New-York tribune., 1919-12-18
Mother, Happy at End of
Long Search, Refuses to
Consider Returning the
Youngster to Bellevue
Father Is Now Satisfied
BLY, Seeks Person
Who Deserted Child, to
Complete Identification

"He Is ours and he is going to stay
here!"'
With these words betraying a moth
er's readiness to defend her child Mrs.
Elsa L. Wentz clutchcd seven months
old Arthur Philip Wcntz in her arms at
her home, 400 East Eighty-sccond
Street, yesterday, determined not to
surrender him to Bellevue Hospital,
whera the baby was taken when it was
left in Grand Central Station Dec. g.
Mrs. Wcntz announced that both she
and her husband, August Wcntz, are
now agreed that the child is theirs and
have made complete identification.
"My husband was excited at the news
Of the baby's arrival last night" said
Mrs. Wentz, "and it was difficult for
him to determine that he was our lost
child. He could not take into consid-
Grafton that there is vast difference
in seven-weeks old baby and a seven
months-old youngster. We are both
now convinced that he is ours. was
from the stare You know, mother
ought to be able to tell her own baby
The minute l set eyes on him at the
hospital l knew had come to the end
Of the road and could drop my cross
When first saw him at the hospital he
WAS crying, but look at him now! Could
a baby be as happy and contcnted cx-
cept at home?"
Mother Happy Again
The baby, a bright, uc-eyed young
ster who looked none the worse for his
five months enforced absence from his
mothers arms, cooed his acqucscence
in what mother was saying. The moth
er's face, lined with worry and longing
for her child, was ilumined with a
bright smile.
Mrs. Wentz added that Raymond
Hoffman, the investigator representing
Mrs. Grace lIumiston, who had been
conducting a search for the youngstcr
since his disappearance from in front
Of an East 149th Street store July 27
told her that the report that the baby
could walk was untrue.
"Mr. Hoffman told me-" said Mrs.
Wentz, chat the chart at the baby's
bed at Bellevue Hospital explained that
my baby was a seven months old baby
had two lower teeth and could not walk"
According to Mrs. Wentz the impres-
sion that her husband had that their
baby had brthmark under its right
blood condition which has disap-
peared," said Mrs. Wentz The birth
mark the baby had is located on the
neck. That mark is still there"
And so Arthur Philip Wcntx is pre-
pairing to celebrate his Christmas at
home~an event quite unexpected for
him and for his parents. Already he
has all sorts of toys to play with and
evinces all the earmarks Of happy.
energetic youngster. But even still
happier is his mother.
Suffering At ar End
Il am the happiest woman in the
world" she said. "There is no one
who can he happier than t. She
stroked the hair OF the child. and.
carressing the babys checks, said:
"Just think how mean that person
was to take away from NE my child,
How terrible these months have been
and how / have suffercd,"
came along and sad, "something is
boiling over In the Kitchen"
ooh, yes, it's baby's dinner, YOU
know" exclaimed Mrs "'entz, as she
rushed off into the kitchen, clinging
to the boy.
August Wentz, who Oh Tuesday night
was got certain that little Arthur was
his boy, indicated yesterday morning,
before going to work, that he is now
positive the child is his. Every time
look at him l see some new resem-
blance to my wife, he said
Nellie Bly, Not Certain
Both father and mother said they
we're extremely grateful TO Mrs.
Humiston, to whom they gave all the
credit for finding their child, but Mrs.
Elizabeth Seaman-"Nellie Bly," the
writer~to whom the note found on
Arthur when he was discovered in
Grand Central Station asked that the
cnlld be given, was not at all satisfied.
Mrs. Seaman said she intends to con-
suit lawyer TO see whether she can
get possession of the child.