesson. Schuyler called at the school, saw
the young lady and told her that her father
had been hurt by an accident and that he
had been sent to take her at once to him
The girl, without suspicion, went with the
scoundrel directly. They got into street
car, rode some distance and alighted on 9
corner next to a row of buildings called the
Phelps Block. Schuyler here said that Mr.
Townsend had been taken up stairs, anC
that he would first ascend and see if hel
fathers condition was such that the
daughter could see him. He went up
came down, and she then accompanied
him up again. They passed into a room or
an upper story, when Schuyler locked the
door. The child saw that she was trapped
and tried to scream. But her captor wa
too quick and succeeded in gagging her
Thereupon he calmly told his prisoner hi
plans. These proved to be as simple as hi
method of abduction. He wanted fv
hundred dollars, he said. Her father wa
rich and could easily pay it. She must
therefore, forthwith write Il letter de
manding for her jailor as the price OF he
safety and freedom that the sum should b
Immediately paid in a certain manner
The girl was too frightened to write tn
letter; but Schuyler whipped out drai
already prepared and made her copy il
In the sequel the child escaped, he
abduct0r by promptness and good forum
was taken, and the fact was made plai
that the man had actually adopted chile
stealing as a trade, and had provided min
self with various facilities, the discovery {
which throws broad light upon his histor
! and purposes.
Among papers found on Schuyler
person, or among his effects, were lists
names and residences of wealthy indiViC
: uals who have children, notes of tn
schools and other places frequented
them, and a variety Of details that betraye
the fellows designs and his intende
modes of operation. The most strikin
J., feature of these consisted in adroitly wri
ten letters requiring sums Of money to
instantly paid, under penalty of the lastin
=. concealment Of a child already stolen, an
7 likewise threatened to torture the child
the event Of delay. If fault were foun
:, with the conditions, or a detective en-
IL ployed, "watery grave" would be the CO..
sequence to the little prisoner. who wou
never afterward be heard Of The "penal
m of treachery," or non. compliance with IL
demands, was to be in some instanc
! death in others life Of private, abu
and pain. Fortunately for the communi
the Infamous wretch who contemplate
this wickedness, and who is said to be
telegraph operator lately in the service
the Western Union Company, has BEE
secured, and his career of guilt has thu
as we may hope, been brought to an en-
1t is still more fortunate that no "glor,
attaches to his misdeeds. He has ma,
no money. He has secreted no victim
He is not "bold, bad man." like Il
famous footpads and burglars who ma
the world ring with their exploits, al
. who have therefore inhamed the fooli
N and the ignorant to fatal emulation.
Y is merely a vulgar and commonpla
N ruGan who has not been clever enough
avoid speedy detection, and who W
probably have in Auburn State Pris
ample time to mourn over his feeble
tempts at crime and to resolve to ST.
+ neither children nor anything else after
10 gets out-N. ]. Post.