New-York tribune., 1918-02-05
Kidnapper Of Rosner Child
Is Held for Observation
Mrs Berg Sent Bellevue While Police Investigate
Theory She Was the Tool of
Dangerous Criminal

Suspected of being a mental defec-
tive, Mrs. Sophie Berg, confessed kid
nappcr of Lillian Rosner, three years
old, of So LenoX Avenue, yesterday was
committed to Bellevue Hospital for OBJ
servation.
Her own incoherence on the stand
and testimony by a witness were re-
sponslblc for the decision of Magis-
tratee Mcclellan, before whom she was
arraigned in Washington Heights
court. The commitment was agreed to
by both counsel.
McGeehan, police officials have not
abandoned their theory that Mrs. Berg
W, was the tool of a dangcrous~c criminal.
lhe Rosner baby was stolen last Tues
day from the street in front Of her
nome, and was recovered Sunday night
IN rooming house at 10l Bergen
street, Brooklyn, where she had been
living with Mrs. Berg. The woman
readily admitted the kidnapping when
arrested
1T was the testimony Of John Roser.
SILK weaver, of Whitestonc, Long Isl.
and, which finally convinced the court
mat there was some doubt as TO Mrs.
Berg's sanity. Rosen testified that he
knew Mrs. Berg nearly ten years aro
and had not seen her again until about
lour months ago. He was convinced at
that time, he declared, that she was
mentally unsound. He said that she
templating taking children to board
with her. u
Roscn first learned of Mrs. Rcrc's
arrest when he saw her picture in the
newspapers, and he believed it his dutv
NC SAID. to tell What he knew Of her.
Mrs. berg's testimony at the hearing
yesterday left open only two motives
tor the crime. One was that she was
nervous and had taken the child for
company without criminal intent and
the other that the abduction was in.
spired by strange woman. She had
listened without emotion to the tcsti-
mony or Acting Captain McKenna. who
arrested her; Mrs. Rosner mother Of
the chlld, and Detective Finan. Az tho
last named left the stand the prisoner
arose and said to the court: ''N'
u would like to so on the stand
have a story to tell"
ferm'ssion was granted She said
she was thirty years old and lived at
III west 10th Street. She is shirt
waist operator and last worked for her
brothcr-inlaw, but more than month
ago disagreed with him and LETT his
employ week ago last Saturday.
"The trouble almost came to bior,s >,
she continued. He put nc out of the
shop and walked down Lenox Avcnuc
At Hath Street woman bumped into
me and ] dropped my handbag. When
picked it up she said looked discour-
aged and ] replied that was sick. She
asked me how my brother-i law,
Nathan Shapiro, was, and said She
knew him.
"Shc asked me why didn't work at
something else. and told me should
take children to board and would gct
good money for it. She said she would
TX n, :, me n up with house and find me a
child. Then we went into an ice cream
store and had soda. She told me to
meet her there Tuesday and she would
get me a baby.
II met her there Tuesday. and she
had several little girls around her She
SAID they were all orphans, and that
was to take one to house in BROOKLYN
and keep her there. She gave me SIS.
After she had given me the money
she said the little girl was over there
and went to the little girl and asked
her name. She told me Lille Rosner."