New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-27
ADOPTED BY THE GYPSIES
TWO ARRESTS MADE IN AN ALLEGED
KIDNAPPING CASE.

THE PRISONERS wANDERER AND HIS WIFE
WHO PICKED Up A RUNAWAY BOY IN CON
NEcTrcuT-uE SAYS HE HAS BEEN
KINDLY TREATED. But THE Po-
LICE HINT At A MYSTERY
BEHIND THE CASE
A gypsy woman went to Police Captain
Schmittberger. OF the West Forty-seventh-s''
station. two days ago, and told him long story
about a kidnapped boy who she said was stoieh
by the band to which she had belonged ana was
detained in this city. She seemed to have grieV-
ance against the other gypsies. ana Captd'"
Schmittbereer thought the story was worth Ill
vestigating. Several detectives were put on the
case, and a result two arrests were MADE last
night. The prisoners are Thomas Narey, thir'y-
five years old. and his wife. who Is ABOUT
twenty-five. They We're found on the ground hoor
of the big tenement-house No. 6O2 West Forty
nnth-st.. and with them the boy who was sara
to have been kidnapped He gave his name as
Ernest Mahan. and said he was fifteen years Old.
All were taken to the West Forty -seventh-st sta
tion and the boy was given TO Agent Watson. OF
the Gerry Society
Captain Schmittberger and Detectives Crane.
Ward and Walsh made the arrests When they
went to the tenement-house they found Mrs.
Varey alone in her rooms. She readily acknowi-
edged her identity. and when asked about the
boy said that she and h.r husband had boy
whom they had adopted while out on the ROAD
The lad, she said, out with her huspaho
peddling oilcloth. The detectives declded 10 wall
for their return. In the mean time Detec'Nc
Ward sa W a bright-looking boy out In the haI'-
way. and. on questioning him. found mat ne
was the boy they sought Next search Oh '"e
fiat disclosed Narey. and the trio were p'aceo
in the patrol wagon and taken to the station
A great crowd had got wind Of the affair. ard
several hundred people gathered IT. froh' oi 'ne
place and followed the wagon to the station.
sister of Mrs. Varey. and Nareys mother' VINO
is old. but exceedingly active. also followed the
wagon Both were greatly excited. ana the Ola
woman repeatedly cried that she knew the boy
would be the caus, of trouble TO her famiy'
The group presented an interesting picture as
they stood before he sergeant's desk The three
women looked typical gypsies in face ana
dress The man looked like what he asserts he
is-a horse-trader.
To get at the truth as quickly as possible, cap
tai, Schmittberger examined each IF the three
nrsoners separately IN his ivateI room The
bov WAS first questioned. He also is dark enough
10 look like a gypsy. He has large brown eyes
and black hair. He neatly dressed In knick-
erbockers and a pink shirt. He told his story
readily. and was not confused by the questions
put to him.
II like these yeople." said the boy when asked
to tell his story. They are the only ones that
ever treated me kindly, and they are real good
to me My name is Ernest Mahan and came
first from Deyes HILL Braintree. Mass. ! lived
there with my father and stepmother. Father
was kind to me- but I did not like the other
one She licked me every time Ghe got a chance
to give me a whack.
well. two years and half ago. my father
said ! was going to 60 away man with
blue coat came and took me to a place like
this only it wasn't police place, it was just
a court Pa met me there and he signed some
papers and then kissed and cried whole
lot. was taken to an orphan asylum at Palmer.
near Springfield. Mass. They kept me there for
three or four months, and then was given out
to A. n. kanyon. a farmer, at Cold Brook, Conn
He was real good to me and liked the place
! did not have much work to do. and what did
was just like play But Mr. Kanyon quit farm
ing and gave me to old man Vining. He's an
other farmer. and he's no good He made no
work like a slave and treated me worse than
dog just cut him and ran away"
Il got to Waterbury, near Cold Springs and
met two tramps. one of 'em says. Hello kid |
says Hello back and got acquainted. The
men were good to me. and always whacked up the
grub but one day they both went out for some
stuff to eat and I lost 'cm | was looking all
around when / met Mr. Varey. He says what
was | don'. and ! says lost He asked
me If | hungry. and then took me to Cold
Springs where the camp was. They asked me If
! wanted to I've with them. and had no place
TO go and they was good to me. and / says OF
course
"All | do is to mind the baby. Mr. Varey sells
oiIcloth and swaps horses. and Mrs. Varey tells
fortunes and cooks the grub. They didn't take
me. mister. Sure they didn't just came with
them and want to 60 back
The boy told how the gypsies worked their way
down the west shore Of the Hudson, trading
horses selling oilcloth and telling fortunes. He
said they made lots Of money and saved II all,
as they never drank liquor. When they got to
Hoboken. Narey and his wife. the hoy said
came over to ,ew-York to visit Vareys mother
and Mrs Narey's sister. at the West Fortyninth-
st. tenement, where they were arrested.
Naroy. when he was examined by Captain
Schmtt orgrr. said he was a native Of Leeds
ENGLAND. ana corroborated the boys story In
detail lie said n supposed he doing good
ra her tnan harm 10 pick up homeless lad
He watched the newspapers for weeks after
finding the boy. he said. and when he saw no
account Of The disappearance, made UP his mind
to adopt him. Mrs. Narey told a similar story.
but expressed great Indignation that she and
her husband had been arrested. She said that
the Nlalan boy was good boy. ana h liked his
mace so well that when Maggie Morrison an
other gyrsy. wanted TO give him 30 cents a week
10 live with her and mind her baby the boy re-
fused
Mrs Varey was not locked in a cell. The
rnatron shared her room with the prisoner.
Varey was locked up. His mother and Mrs.
Varcvs sister went home. They seemed much
decreased over the arrest Of their relatives. and
the old woman declared that ii the first
time any Of the travellers she called them.
had been in the hands OF the police. This she
seemed to think great blot on the family es-
cutcheon.
The action OF the police in holding the prison
ers was considered strange. but Captain Schmitt-
berger says there is more in the case than there
would seem to be from the stories told by the
three people The true facts. he said. would
-...n,n out In The nnlice court this morning. He