European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 31, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday. October 31, 1985 the stars and stripes Page 3 in s i in cackling. Siml Mutlu d .uhstiluu1, r vim Rahla. H i shiny thu kids a Shiu a a Hughlit lir ill. On this one Day halloween Feacher s a a sch Star Ami Lin i s h ii\k1 if Boumis n Munich to menu flu ii i kit earn Lallow Een.  Lee Doss gels a reprieve from it As an  school teacher on  a. In the Dehi it and sometimes to Rij Liot her indents. Her sister suits Lor her  a cackling wrinkled. Saw toothed Yieh appeared one halloween about 1 t ears in o. Said a a Doss a Ifill Gracie be. Click Al anus Burg  school she came it inti our kids that sear and went around with them Irick or t  i ing i he Sia Ruells cleared Oul when she came up " since then. I a Neralda has made an Nual appearances Al halloween. She just shows up when in suits tier fancy loss said i Anco hardly describes i Smeralda her Straw like hair cascades Down tier shoulders in a dishevelled mess Outlin ing an infill in greenish lace thai would make a rumpled Dollar Bill look new in s a lace that would crack a Mirror on her hands highlighted by Long Black nails she wears spider rings. She usually carries her Broom a specially designed Fng Fisler Model f Smeralda takes great Pride in her looks at the Kilpis  i i a Monn Lee loss is used to her sister taking out for hi1 in Quai Irick or Lri Alini Leal i been Hall she  Hesi Wile of All " 1 hat s a  the i Meh  in in exclusive i Lall Ucen interview besides. Uel is  sir Ralda Cut Niider i hers la sunu1 llmu1 of a stir Nice Cinik and u title f ios is preparing pumpkin pies i sin Eraida throws together tier specialities Bai me Atid upside Dormi Liard cake As in past ears l  is visiting Sulu Oil classes to Pas Anorij Hai Luween Safe tip loss Sas that is nut unusual for a Witch. Despite her j i Zilish nut Uard appear Ance. I Smeralda is a us Witch with a ?.o�id  Joss said anti zip her tips for trek or treat cars he a Treme careful crossing is reels avoid masks   the lace and obstruct vision \ a makeup in Stead Lam a rash lib la Don t eat came until it has been checked in parents. Don t travel alone Urf a inside a strange House even if invited. And a was eat All that Caius and never Brush Wiir Leeth so Vou can have Urjil Teeth like mine i in Iralda . Cackling oud and Flash my a  toothed smile. Trick or treat sadism called overblown Urban legend new York Al in the 1940s and 50s. The Story was that people were heating pennies red hut before giving hem to unsuspecting Inck or Trca ters. In the Laic l%0s, people said hippies were handing jul halloween treats laced with drugs since the Earl 1970s, the fear has focused on stories about halloween sadists who kill and seriously injure countless children a dispensing treats that contain Sharp objects and poisons according to a sociologist who Calls the Issue an overblown Urban legend. There s no evidence to suggest that halloween sadism is any sort of a major problem Joel Best sociology pro Fessor Al California state University in a Resno said Sun Day in a Telephone interview. While some incidents have occurred occasional he said we be blown this thing Way out of proportion " Best who writes about trick or treat sadism in novem Ber s psychology today said Public attention paid to it would be belter spent on such dangers As unsafe toys cribs and other consumer products and school bus accidents. He said the halloween sadist is an example of an Urban legend a tale that warns about the dangers of modern life. Such legends Are usual passed b word of Mouth As something that happened to a Friend of a Friend he said two themes of the halloween legend danger to children and contaminated food Are often found in Urban legends like those about deep Fried rats at fast food outlets or a hah titter who Cooks an infant in a microwave oven he said. With its roots in tie Penny Healing stones the Hallow Een sadist legend became popular about i 5 ears Atio As a Symbol of fears about crime and threats to children such As child abuse and drugs. Best said. In psychology today he reported finding no evidence of death or serious injury from halloween sadists Between 195h and 198-1 in the  Angeles times Chicago Tribune Fresno Bee and the Index to the new York times. No reports of serious injuries appeared in a search of an Index to popular Maga Ines or a medical journal computer database he said. The newspaper search found 76 specific instances of tainted halloween Candy and allusions to hundreds More Best said. One child required 10 stitches by far the most serious injury reported he said sunday. Most injuries were on the order of pinprick. None met his definition of serious injury which included Hospi Ali Matiun he said. Best excluded a 1974 Texas ease of an sear old who died after his fatties gave him cyanide laced Candy and a 1970 ease in which a child s death was later traced to heroin he found in a relative s Home. Best said he was unaware of a Cranston r i., youth who collapsed in i9k2 after civil no a Ctm bar hat Pujic said   with an insecticide chemical he said his Point is not that such serious incidents have never happened but rather that the Are not As wide spread As believed. Investigators attribute Many reports of contaminated Candy to hoaxes often by the apparently intended victim Best said. I think that a child who discovers a contaminated Ireal is in for a lot of favourable adult  but he said it is perfectly reasonable for parents to inspect their children s halloween Candy  As they should make sure the child can see out of his mask and does not run around unsupervised on streets after dark. Best said his 3-year-old son Wilt go trick or great my for the first Lime this year and i plan to inspect a son s treats but primarily with an Eye to separating out the junk did "