Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-07-02
WHO WAS THE KIDNAPER
And Why Did He Try to Steal
 Little Flossie Taafe9
THERE ARE SEVERAL THEORIES.

Some Think That NeIat1veS COnSplreu Inat
 They Might Eventually Get Some of Mrs.
 Taafe's Money-Others Think Ransom
 Money the Object. -
 CHATHAM, N. Y.. July 2.-Everybody in Chatham, except those who sleep in the cemeteries, has theory to advance con- corning tho Kidnapping of little Flossie Taafe, and it is now about the only topic of conversation. The authorities have made no arrests, and do not appear to be able to do moro than make a guess as to the identity of the guilty person.
 The child, who is only years old, was abducted Saturday about midnight, and carried as far as the little Catholic come tery, where she was hurriedly abandoned, and then found by her cries and returned to her half crazed mother, Mrs. George Taafe, young widow of well known buyer for an Albany dry goods house. The child is suffering today from the expo sure of Saturday night. She described the man as well as she could.
 A constable from a village several miles from here was in Chatham Saturday aft ernoon and made inquiries at the Taafe house regarding woman. She is one Of Mrs. Taafe's tenants. He said that he was western detective and had warrant for the woman's arrest. While waiting ho asked some questions about the Taafes. He called on the woman, who is handsome and almost an Octoroon, but made no ar- rest. He was a stranger to the Taafes. About 6 o'clock in the evening @ man 1rove him to village near here.
 Trying to Find a Motive.
 The most plausible theory is that the abductor had the chance of reward in his mind; but, becoming alarmed at the sound of voices along the road, dropped the child and got away. Some say that the crime was the act of jealous neighbor or ten ant, the motive being to give the mother B fright, but this theory does not appear sound, as Mrs. Taafe has apparently not an enemy in the world.
 It is plain how the act was committed. The house of Mrs. Taafe stands about in the middle of the main block in Church street. It is white two story building, and is one of the many which Mrs. Taafe owns in the street. In the rear is large yard. Whoever committed the deed stole up into the house about midnight and looked over the ground. He then walked over to the pastoral residence of the Rev. Father Walsh, about three rods away, and there, from cherry tree, took ladder. Carrying this to the Taafe residence, he carefully placed the ladder on the west
 
 dow. Opening this and pushing aside the lace curtain, he entered into bedroom.
 He passed through this room and a hall and stood at the foot of the bed, in which were Mrs. Taafe, her niece May Allen, and the two children.
 Without doubt he chloroformed all of them, and reaching over grasped little Florence in his arms. He then passed into another bedroom and took from chair some of the child's clothing. Silently the man passed through the rooms again and climbed down the ladder He then walk ed to the rear Of the building and took a skirt belonging to Mrs. Taafe from a nail. This he wrapped around the child and walked to Church street.
 He Was Disturbed.
 Up the street he went and entered Wash ington avenue, which leads to the ceme- tery. Passing between the tombstones to some bushes, he was about to take the child over the fence to an apple shed when he was disturbed. Then he aban- doned the little one and fled in a car riage. This story is in accordance with statements made by the child. A mans footprints were discovered in Mrs. Taafe' S yard leading from the window to :he street.
 Chief of Police Fowler has theory all ms own. lie says that when George Taafe willed all his property to his two children, Florence and George, his widow getting only third interest, the cupidity of relatives was excited. He imagines that their idea was that if the children could be abducted the property would pass to the widow and then to them.
 The mother was not averse to talking, and as she talked she hugged the little one to her breast.
 'Who the cruel man was, ,' she said, 1T cannot tell. do not know of any one who could wish to revenge himself on me. The only thing can lay the act to is the hope of ransom. The people here know I have some money, and if my little ones were stolen would give all I possessed to get them back"
 Miss May Allen, niece of Mrs. Taafe, said she was positive that chlOrofor1n had been used. "We thought so Monday morning when VIC were awakened" said she. Both Mrs. Taafe and myself felt as though we had slept for 12 hours. We wore drowsy and ill. Georgie my little cousin, slept through the trouble, and it was some time before we could awaken him in the morning.