The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-19
Shocking Story Revealed
by Little Victim of
Black Hand
PRISONER FOR A MONTH
Baby Hostages HuddIed To-
gether in Foul Quarters and
Held for Ransom Sc Police
Now Searching New York
for the Hiding Place.

NEW YORK, Sept. 19.-Nicolo To-
maso, a four-year-old son of Michael
Tomaso, of 154 East Houston street,
who was kidnapped by members of the
"Black Hand" Society on August 10,
was found early today on the steps of
a public school at 30S Fifth street
Subsequent questioning of the boy by
the police revealed the fact that he had
been kept prisoner in house in Will
llamsburg. filled with other kidnapped
children, whom the police believe Is
the headquarters of band of Italians
who live on the proceeds of blackmail.
Because of the unusual intelligence
shown by young Tomaso for child of
his years the police were able to gain
a good description of the house and the
route taken by the boy and ar Italian
who carried him off from in front of
his home Lieutenant Petrosino. New
York city's noted italian detective. will
at once begin a systematic search for
the kidnappers' headquarters. and a
large force of detectives has been given
him by Inspector McCafferty to aid in
his search.
1t is a belief of the police that IL the
house can be found clues to several
mysterious disappearance Of children
may be unearthed.
From descriptions of the other boys and
girls confined In the house, which the po-
lice obtained from the Tomaso boy, 1t is
thought that Annie Orlando years old
of 81 East Forty-elghth street, who was
carried off by an Italian on Monday. may
be one of the inmates. The police also be-
lieve that 1t Is not without the bounds
of possibility that u-year-old Mary Rossi,
who was kidnapped from her home in
Arlington, S. L., last Saturday, may also
be there.
Little Nicolo's story was sensational TO a
high degree, and sounds like a chapter
from a yellow backed novel. Repeated
s-questioning brought the same story
from the boy each time, so the detectives
are sure his tale is not the result Of in
famed imagination or babyish prattle.
IL was shortly after midnight that James
Gallagher and George Tucker, precinct de-
tectives of the Fifth Street Police Station,
found Nicolo sleeping on the schoolhouse
steps The child seemed dazed, and his
condition was accounted for by the fact
that n sleeping potion had been given him
on leaving the Williamsburg house. The
boy at once told the police who he was,
and Mrs. Tomaso was sent for. She grew
hysterical with joy at the sight of her son
and nearly smothered him with embraces.
Although the father of the child denied
It, the police believe he gave in to de-
minds of the kidnappers, who a few days
ago sent him a letter, signed "Black
Hand" demanding $500.
TONY is the only name by which the
boy knows tho man who carried him off
The child said he had been taken on a
trolley car and distinctly remembers cross
ing the Williamsburg bridge.
He also processes to remember several
streets through which he and his capt0r
rode ON the other side Of the bridge, but
while In the trolley car swallowed a
draught that caused him to drop off to
sleep.
When he awoke, the Tomaso boy says.
he was in a room with almost 81 score
of other boys and girls. Every time one
Of the children cried two women, who had
them in charge, would threaten to pull
out the tongue of the offender. As a pun
ishment for bad behavior clothespins were
placed over the noses of the children.
Young Tomaso said that he had had
plenty to eat and was well treated. The
kidnappers tried to make him write to his
father, but he was unable to write more
than a few words. Yesterday afternoon,
he says, three men and the two women
sat around table and talked about him
for long time. Then he was made to
drink something bitter and knew nothing
more until he aWOke i'm the street