The age-herald., 1900-12-27
OCCURRED IN HEART OF CITY
Took Advantage of ChiId's CreduIitY and Would Have Been Success fuI Except for Her Presence
 of Mind-An Ugly Case

1Shat are norr1Iydng to even contemplate.
 The intended victim was little Stella Bernheim, the 13-year-old daughter of MT. and Mrs. S. Bernheim, who reside in North Twentieth street, between Eighth and Ninth avenues, who recently moved here from Atlanta.
 It seems that little brother of tine child was suffering with tootnache and in com- pany with his sister, little Tessie Schwartz, relative. and another little girl about IA years of age. he was sent to Dr. Merrill, the dentist whose office is in the Ohalifoux building at the corner of First avenue and Nineteenth street. The children arrived at the dentists office about 10 o'clock and finding the door closed decided to wait expecting that the doctor would soon be back.
 The Strange Man.
 While they were waiting a man who had been watching them closely approached them and asked who they wanted to see When told that the little boy had been brought down to see Dr. Merrill the man stated that he was employed by the doc- tor, who he said would not be down town. He manifested great interest in the case and proposed that the eldest of the three little girls go with him to Dr. MerrilPs house, which he stated was at. the corner of Eighteenth street and Avenue H. The older girl declined to accompany him, but the little Bernheim girl unsuspectingly agreed to go with him to get the doctor in order that her little brother might be re- lieved. The little Schwartz child proposed to accompany them, but when they got down on the street she was told by the man that she must go back as not more than two persons were allowed within two blocks of the house Chid-like, tine little girl unsuspectingly returned to the build ing, and the little party awaited the return of their companion and the man whom they felt sure would bring the doctor with them.
 Suspicion Aroused.
 Almost an hour passed by, and having tired of standing, the children seated them selves on the step near pr. Merr1lls office. About this time Sidney M. Ullman of the firm of Walters & Uhman, architects, with offices on the same floor, who had noticed them when they first came up, chanced to pass by, and knowing one of the children, addressing her pleasantly, inquiring which one of them had the toothache. He was 
 were waiting, and his suspicious were at once aroused. He sought city directory and found that pr. Merrill lived at Wood lawn. Feeling that something was wrong, he inquired more closely into the circum- stances, and learned from the elevator man that the man who left the building with the little girl was not employed In the build ing nor did he remember of having seen him before. MT. Ullman at once decided to report the matter to the police, but remem- bered that MT. Louis Schwartz, father of one of the children, was employed at Saks, just across the way, and he at once sought him out and laid the matter before him. MT. Schwartz went at once to the Chali- foux building, and after questioning the children jumped on his wheel and started for the location where the man stated that Dr. Merrill lived. In the meantime Mr. Ullman went to police headquarters and reported the facts.
 MT. Schwartz could find no trace of the missing child, and after searching the neighborhood for some time returned to the Chalifoux building, where the other chil- dren were still waiting. The little ones who up to that time did not understand the sit- uation, began to cry and bemoan the fact that their companion had gone with the man.
 The Child's Story. During the excitement the missing child, accompanied by her father. came up the
 stairs after being absent for about two hours, and told a thrilling story of her ex-
 perience.
 She stated that the man had taken her straight down First avenue, and that they walked for some time until the houses be- gan to get scarce, when she grew sus- picious, and stated that the doctor could not live in that locality. The man reas- sured her that it was only little way ahead. and still trusting, she followed him until they came to a branch, which later
 developments proved to be the one at
 Seventh street and Second avenue. The little stream is quite wide at this point and the man prepared to carry her across, but she refused to allow him to do so, and broke away from him and ran to a house situated some distance away and
 begged to be taken in, relating her experi- ence to the good woman who lived there and who proved to be Mrs. Pelham. In the meantime the man made off at rapid pace and was soon lost to sight. Mrs. Pelham at once brought the child to the city and turned her over to her father who was truly grateful for the con- sideration shown his little daughter. Description of the Man. The child described the man as small and heavy set with a small mustache. rather sloven in dress and appearance, which description coincides with that given by the. elevator man except that the later states that the man had no mustache. As soon as the matter was reported to