New-York tribune., 1910-11-23
Parents Terror Stricken by
Threats of Death Unless
Money Is Paid.
DEMAND $4,000 FOR EACH
Lads Taken Saturday, but Fam
lies Too Awed by Letters
to Seek Help-Neigh-
bors Tell Police.

I u VIM were taken DTdCJlCdliN from
under the eyes of their parents. RAN
SONS of 5000 are demanded in each
case Letters containing open threats
of death to the two boys unless the
money demanded is forthcoming have
been received by the terror stricken
parents
Michael FRITZ eight years old. who
lived with his mother his grandfather
and three brothers and a sister at No
30 Fifth avenue. South Brooklyn. is
one OF the boys missing from his home
The other child. and il is believed that
the same band enticed him away. is
Giuseppe Longo. who lived with his
father at No 1SS 21st street. just
around the corner from Michaers home.
The TWO boys were the closest Of play
! mates
The fact that the boys had not been
al home since Saturday evening did not
become known to the police Of the Fifth
/ avenue station until last night when
neighbors OF the Fritzis went to the
station and reported the matter. So
awed by the letters received from the
/ kidnappers were the families of the boys
! that they feared TO tell the police Of
| their disa appearance.
Michael F'ritzf-s grandfather, Nicholas,
! is an industrious and frugal Italian,
" fo keeps Il small grocery store in the
| basement Of the house a No 720 Fifth
avenue. Among the people of the
! section he bears an excellent reputation,
and it was not known that he had
! single enemy in the district
Uncle Said to Be Rich,
! Giuseppe Longo's father. Frank. also
/ IS grocer and has a brother who is
said 10 be wealthy Il is believed that
this had 4 part in influencing the kid
nappers in the matter.
Michael FRITZ and Charley curry.
/ boy Of his own age. We're playing on
Saturday night in the street nearly op-
posite the police station. According to
Charley Currv. while they were sitting
on q doorstep Z tall man, dark and
without heard or mustaChe and dressed
in dark clothes. came down the street
and stopped and spoke to them.
Although he was within the shadow
cast by the Fifth avenue police station
daring. and after talking To the boys for
some minutes asked them 10 go with
him To a moving picture theatre in the
neIghborhood. The boys were delighted
at the opportunity and gayly waved their
hands in farewell to their companions
After walking a bout three blocks the
man took the lads into moving picture
thea ire and placed them in seats and
sat beside them. Michael and Charley
we're so engrossed in the pictures that
they had no idea OF the time. and it was
dark when their host finally tapped
them on the shoulder and told them to
follow him. When they got out on the
street the tall man bought some candy
for the bows and then asked them TO take
the Fifth avenue elevated train with
him. so that he could show them better
pictures on Atlantic avenue.
One Little Fellow Gets Away.
Michael was all eagerness, but Charley
hung hack; he was now afraid of the
stranger. in spite of the kind treatment
he had received. The man argued with
Charlie. and the promises held out
r7roved too much for the little fellow. He
fnalv yielded. and with his arms linked
in arichaers they went to the station.
Inst as the man bought three tickets
al the station agents window and was
waiting for the boys TO pass through the
gate ahead of him, Charley caught a
glance from his eye and again became
frightened. He hesitated an instant
weighing in his mind the promised fas-
cinating pictures and all that they meant
+o his pleasure starved little life, and /
then he looked again at the mans face
What he saw there the second time de-
terrined him. he SAYS, and he scam |
pered headlong down the steps and into |
the street.
With Michael trotting along beside |
him the man entered a southbound ele- |
yated train and was not seen again
At almost the same hour, Giuseppe |
r-ongo. playing within two hundred feet
= Michael. was being lured away by |
aro+hcr man. II is supposed that a con 1
federste Of Michaers kidnapper enticed
hin, AWAY. Nobody saw Giuseppe led
..vav but the police are inclined TO the
belief that it was done by a fellow kid
napper.
When Carley Curry dashed up the
.+airs Of his home terror showed in his
-ace and fear in his voice. He was so
,.,rought up by his experience that ii was
porne minutes before his parents could
oat an account of what had happened
Grandfather Gets News.
what he told them led them to run at
100 70 the home Of Nicholas FRITZ
,bo had not yet missed his grandchild
The old man at first was for starting
o,,+ on MichaeTs trail directly. but as it
...s now late he decided TO wait. In the
ooan time Giuseppe Longo's father had
zen told of his sons disappearance
Yesterday two letters. addressed in a
-;o,,e mixture of handwriting were
-.ai,-ed at the FRITZ and Longo homes
1-,,a,, told Of the holding Of the two boys
- ,he ransom of 5000 each. Unless
- money was paid at the time and
,a named in a second letter. the
arts we're told that their children
-,,ould be killed
in aacb letter a5d1a -. ,e