The San Francisco call., 1909-02-19
HANDSOME CHIlD'S
ABDUCTOR BALKED
NeighbOr COmpeIs Gypsy to Drop
2 Year Old Son of Oak
land Physician
Boy Awarded Prize for Beauty
in Contest Attracts Atten-
tiOn of Wanderer

OAKLAND. Feb. 1s-Two year old
Henry Dietz, son OF DR.. Henry l. Dietz
and winner of prize as the hand
soonest child Of his age west of the
Rocky mountains. had q narrow escape
from being kidnapped by a gypsy
woman in front OF his home at 1880
Eighth street. according to a report
made to the police this morning.
The little chap was playing on the
sidewalk with two small companions
when the gypsy, who had been Iinger-
ing in the vicinity for some time,
picked him up in her arms and started
down the street.
o.. She had proceeded only a few steps
when Mrs. stearns. a neighbor of the
Dietz family. living at 1926 Eighth
street who was watching the woman,
raised her window and called to her to
stop. Terrified at her discovery the
woman dropped the child and hastened
away down the street. Before any at
tempt was made TO follow her she had
disappeared.
OLDER BOY SENT AWAY
- Little Henry Dietz is a child OF ex-
.ceptional beauty. with heavy golden
hair and big blue eyes. He was play
ing with a year old boy who lives
nearby and had charge of baby. The
gypsy woman passed the group Of chill
-dren, glancing intently at the handsome
boy as she went by. Half way up the
block she stopped and looked back
OBVIOUSLY. Then, peering cautiously
about to make sure she was not OBJ
served she started back in the direc-
tion OF the children and told the older
boy TO take the baby into the house
He obeyed her. and she then attempted
10 kidnap his companion.
GEPSIES ABOUT TO MOVE
There is a large encampment Of gyp-
sizes at the corner or Sixteenth and
Peralta streets, where they have been
living for several months The band is
now preparing TO migrate to st. Louis
where a king Of all the tribes viii be
elected, and the police believe that the
kidnsper had planned TO hold the child
for a ransom in the hope of securing
money enough TO defray the travelling
expenses Of the tribe across the con-
tinent.
Henry Dietz was awarded a prize by
q New York fashion publication last
year in q children's beauty contest DR..
Dietz reported the attempted kidnapping
Of his son to the police and an investi-
cation is being made.
Mother Called Kidnaper
OAKLAND. Feb. IS.-Mrs Mary Lar
mer of Berkeley has accused hei
daughter Mrs. Catherine Schiller oi
SausalitO. of kidnapping her own chill
dren. Ned and Carl Schiller. and ha'
asked a warrant from the district at
tOrneys Office for the arrest of Mrs
Schiller. Mrs. Schiller in turn charged
that her mother had ignored the law
IN adopting the little boys and she has
notified Deputy District Attorney Sat
rerwhite that she viii file petition tC
have the adoption proceedings annulleC
and the children awarded to the Gus
tOdy Of herself and her husband, F. F
Schiller.
The dispute bids fair TO develop great
bitterness between mother and daugh-
Ter for Mrs Larmer persisted in hel
statement that Mrs Schiller stole tht
boys away from her and Mrs. Schil-
= Ter was just as determined TO keeI
them
my daughter and her husband sep
arated three years ago., said Mrs Lar
ner and she failed to let me know
where she was for long time She
left the little boys with me and
adopted them and cared for them well
Now Mrs. Schiller and her husband
- have been reconciled and she came tC
boys and took them back to Sausalito
! love them and / want 10 have hel
arrested for kidnapping Carl and Ned
Ny mother may have thought thai
fle ldQ auOpAtu the bOSSs Sclu MIS-
Schiller. but ] was never served witt
notice OF the adoption proceedings and
knew nothing about il until afterward
They are my sons, not hers, and
now that I have a home again want
them back. / have engaged an attor-
ney and he viii file a petition 10 annu
the adoption proceedings and 1 have
no doubt the boys will be awarded tC
my care by the court
Satterwhite refused TO issue a war
rant for the arrest OF Mrs. Schiller. but
urged her TO file her petition and Sc
cure a decision in court at once.