The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-09-21
BoyKidnops Young Lady.

HVktNHHAPtoAl GMNSnsl 90pVs 6At- tuPl-A gum-ohewing teen-age giant who quit junior high school to join the Merchant Marine plead- ed innocent today when arraigned In juvenile court after allegedly at taeking, kidnapping and threatening to kill the beautiful blonde wife of an Army private.
 The six.foot four-inch defendant, whose name was withheld because of his youth, was jailed In lieu of 5000 bail pending a hearing Sept. % on charges of robbery by putting In fear. and delinquency by reason of kidnapping. The former charge alone carries Q aipenalty of life inc prisonment.
 Victim of the alleged abduction the youths first offense-was Mrs Freeman. Sears, %, of Goshen, mother of 4-year-old twin sons. The l0.year-old defendant once worked on her farm as 0 chore boy,
 Hearing Of the charges by Judge John w. Mason lasted only three minutes. The youth was represented by Atty, Edward L. O'Brien of Northampton. Neither of the boys reportedly estranged parents at- tended.
 While waiting in the corridor for Che session to begin, the defendant chewed gum and smiled nonchalant- ly at . large group of persons who were excluded from the court room. He wore dark trousers, . greenish shirt open at the neck and rain- proof coat similar to the c. I. field jacket.
 Tn Merchant Marine
 The boy said he had left school to join the Merchant Marine in June and was discharged late last month. He gave no reason for his discharge, but said that throughout his service he was stationed at SheepShead Bay. N, Y.
 He said his only reason for the the alleged attack was to get funds to reach New York where he planned to visit the water front in search of Q berth on an outgoing ship.
 Mrs, Sears was ct home resting after her 2S.nlile ride with tho youth, A gaSollne station Attend- ant was credited with rescuing her after she rendered him some coupons on which she wrote the neseage:
 "y am being kidnapped. Call police"
 Describing it aS definitely Q case of Kidnapping" Asst. Dist. Atty. liar. old I, drouSheck said that because the youth was c juvenile his name would be withheld temporarily.
 oHouShbeck sal dthat the youth said his only motive was robbery and that he made no attempt at criminal assault Formal charges were to be made later today on Nrraignment in district court,
 To reach his former employers home, the youth said, he travelled ey bus and on foot,
 Mrs, Sears told police the youth Who formerly worked for the family was hiding in her Goshen home last night wden she arrived there. She said he demanded money and when she told him the only cash in the house was c Si0 bill be knocked her down, took her wrist watch and or. dcred her to take him to Albany.
 Asst. Dist. Atty, Harold l. Cross beck said It was definitely Q case of Kidnapping"
 According to Mrs, Sears, wife Of q servlceman overseas and mother of @.year.old twin sons, she arrived home with her children and Q maid lest night to find i've louse ran- aaai.MA aud Ynhka sIal,aia0 ,,aak aIe. which she had left darkened, She went upstairs to investigate and found the six foot four inch l50- pounder,
 lie forced her Into bedroom, knocked her down, took her wrist watch and ordered her to leave the house with him, saying he had a gun and knife, she said.
 Enroute to Albany, Mrs. Sears said, the gasoline supply went low and they stopped ct e filling sta- ton.
 While writing her registration number on the ration stamps, Mrs. SeaFs added the appeal for help. Filling station attendant George Mickle went into the station to call authorities, and the youth became suspicious and drove rapidly away.
 Mickle gave chase in a truck driven by Louis Cotter of Pittsfield, and finally halted the automobile. A passing policeman arrested the youth.
 Mrs. Sears quoted her assailant as saying during the automobile trip: T don't know whether to kill you now or in Albany"
 She suffered decorations from the