The New York herald., 1922-02-25
GIRL KIDNAPPED TWO
YEARS DISCOVERED
Addie Comfort, IL, Abducted
to Be Trained as Dancer,
Found in Syracuse.

Special Dispatch TO THE New YORK HERALD.
SYRACUSE, n. Y, Feb. 24.-Kidnaped
two years ago in Hawley, Pa, Addie
Comfort, IL, is in custody of the local
ohldren's society and Mrs. Margaret
Greenwood, 29. who has been posing
as her mother, is under surveillance at
st. Joseph's Hospital as one of the kid
napers.
William c. Mesick, superintendent of
the children's society, will ask Chief of
Police Cadin to issue general alarm
for the arrest of Frank Henry of Full
ton, proprietor of dancing show. Mrs.
Greenwood declares he stole the child to
train her as a dancer ana then aban-
doned her. She has made full confess
sion Of the kidnapping and as soon as she
is able to leave the hospital Mr.. Mesick
will ask FOR her arrest.
Mrs. Jacob II. Kayser, the girls aunt,
from whom she was stolen, is on her
way from Hawley to Syracuse to claim
her niece. The girl has been Identified
by her grandfather, William Barrigan of
Johnson City, as the child for whom a
countrywide search has been made for
two years.
Mrs. Greenwood says the girl is not
the first Henry has kidnapped. She as
serts he told her Of other girls he has
carried away to be trained as dancers
and that he toured the East with them in
his show.
Attention of the officials was drawn to
the case through complaints of neigh
bors that the Comfort girl, known to
them as Greenwood. was in a position
precarious to her morals. She was ar
raigned in the Children's Court on
charges of improper guardianship, and
there said she did not believe the peo-
pie with whom she was living were her
parents. This started the investigation.
Mrs. Greenwood's husband maintained
that the girl was his daughter. and was
sincere in his belief. His wife had left
him years ago. but year and half
ago she returned with the nine-year-old
girl and told her husband it was his
daughter. He believed her. The girl,
however. insisted to the authorities that
he was not her father.
Mrs. Greenwood says she met Henry
three years ago and lived with him as
his wife while he maintained ''hoochy
koochy" show, travelling to small coun-
try towns and fairs throughout southern
New York and northern Pennsylvania
In the summer of 1919 he was taken Ill
while the show was at Hawley. and pend
ing his recovery they rented small
house.
Mrs. Kayser liver near by, and her
nine-year-old niece soon became fire.
quent visitor at the Henry residence
Henry gave the girl candy and other
delicacies. Finally one day in August
he invited the child to remain all night
at his home. Her aunt consented. At
. o'clock in the morning Henry awak-
ened Mrs. Greenwood and told her to
dress the child and herself and go
with him. refusing to say where they
were going. Half an hour later they
left the village on foot, finally arriving
at town, the name of which she
does not remember. and from there took
train for Syracuse. Henry soon after
disappeared, leaving Mrs. Greenwood
destitute
In desperation she finally went to her
husband here, told him the child was
his daughter and asked forgiveness.
Greenwood took them in and has been
caring for them since.