New-York tribune., 1910-09-11
POLICE BAFFLED BY
KIDNAPPING CASE
Conflicting Stories Told Re-
garding Return of the
SCimeca Boy.
FATHER PAID NO MONEY
GRANDMOTHER Testifies She Re
ceived Telephone Message
Italian Bureau Still
at Work.


the three-and-one-half-y -year-old son Of
Dr. Mariana Scimeca- Of No Prince
street. has been returned 10 his home
after an absence OF several months, the
detectives Of the Italian bureau, under
Lieutenant Tachris, are still working
hard 70 urraveI the mystery that has
surrounded the case. The conflicting
stories that have been told by those
c1oselv. connected with the alleged kid
naming OF the boy have spurred the po-
Ice 10 unusual action, and all concerned
have been subjected TO a close eXannlna-
7ion. That various relatives Of the boy
know more about the kidnapping than
has been divulged IS maintained by the
,,oIfee. and they are making every en-
deavor TO clear UP the mystery
an examination that lasted for two
hours took. place at Police Headquarters
shortly after noon yesterday Assistant
District Attorney AIoskowitz- Deputy Po-
lice Commissioner Kirby and Lieutenant
Tac1rts being the inquisitors. Those ex-
au7iDed were DR.. Scimeca, DR. and Mrs.
Michael PetreIIa. the father and mother
Of Mrs Scimeca. and the Pretrella
u
r1asa Of the examination the police were
forced TO admit that they We're as far
from 3 solution Of the case as they were
when the boy was stolen.
TeIephoned TO Grandmother
According TO the story told by Mrs
FetreIIa. grandmother OF the boy. who
resides at No. Isl Sands street. Brook
I'm. she was summoned TO the telephone
on Friday afternoon and told that her
grandson could be found in both street
She had her coachman hitch the family
carriage and the two went TO the street
mentioned. After going some distance
along the street they say they heard the
boy calling his grandnother's name, and.
seeing the lad on the curb, took him into
the carriage. The story told by the
caachnlan was somewhat different, and
The police Immediately began 10 delve
into the circumstances surrounding the
recovery Of the boy.
II have known for some time the iden-
t7rv Of the persons who had the custody
Of The boy" Lieutenant Nachris said
last night. and yesterday when heard
that he was going TO be brought TO New
York : sent out fifty men to find him
These men visited all Of the ferries and
railroads coming into New York but
with no results"
The stories told by Mrs Petrella and
the coachuaa, Dicianni, are decidedly
e- va-iance- Mrs. PetreIIa does not init /
mate whether OF not her telephone mes /
sage told her what part Of 55th street I
she vas 10 60 70. and that Is q long
street. Then. again, the coachman says
thar he drove TO 10Th street and after
waiting al a certain corner some time
man came along and put the missing
-,rz into the carriage Although II has
been denied. Il is the impression Of the
Tolice connected with the case thai Dr-
scfmeca has paid money for the return
q his boy
Father Denies He Paid Money.
A. +he home Of Dr.. Scimeca there was
much 10y last night Surrounded by
group Of relatives and neighbors, Dr.
S-:neca and his wife held open house
The long lost Michael was much IN evl-
6ence and showed few indications Of
being arv the worse for his experience.
N7-s Sciueca vas beside herself with
5ov and held her boy in her arms during
The greater part Of the evening
Il did not pay one cent 10 get my boy
hack" said DR.. Scimeca, and all that
The police say 10 the contrary Is false /
! have nc idea who stole him. and II
cd would take vengeance in my own
hand The story that Is told by my
rother-in-Iaw Is the truth, and now that
nv boy has been returned my troubles
are AZ an end"
-Supposing the kidnapper Of your boy
Is arrested, viii you appear in court
against hirn2" was asked OF the doctor
How can I appear against him If I
know nothing about hin1?" was The reply.
We'll. II the police could show that he
Cd kidrap the boy. would you appear
against hir7l2" was the next question
eC(o." was the answer, for chen the
zpolice could prosecute him
Since The recovery Of the boy Dr.
ScIneca has shown d decided reluctance
70 appear against the man or men who
kidnapped his boy, and this has handl-
capped the police TO g great extent
"Ne money was paid TO get my son
hack" said Mrs. Scimeca, in her broken
English and in q most emphatic tone.
We co not know the men who took him.
and : an satisfied that have my son
back again"
There was q feeling Of unrest in the
Italian bureau at Police Headquarters
LAST night Scores Of italian detectives
rs7yarrl5d about waiting for something TO
scurn up. Lieutenant Vachris, i was
Flezrned. had. gone 70 his home IL Brook
SYN for few hours Of needed rest hav-
ing been busy on the case for nearly two
Gays without any sleep.