The sun., 1907-08-29
KIDNAPPEDBOY'S MEMORYBAD
THE GAIA LAD DOESN'T RECALL
WHAT POLICE WANT or HIM.


A mite OF boy in blue sailor suit with q
scrap Of yellow paper in his fist climbed
the elevated road stairs at Sixty-fifth street
and Second avenue just after midnight
yesterday morning, and the ticket chopper
got Interested in such passenger and
asked his name and destination.
-Figlio di Giovanni Gala. lI8 Ralph
avenue. Brooklyn" read the pencil marks
on the scrap OF paper which the boy held
up by way OF reply. The chopper knew
that lone waits without money should be
subjects for police concern. So 1t was
to the East Sixty-seventh street station
that he sent Giovanni CALAIS son And It
wasn't long before the lieutenant. running
his forefinger down the pages OF the lost
children record. spotted this entry:
Missing since July "a. Michele Gala.
years, II McDougan street. Brooklyn.
Father. Giovanni Gala. has received Black
Hand letters
Tho addresses didn't just tally but Head
quarters got the Brooklyn police to 60
around and find Giovanni. and whom
Giovanni got to the cot at the Children's
society whore they had put young Michele
for safe keeping the boy jumped right into
his arms. The society people decided there
was no sense in keeping Michele after
that. and Giovanni took him home. whore
Giovanni's wife and two other boys. with
Giovanni's two brothers and eleven other
relatives who had got the news, were watt
ing.
The boy slept some and then talked some
later in the day. He said that on July 22
he ran across the street to the drug store
to get his mother some medicine. and who
should he meet there but man with pennies
and some candy, who was more than willing
to give Michele a free ride down to his
unoless on Fulton street. SO the child
skipped back home with the medicine. re-
turned to join the stranger and the two
started on. They rode a while and walk ed
a while and then rode some more. until
at last they got TO house somewhere in
The Bronx. Harlem, Westchester. Brook
lyn- Michele can't tell where. except that
there was a schoolhouse on one side OF IL
and a stable on the other; see the stable
marks on my shoes?-
Anyway thore he met q woman. Maria.
and baby who crawled on the floor, Jen-
ME, and a boy. maybe IA years old. joe;
and presently II was revealed TO him that
the man who had brought him to the house
was his grandfather. Forgetting that bis
own two grandsires were dead, Michele
was rather pleased with that grandfather
idea that is. until the old man let il be
known that the midget couldn't see his
parents for he didn't know how long.
They fed him on bread and milk mostly
made him sleep ON the floor and let him 60
outside only once. That once was when
Mary and the grandfather took him to
some place where a lot of Italians were
celebrating the feast Of Santo Rocco with
lots OF fireworks. Then on last Monday
night they dressed Michele In new sailor
suit and new cap. He and the grandfather
boarded horse car that ran right by the
door. and by and by they got of and walked
to the foot OF an elevated station stairway.
Go up there and walt for me. and IL you
don't wait III surely cut your head on with
a knife ordered the man in fashion quite
grandfatherly. So Michele took the piece
OF paper that was handed him. struggled
up the steps and 30 at length found his
father.
just an ordinary Black Hand tale so
far. but there is another kink that makes
1t all somewhat Of study for the police
ten days after Michele went away his
father. who is a barber at II McDougsll
street. Brooklyn, got letter wanting 81. 500
for his return. II bore the signature COM
monty used by the stray Italian here and
there who sees a chance for easy money
by organizing himself into n Black Hand
Giovanni Gala gave the letter to the
police. Another. postmarked Brooklyn
came two days later and he handed that
over too. He tells the police. as he told
the reporters yesterday. that he didn't
give up a cent and had no communication
with the kidnappers. but the police reserve
their opinion. He hesitates when asked
how he thinks 1t came about that the boy
appeared SO strangely, and is quite sure
that young Michele isn't old enough to re-
member anything that will serve as clue.
Detectives Of Lieut.. Petrosino's staff
are working on the case with the Brook lyn
police. Unless they find two story house
with basement. that has schoolhouse
on one side and a stable on the other, with
q horse car line running by, they do not
count much on running across Michele's
acquired grandfather.