The Osceola times., 1881-01-15
MISFORTUNE A FORTUNE.
How an Abducted German Girl Found Her
Lost Relatives.


New York sun.
Among the unwilling occupants of the
House of Detention for Witnesses in
Mulberry street is Elizabeth Doll, a Ger
man girl in her 18th year, who landed in
this country two months ago. Her story,
as told TO Justice Duffy and others, is
that she was born in Baden, where she
lived with her father, mother and sister
until four months ago, when her father
died, leaving his widow and his two
daughters destitute. When Elizabeth
was baby, her cousin, Mrs. Richard
Roeser, went with her husband to Amer
lea, and in later years her letters 10 her
relatives in Baden were filled with glow
ing descriptions of the land of her adOp-
ton and entreaties for her young cousin,
when she grew 10 girlhoOd, to Join her in
it. Elizabeth had always wished to be
allowed 10 go, but her parents refused t.
give their consent, and during the latter
part of her fathers life the subject was
not discussed. Now, however, with pow
ertv staring them in the face, Mrs. Doll was
induced to grant her daughters request,
and the girl sailed for New York in the
Rotterdam, and landed at Castle Gar
den.
Though she had written TO her cousin
to say she was coming, she did not ap-
praise her of the steamer in which she
was TO take sail, or of the date of her de-
parture. and on her arrival here she
found herself stranger in a strange land.
Nobody met her, and after the usual de
lay in Castle Garden situation was
found for her with German family liv-
ing in Brooklyn. Then man, who said
his name was Henry Beyers, called upon
her. and by promising to procure for her
a better situation than the one that had
been found for her, induced her to throw
up her employment and 90 to Rolls ho-
tel No. ! Battery place. Thence, after
cautiuning her not 10 say who had as
sisted her, he took her to No. lO2 Canal
street, di9reputablc house, kept by Mrs.
Dora Schneiker and sold her for $500
The girl was confined in this den for
ten days. and warned at intervals not to
attempt to escape, rs the police would
take her up if she was found on the
streets. Finally, her Brooklyn employ
ers, having reported the matter rs far aS
they knew it to the commissioners of en-
igration, Officer Gordon was given charge
of the case. He found the girl in the
Canal street house, and took her away,
arresting at the same time Henry Beyers
and Mrs. Schneider. Justice Duffy held
the former in $1,000 bail, and the latter
i'm $1,000. Mrs. Schnciker's bonds were
signed by Bernard VRourke, Il saloon
keeper Of No. % Forsyth street, and
Elizabeth Doll was locked up in the
house of detention for witness.
The girl does not understand a word Of
English and despite the court interpre-
tCr's efforts TO explain to her the exact
state of affairs, from the moment of com
initial She laborcd under the impression
that She was locked up for some crime
the nature of which she could not com
prchend. She hcmoanel her fate and
protested her innocence increasingly
She had not seen her cousin since She
landed. and, having lost her written adj
dress, she could give no information a.
to where she lived.
The story of the emigrant girls wrong
however, had been widely published, and
on Tuesday they were read by Mr.. Rich
ard Roesor, when he returned to his
home in Long Island City. Mr.. Roe>er
is wealthy butcher doing business at
No. us Second avenue, and owning a
house near Hunters point. lie read the
account of Elizabeth Dolls abduction to
his wife, and asked her if she thought the
girl could be her cousin. Mrs. Roeser
had been very uneasy at the nOn-arrival
Of her relative. and she had now no
doubt at all as to her being the person
who arrived in the Rotterdam. Gester-
day she went to the house of detention
for witnesses, and stated her name and
business. She was introduced into a
room where Elizabeth Doll was sitting
alone, and, though nearly Is years had
elapsed since they parted, and neither
had seen the other at time of life when
subsequent Identification would be possi-
bic, the recognition wasinstantaneous and
the women rushed into each others
arms.
Elizabeths story had to be told and
retold. Her cousin was never tired OF
hearing it; nor could she understand why
her young relative was not allowed 10 %
home with her ut once. She sat with her
as long as she was allowed TO do so, and
went away only partially satisfied with
the assurance that the charge of abduc-
ton against Mrs. Schneider and Henry
Beyers was in the district attorneys
hands, and would be laid before the grand
jury at the earliest moment possible. rs
soon as she is allowed to leave the house
of detention for witnesses, Elizabeth Doll
will become an inmate of her newly-dis-
covered relatives home in Long Island
City.