The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-09
By ETHEL HOLMES

err had left the little girl on her door
steps while she went to the next
door neighhor for chat. She said
that she was away only few minutes
but her statements proved that the
time of her absence was nearly an
hour. At any rate, when she returned
to her own house her daughter was
not on the steps nor in the house
The next day the mother gave the
case to the detective agency where I
had just been employed. would not
have been assigned to the work had
not every other detective in the en-
ploy Of the Office been busy. AS it was,
the chief turned it over to me with a
lot Of instructions which were intend
ed to make up for my inexperience.
AS soon as I left him went to work
in my own way. After an interview
with the mother made up my mind
that the child had been kidnapped. and
thought it likely that the kidnaper
inhabited the region not far away
which was filled with foreigners of a
very low type. I put an advertise
ment in several foreign language
newspapers that circulated in the re-
gion, stating that If the kidnapers Of
the child-giving the street and NUNS
ber-would leave a statement Of the
ransom required under the front door,
the case could be settled without re-
course to the police.
Within two or three days Mrs. Smitz-
burger, the mother, came to me with
a note that had been thrust under
the front door. I examined it closely
before opening 1t. but found no clue.
It had been written by an uneducated
person, evidently foreigner, since sew
eral words in it seemed to have been
supplied from some foreign language.
I took it to my former perceptor at the
Normal school, who knew something
Of every language spoken on the face
of the earth, and after careful study
Of 1t he told me that 1t had been die
tated by an Irishman, but the writer
was an Italian.
Much surprised at this report, I ask
ed him how he knew this, and
he said that certain English words
were spelled as an 1rishman would pro-
nounce them, and there were certain
words that were distinctly Irish One
of these was the word between, which
was spelled betune. The professor
pointed out a number of these in
stances, and was convinced that his
theory was correct. Either an Irish
man or an Italian was the culprit, and
probably both were interested in the
ransom demanded, which was $1,000.
I dictated response to the mother
Of the child, stating that the ransom
demanded would be paid and asking
where it could be left. When the re.
spouse was handed to me examined
It critically, as had the first letter
before opening it, but found only a
dirty envelope. I was sitting before a
table made of light wood. After read
ing the letter, I noticed on the light
surface black hair about an inch
long. I felt sure that it had not been
there before I had opened the letter,
and surrHised that it had fallen from
the envelope. took up the hair and
examined it closely. It was glossy
black, with tinge of grease, except
on the larger end, where there was
possibly a sixteenth Of an inch of red.
I reasoned that I had a very low
class, considered intellectually, to deal
with, and bethought myself how I
could make the kidnapers believe that !
I knew them. After q good deal OF |
thinking, l concluded to resort again |
to communication through the newspa-
per. put a personal In the papers I
had already used as follows:
1.-THE kidnapers of the little girl (of
such a street and number) are known
to me. II you will return the child I'M
you will not be prosecuted. If
you do not you will be sent to state
prison. The mother prefers this
course to arresting and Furnishing you.
70 convince you that you are known
will say that one of the two parties
Interested in the matter is an Italian;
he other is an Irishman with red hair
which he dyes black. II the child is
lot returned to her home within four
lays the parties will be dealt with as
.riminalS.
"Private Detective"
I put in the ad with misgivings,
hough there was good reason to hope
he scheme would be successful. On
he morning of the fourth day of grace,
vhen I had given up hoping, soon
fter daylight child's cry was heard
n Mrs. Smitberger's doorsteps. The
roman ran down, and found her little
laughter.
My success surprised my detective
and was at once entered
Or regular work beside old hands at |
he business. It is needless to say that
he neither Of the child was exception
lily happy.