The evening world., 1904-01-04
Think HE TOOK
BOY TO FRANCE
Police Theory in Regard to Ec-
centric Frenchman Alleged to
Have Kidnapped Samuel
Scher from East Side.
1AAAhH

Detectives who are seeking Jean
| Michel. an eccentric Frenchman. who
disappeared from his rooms. No. Jones
street. taking with him Sammy scher,
the ten-year-oid son of Norris scher.
of the same address, believe he and
the boy are on their way to France.
Morris Scher. the missing boys father,
who Is a tailor at No. 2S2 Bleecker
street, charged Michel with kidnapping.
and a general alarm was sent out by
the police. He described the missing
man as of about thirty-elght years OF
age, feet inches IN height. weighing
aoou, 1sc pounds. with gray hair and
eyes, small mustache. closely curled;
and wearing a dark suit and overcoat
The boy is feet in height. weighs %
pounds, has dark hair and eyes. Is
very good looking and wore a gray
overcoat. dark blue serge knee trousers
a red sweater and black cap.
Michel had wonderful influence over
the boys IN the neighborhood and had
gathered about fifteen of them into
band which he called the Brothers OF
the Red Cross. lie made small badges
for them o, tin. which he stained red
and rented a room for them to meet him.
He lectured to them on how to become
good men and told them wonderful stor-
les OF his own youth.
Was Teachers Favorite.
He was credited with divine healing
powers by a number OF the grown per-
sons in the neighborhood and was gen
orally looked upon as a most devout
man. He had displayed an unusual az
fection for the Scher boy and sunted
himself in order TO purchase candy ana
toys for his favorite.
The boys father, an orthodox Hebrew.
learned that Michel was teaching
Sammy the Catholic religion and had
said he intended having him baptized.
The elder Scher forbade the boy TO have
anything more to do with Michel.
On Saturday Sammy told his mother
he was going to visit his aunt. Mrs.
Fanny Davis. He took bundle OF his
toys and met Michel on the corner.
Michel had with him n tool chest lie had
given Sammy for Christmas and some
other belongings. They disappeared to-
yether 1t Is said that Michel had told
neighbors that lie Intended going back
10 France when he received his next re- |
nittance. and that II Sammy wanted to
90 With him he would take him.
Life story Left Behind.
In his rooms after Michel disappeared |
was found a chronicle of his own life, |
which contained wonderful story OF
his being kidnapped in Paris and
AIKEN 10 Africa by n mysterious woman.
Il related that he had been sold 10
In Arab named Abdul Hamid and made
, slave. He was eventually dismissed
~ the Arab and sent to Tlmbuctoo.
The chronicle further related that
IA had been taught crimes OF which
le would ne ashamed to speak in Amer
ca. II said further:
Some OF the child slaves were sold
o cannibals. and l saw one baby boiled
n a pot. | was not eaten because l
vas considered too thin. was sold TO
sheik Moor. who made a present OF
ne to the Sultan OF Morocco.
After l had been eight years In
Iavery. when l was fifteen years old.
was freed and sent to Algiers, On my
eturn to Paris i learned that nv
lother had died OF a broken heart and
aat my father and brothers had, gone |