The Washington times., 1907-09-14
B6ld Foreigner Grabs
Small Children Play
ing in Front of
Homes.
Angry Citizens Rescue
Both the Girls, but
Man Escapes.

NEW YORK, Sept. 1.-THE residents
Of the big apartment houses in the
heighborhood of 156th street and St
Nicholas avenue. Washington Heights,
were thrown into a state Of excite
tnent last evening by two attempts
made by q foreigner, who was not
identified. 10 carry OF children playing
IN the corner
The attempts were made within If
teen minutes OF each other, and resulted
In the arousing Of the entire neighbor-
hood. the calling out OF the reserves
from the West 1921 street police sta
4ion. and the starting Of search for
abe man.
The second child who was seized BY
khs would-be kidnaper was -Eugenia.
Ehe eight-year-old deughteF Of Edward
r. German, who was secretary TO
Thomas r McAvoy when re was first
deputy police commissioner The peo-
ple who had been called out BY the ex-
element raised after the nT-t attempt
came near catching the miscreant with
1he little GoTElan girl in his arms.
but ne dipped her just as they were
upon him and escaped into the bushes
Ia the park at l52d street.
First Attempt.
I The first attempt was made just be-
gore dark In front Of 925 ST. Nicholas
avenue. An organgrinder was playing
on tie sidewalk IN front Of the house,
and dozen children from the surround
ing apartments were in the street dane
ing. Several people were sitting on the
steps Of the neighboring houses listen
ing TO the music, and others were lean
ing from their windows. J. H Howe,
essF-f
dren from the window OF his apartment
On the second foor Of 927. His little
1hree-year-old daughter. Dorothy, was
among the children. ana incidentally he
was keeping an eye on her. Suddenly
he was astonished to see a roughly
dressed foreigner walk out into the
street from the sidewalk and stoop over
Ahe child.
Runs With Girl.
He rushed TO the street Just as his
little girl was being brought back by a
sneighbor. When he shouted a dozen
people had started for the kidnaper,
but he turned and ran swiftly down the
street the child still in his arms.
WheA he reached the corner he looked
back and dropped the child. and dlsap-
peared.
The excitement that followed filed the
street with people. Children were
hastily called indoors. and some one
sent for a policeman.
Several groups OF excited people were
standing on the sidewalk discussing the
lattempted kidnapping when the attempt
was repeated a few doors down the
Etreet
German, who lives on the third loor
lof S2l. was looking out OF one OF the
windows OF his apartment trying 10
make out what the matter was down
THE street. HIS three children, Beatrice.
ten; Eugenia. eight. and Dorothy, six.
were playing ia front of the house. He
saw man walk around the corner.
stand on the curb in front OF the house
r minute, and then step over TO Eugenia.
Ehnd Offer her some candy.
Chased Kidnaper.
Like Howe, he waited 70 see no moro.
.but shouted for help, and started down
lthe stairs four steps at a time. The
ipeople in the street heard his cries, and
tsaw the man running away with the lit
tile girl n his arms. They made after
him. the men seizing anything they
could put their hands on for weapons.
the kidnapeT ran fast, but the crowd
gained on him rapidly. He kept on
down the avenue 10 162d street, where
The turned east.
People who saw both attempts are
positive that they were made by the
same man. They say that he was either
an Itallan or hungarian, nve Ieet ten
inches IN height, and very shabDily
dressed IN a dirty suit OF some dark
material He wore a derby hat and had
black hair, and long black mustache.