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 Charley Ross. 
 
Walter Lewis Ross. 
 
THE FATHER'S STORY 
 
 OF 
 
 Charley Ross 
 
 KIDNAPPED CHILD: 
 
 CONTAINING A 
 
 FULL AND COMPLETE ACCOUNT OF THE ABDUCTION OF 
 CHARLES BREWSTER ROSS 
 
 FROM THE HOME OF HIS PARENTS IN GttRMANTOWN, WITH THE PURSUIT OF THB 
 
 ABDUCTORS AND THEIR TRAGIC DEATH ; THE VARIOUS INCIDENTS 
 
 CONNECTED WITH THE SEARCH FOR THE LOST BOY ; THE 
 
 DISCOVERY OF OTHER LOST CHILDREN, 
 
 Etc., Etc. 
 
 With Facsimiles of Letters from the Abductors, 
 
 THE WHOLE CAREFULLY PREPARED FROM HIS OWN NOTES AND MEMORANDA, 
 
 AND FROM INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THE DETECTIVE POLICE 
 
 AND OTHERS ENGAGED IN THE SEARCH, 
 
 By OHRISTIAN K. BOSS, 
 
 OF GERMANTOWN, (PHILADELPHIA). 
 
 With x'ortraits of Charley and his brother Walter, and of other Boys 
 
 Mistaken for Charley; Views of his Parents' Home, 
 
 Etc., Etc., Etc. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 JOHN E. POTTER AND COMPANY, 
 
 No. 617 Sansom Street. 
 
 cl^'/fc-'. » 
 
Uin^. 
 
 n 
 
 Entered According to Act of Congress in the year 1876, by 
 
 CHRISTIAN K. ROSS, 
 
 in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C. 
 
 • . »•• -•- •' 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Portrait of Charley Ross. 
 Portrait of Walter Lewis Ross. 
 Nursery in Charley's Home. 
 Fac-Simile of First Letter from Abductors. 
 Reduced Fac-Simile of the Second Letter. 
 Fac-Simile of Address and Envelope. 
 Swing in Charley's Playground. 
 Reduced Fac-Slmile of Letter Number Twelve. 
 Reduced Fac-Simile of Letter Number Twenty-Two. 
 Fac-Simile of the Rondout Lighthouse Letter. 
 Home of Charley Ross. 
 
 Washington Lane, Germantown, from which Charley was Stolen. 
 Portrait of Charley Kenny, brought from Cuba. 
 Portrait of Child found in the Choctaw Nation. 
 
 Portrait of Wurzburg Child, traced by the United States Consul at Nu- 
 remberg, Bavaria. 
 Portrait of Henry Lachmueller, found in Illinois. 
 
 M1265G4 
 
INTRODUCTION, 
 
 THE ABDUCTION, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 THE FIRST LETTER FROM THE ABDUCTORS, AND BEGIN- 
 NING OF THE SEARCH BY THE POLICE, 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS AND INCIDENTS CON- 
 NECTED WITH THE SEARCH, .... 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE CASE — REWARD OFFERED, 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 LETTERS FROM ABDUCTORS CONTINUED — MEMORABLE 
 TRIP TO ALBANY, N. Y., 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 LETTERS OF SYMPATHY — TRACING OF CHILDREN, 
 
 (v) 
 
 7 
 25 
 
 90 
 
 "3 
 147 
 
VI CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 THE REAL ABDUCTORS SUSPECTED — EMPLOYMENT OF 
 THE PINKERTON DETECTIVE AGENCY IN THE 
 SEARCH, 173 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 SUGGESTIONS FROM SPIRITUALISTS AND CONVICTS — 
 
 SEARCH IN TRENTON, N. J., . . . . 200 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 LAST LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS — THEIR TRAGIC 
 
 DEATH — ^VIGOROUS SEARCH FOR CHARLEY, . . 224 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 LOST CHILDREN RESTORED TO THEIR PARENTS, . . 269 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 INTERESTING CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN — INTERVIEW 
 
 WITH A SHOWMAN, 3II 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 A MYSTERY NOT CLEARED UP — CHILDREN TRACED IN 
 
 THE UNITED STATES AND NOVA SCOTIA, . . 353 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 TRIAL OF WILLIAM WESTERVELT — THEORIES — CONCLU- 
 SION OF NARRATIVE, 39O 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 THE DISAPPEARANCE OF FREDDIE LEIB — APPEAL OF HIS 
 
 PARENTS TO AID IN THE SEARCH FOR HIM, . 425 
 
mTEODUCTTOIf 
 
 CHARLES P. KRAUTH, D.D., LL.D, 
 
 Vice-Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, and Nor- 
 ton Professor of Theology in the Lutheran Theo- 
 logical Seminary, Philadelphia; Author of • 
 " The Conservative Reformation and its 
 Theology," " Berkeley's Principles, 
 with Prolegomena And Annota- 
 tions," ETC., ETC., ETC. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 HE world, from of old to our day, is full of 
 stories of stolen children. They are stories of 
 bereavements sharper than death. The sorrow 
 of a fixed and finished calamity abates with time; the 
 sorrow of suspense grows intenser the longer it endures. 
 If healing be possible, to know the worst begins the 
 healing. The death of a child, as it is one of the deep- 
 est of our human calamities, has connected with it some 
 of God's sweetest solaces, under that law of mercy which 
 tempers our life of mystery with its compensations. 
 The stealing of a child involves all the sorrows of a 
 child's death, without the relief of those hopes which 
 first staunch the bleeding, and at last heal the wound. 
 " Let me fall into the hand of the Lord," said David, 
 "but let me not fall into the hand of man." The loss of 
 a child by the hand of God is the child's sure gain, and 
 may be made ours. He takes it to the infinite purity 
 and absolute safety of His own presence ; and, of the 
 dead child now, we may say with a more assured trust 
 what was said of a dead child in the gray twilight of 
 the dawn of Revelation, "it is well with the child." 
 The child that dies we may be with forever; one-half 
 of a sad contingency vanishes as it passes away. The 
 loss of a child by the hand of man involves treachery 
 and cruelty, the despair of the family, the misery of 
 the child, its rearing in crime and shame for ruin, or — 
 
 (9) 
 
U)^. ..... : .INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ;*: /: '•.• : :..:.••'•.• 
 
 less wretched fate — its early death by neglect or vio- 
 lence. 
 
 Among the saddest of these touching stories, among 
 the most deeply veiled of these mysteries, is the story 
 and mystery of Charles Brewster Ross. The story 
 is already familiar in various degrees of fullness and 
 accuracy to millions of sympathetic hearts. The van- 
 ished angel of the home, "the frolic and the gentle," 
 has given to the firesides of Christendom a household 
 name, and the children of continents whisper of their 
 little lost brother in their play. It is a world-wide 
 story, every detail of which has been eagerly sought, 
 and in enlarging which unscrupulous invention has 
 found its account. Yet now, for the first time, is it told 
 with entire accuracy in all its details, by the hand which 
 has proved itself the most competent to do it justice. 
 It needs but a glance at the strange, mournful history, 
 which lies in the hands of the reader, to see that love 
 and grief have united with the hope long deferred, yet 
 refusing utterly to die, and have given to the father in 
 this pathetic chronicle, an inspiration which imparts to 
 the book a wonderful power. It is a power which no 
 merely literary skill or tact could have imparted to it 
 It is a people's book, simple, true to life — a book in 
 which heart touches heart. 
 
 The writer of this Introduction has consented to pre- 
 pare it, because, from the very inception of the work, 
 he has had such personal and direct opportunities of 
 knowing the purpose and spirit in which it has been 
 prepared, as to justify him in expressing the conviction 
 that it merits, in every respect, the cordial reception with 
 which he is confident it will be greeted. It has been 
 
INTRODUCTION. 1 1 
 
 written In part to meet a strong and general desire for a 
 full and reliable statement of facts, which are so unique 
 and full of intense interest, and many of which have been 
 wholly unknown, or have been very incorrectly or in- 
 adequately brought before the public. But more than 
 by this the father has been moved by the hope that the 
 wide circulation of the book may help to elicit informa- 
 tion which may yet clear up the darkness, and lead to 
 the finding of the boy; and that it may aid in furnishing 
 means, which will be sacredly devoted to prosecuting to 
 the end, a search which will bring to suspense the rap- 
 ture of a final joy, or the relief of a dreadful mystery 
 dispelled. The reader will rejoice that Mr. Ross, con- 
 trary to his modest judgment of his own abilities, was 
 induced, by the urgent representation of friends in whose 
 judgment he confided, to prepare the work himself 
 
 This book is a picture of contrasts— the lamb In the 
 talons of the vulture — the innocence of childhood in the 
 iron grasp of calculating murder — the hopes and yearn- 
 ings of the loving, made vain by the savage purpose 
 and fierce resolution of the cruel greed which thwarted 
 them all — the black hand of conspiracy, broken at its 
 lifting by the red hand of vengeance. It is part of the 
 fashion of our time to consider crime on its romantic 
 side. The Novel and the Drama have presented villainy 
 in forms which hide its ugliness and loathsomeness 
 under various masks of daring and skill, and even of 
 chivalry and honor. This dangerous tendency has 
 been met not only by the graver forms of protest and 
 exposure, but fiction has been used to heal fiction. 
 Great novelists have attempted to correct the evil by 
 faithful representations of the unrelieved baseness, low- 
 
12 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ncss, dullness and brutality which are the real marks 
 of most in the criminal classes, who prey upon society, 
 not with the bold savagery of the lion, but with the 
 stealthy ferocity of the hyena. But these well-meant 
 delineations of crime as it is, have never had any great 
 practical force. Either they were too feeble to attract, 
 too refined for the class they were meant to reach, or 
 the glow of the genius of the writers threw the perilous 
 charm of a morbid interest around the very wickedness 
 they meant to condemn. " Catharine," is not read, and 
 *' Oliver Twist," is a doubtful book for the young. In 
 this true story of Charley Ross, villainy is made to 
 unmask itself. Nothing in fiction, since De Foe, ap- 
 proaches the realistic vividness of its pictures of the 
 actual character of the villain. We see in it his coarse- 
 ness, his prosaic baseness, his brutish greed, his dreary 
 misery, his thwarted plan, his bloody death. He lives 
 like a beast, and like a beast is killed as he prowls at 
 night around the abodes of men. 
 
 The young will see how little there is in the real life 
 of the bad, correspondent with the shams and lies 
 with which the footlights and the sensational story 
 invest the knaves, who dazzle and lure the young with 
 examples of crime. In the letters, so faithfully repro- 
 duced in this volume, the criminals reveal their own 
 character with an unmeant fidelity, in j^ictures to which 
 not even the genius of a Shakespeare would be equal 
 He could paint the thing with an unrivaled touch; 
 but here is the unpainted thing itself— that naked, hu- 
 man character, which genius grows great in reflecting. 
 
 It needs but a little thoughtful pausing on the facts 
 which this book presents, to realize how much the com- 
 
INTRODUCTION. 1 3 
 
 munity owes to Mr. Ross for his earnest and persistent 
 efforts to regain possession of his child, without acceding 
 to the demands of the scoundrels who had stolen him. 
 Had he recovered his boy by a facile compliance with 
 their plans, the brilliant and easy success of so great a 
 crime might have led to a repetition of the same sort 
 of atrocious wickedness to a fearful extent. One such 
 prize, so promptly drawn in such a lottery, would have 
 awakened the cupidity and sharpened the cunning of 
 that large class, who are always on the alert to discover 
 new and hopeful openings for their unscrupulous vil- 
 lainy. 
 
 The vastness of our land, the inaccessible character 
 of its recesses in mountain, forest, marsh and inlet, the 
 ease of rapid passage, the absence of a passport system, 
 and of other forms of restriction which embarrass the 
 movements of criminals, would make it one of the most 
 insecure parts of the world, if the idea should once 
 fairly possess the mind of the criminal classes that the 
 abduction of children could be made a remunerative 
 method of obtaining money. There is not a home of 
 happy and favored little ones in our land which is not 
 more secure because of the utter failure of the wicked- 
 ness which hoped to collect ransom by the abduction 
 of Charley Ross. The men who did him such cruel 
 wrong died by violence. The issue of all their cunning 
 showed them to be miserable fools — thwarted, baffled, 
 and crushed just as success seemed most near. Evad- 
 ing the officials of the law by wonderful adroitness, and 
 making an accomplice of one of them, exposure and 
 death met them when they supposed there was nothing 
 to fear. The crime which became the occasion of their 
 
14 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 death was urged upon them in part by the necessities 
 which had grown out of the reluctance of Mr. Ross to 
 compromise the demands of justice, by yielding at once 
 to the suggestion of affection- and compounding with 
 crime. The result, as we see it now, has involved an 
 awful loss to him — the loss of the darling of his home; 
 but it is a loss which has made thousands of homes 
 safer and happier. His boy, should he never be recov- 
 ered, will be enrolled among the Innocents — the victims 
 of cruelty in childhood, whose sufferings, because of 
 their tender years, were knit up with blessings which 
 came to others. Closest to Christ, children seem in 
 large measure ordained ** to fill up that which is behind 
 of the afflictions of Christ," A faithful Saviour will 
 watch His martyrs. Wherever this little boy may be, 
 he is not forgotten in the heart of infinite love; not un- 
 watched by the eye that never sleeps. The hand that 
 has spread the veil will lift it. God is reserving the 
 sequel, but it will be worthy of Him. And in the hours 
 — it may be the years — of suspense which are in reserve, 
 the fervent prayers of many a Christian home for the 
 desolate household will be mingled with the grateful 
 recognition of the truth, that the father of this boy is 
 entitled to a place among good men, whose fidelity to 
 principle has made their sorrows fruitful for the welfare 
 of mankind. 
 
 C. P. Krauth, 
 Jtdy nth, i8y6. 4004 Pine St., Phi la. 
 
AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 
 
 ROM a letter recently written to me by a gen 
 tleman of high social and political standing, 
 residing in Germany, I make the following 
 extract : " Your daily experience must be most re- 
 markable since this great sorrow overtook you. The 
 day will come when the public will demand, in book 
 form, a complete history of this most extraordinary 
 case. Such a book, containing all letters, testimony, 
 photographs etc., etc., will be of never-failing interest, 
 especially to the young. If the boy should be alive, in 
 after years, a perusal of such a book might recall his 
 early experience, and ultimately be the means of his 
 restoration. We all know that stranger things have 
 happened." 
 
 These kind and suggestive words express the same 
 ideas that have been frequently advanced by many 
 other persons who have asked whether, with a view to 
 publication, I have preserved papers and kept memo- 
 randums of what was done in the case of the abduction 
 of my little son, and of the search for him which has 
 thus far been vain. 
 
 I little imagined, in the early period, the magnitude 
 which this subject subsequently assumed, and therefore 
 was not careful to keep a record of many things that 
 occurred; but the most important events are so forcibly 
 impressed on my mind, that, with the aid of those im- 
 
 (17) 
 
1 8 author's preface. 
 
 mediately connected with me in the search, I will be 
 able to recall most of the incidents. 
 
 It was not my purpose to prepare this history until 
 some definite information had been obtained as to 
 whether the child was living or dead. But on reflec- 
 tion I have thought the publication of the narrative at 
 this time might assist in explaining the mystery which 
 is still connected with the concealment of the child, or 
 that possibly, through the perusal of the book, some one 
 not familiar with the circumstances might be enabled 
 to give a new and fortunate direction to the search, or 
 perhaps that the child himself, seeing the illustrations 
 of once familiar scenes, or learning from some incident 
 herein related something to suggest early recollections, 
 might be led to his home. 
 
 Another object in issuing the book now is that of 
 obtaining the means to enable me to continue a search 
 that cannot be abandoned until the child is found alive, 
 or his death is certainly proven to us. 
 
 Scarcely a day passes even now without receiving in- 
 formation supposed to be in some way connected with 
 the matter, or without hearing of suspicious persons who 
 possibly could shed some light on the mystery, or of 
 children in different parts of the country thought to be 
 my little boy. To examine into everything brought to 
 my notice gives me almost constant employment, and 
 is attended with great expense of both time and money. 
 
 There is connected with the abduction, the search, 
 the tragic death of the abductors, the finding of lost 
 children, a great deal of interest which it is proper the 
 public should know; and the simple facts as they 
 occurred are grouped together in the narrative, with 
 
AUTHORS PREFACE. I9 
 
 regard* to exactness rather than with any attempt at 
 embellishment. 
 
 Other children have been lost and in some instances 
 carried away, and not restored to their parents for long 
 years, and sometimes have never been heard of; and 
 the interest awakened in their behalf and that of their 
 distressed parents has been confined to their immediate 
 friends and acquaintances. In the present instance, 
 however, the motive actuating the kidnappers, and the 
 terrible threats made through anonymous letters, aroused 
 the indignation of every one against the criminals who 
 had so cruelly taken an innocent child, and placed his 
 life in jeopardy to procure a ransom from the parents 
 they had so inhumanly robbed. 
 
 The public interest which has been so universally 
 manifested since the abduction of my little son, and 
 which ever and anon shows itself whenever a rumor is 
 circulated appearing to relate, however remotely, to the 
 dark secret, is due to the fact that a new crime was 
 attempted to be inaugurated in our country, and to the 
 insecurity felt by every family for their own children, lest 
 they should meet a loss similar to that which has befallen 
 our own. The feeling is everywhere spread over our 
 own country; it has extended to Europe and to South 
 America, as shown in the many letters received ; and as 
 I am credibly informed, has reached the furthermost 
 parts of Asia. Kidnapping a child for the purpose of 
 extorting money for his release, and holding his life 
 contingent on the payment of the ransom, is so atrocious 
 a crime that no apprehensions were felt that it would 
 ever be perpetrated among us. No laws are found in 
 the books of any State which anticipated the commis- 
 
20 AUTHORS PREFACE. 
 
 sion of SO unnatural an offense, nor was any punish 
 ment provided commensurate with its heinousness. 
 The Legislatures of a few States however have, since its 
 commission, taken action on the matter, and passed 
 acts defining the crime, and affixing severe penalties for 
 its perpetration hereafter. 
 
 A ransom is a sum of money fixed by the kidnappers, 
 and hence is entirely different from a reward offered by 
 a parent or a friend for the return of the stolen one. 
 In the one case the sufferer has no choice, but must 
 accede to the demands of the villains or accept the 
 consequences. In the other he makes a voluntary 
 offer for the return of the child. 
 
 When it became known to the public that the object 
 of the kidnappers in stealing the child was to exact a 
 large sum of money from the parents before giving him 
 up, a thrill of horror ran through the nation, and pop- 
 ular sentiment demanded the immediate stamping out 
 of this species of crime, by securing the arrest and by 
 administering summary and fitting punishment to the 
 heartless criminals. Fully appreciating the danger 
 which might result to society should the brigands 
 prove successful in their first infamous experiment, 
 the case was placed in the hands of the police author- 
 ities of the city to work up as was deemed best, with 
 the understanding that I would never consent to com- 
 pound the crime, preferring to wait and suffer in the 
 hope of securing the criminals with the child. The 
 terrible anguish caused by this long suspense, to which 
 the knowledge of the child's death would be a relief, it 
 is impossible to describe. 
 
 Our fears, hopes and aims have centered for the past 
 
AUTHORS PREFACE. 21 
 
 two years upon the recovery of Charley, and unravel- 
 ing the mystery connected with his long concealment. 
 Forgetting all other troubles and laying aside all other 
 cares, our time, energies and means have been devoted 
 to these objects, and we should be an unfaithful and 
 unnatural parent, did we relinquish the search without 
 arriving at a satisfactory solution of the whole matter. 
 
 The successful abduction and continued concealment 
 of the unfortunate child have caused the name of 
 Charley Ross to be known in almost every house- 
 hold ; and in a measure he has become the child of 
 the people. Many prayers have been offered up for 
 his restoration, and many homes would be glad to 
 know that he has been recovered. 
 
 A recent article in the Mothers' Magazine forcibly 
 demonstrates this feeling, and by permission of the 
 author I avail myself of an extract from it. 
 
 " Events of startling moment have been crowded 
 into the past two years — revolutions, revulsions, catas- 
 trophes, crimes and disorders, for which, in general, 
 men must be held accountable, while some are 
 seemingly due to what we denominate chance or ac- 
 cident. Of them, all the larger part are now looked at 
 with that indifference which belongs to things bygone, 
 retaining only a slight hold on public attention , and 
 many of them, in the rush of present affairs or newer 
 emergencies, are well nigh buried in oblivion. The 
 edge of sharp surprises soon wears off. Those who 
 have been for a while stunned, when they are able to 
 go about their business forget the blow. Partial 
 calamities, of whatever sort, do not long trouble those 
 untouched by them. If severe or of wide extent, recu- 
 
22 
 
 peration may be speedy; but if past remedy, they 
 are acquiesced in. Yet, while matters lately regarded 
 as of prime importance are scarcely referred to, and 
 multitudes of those which loomed up largely have 
 shrunken out of sight, the fate and whereabouts of a 
 child four years of age, continue to awaken an absorb- 
 ing and universal anxiety. 
 
 ** The name of Charley Ross is familiar to every- 
 household. His form, his pretty features, his curling 
 locks, Jiis winsome expression, known to us by pic- 
 tures and photographs, would be recognized at a glance 
 if he could anywhere be met outside of his secret hid- 
 ing place — the little absent pet, for whom so many 
 prayers continually ascend. 
 
 "What mother's heart is not touched? What parent 
 does not feel almost as though the sorrow were his own? 
 And what citizen is not affrighted at such a precedent 
 of new and heinous outrage, and the inefficiency of 
 laws? 
 
 "A profound and painful mystery attaches to this 
 case of cruel abduction, from whatever stand-point it is 
 looked at, whether as to the instrumentalities of men or 
 a providence of God. That this, with other dark and 
 hidden things, will one day be brought to light, and in 
 the overrulings of Almighty God, some merciful de- 
 signs of His be traced through all the web and woof 
 of sinister devices, we fondly hope and certainly believe. 
 The act itself may well be called a 'mystery of 
 iniquity' transcending, if possible, in peculiar baseness, 
 in cold and calculating villainy, the very highest types 
 of crime. 
 
 " We have been wont to think that there is in the 
 
AUTHOR S PREFACE. 2$ 
 
 most abandoned natures some human feeling, some 
 capability of remorse, of being touched by an appealing 
 pity. 
 
 " These men had no bowels of mercy ; in them the 
 eclipse of goodness was complete, their depravity black 
 as Egyptian night, and total. Dragging their inno- 
 cent prey from his own sweet home into their polluted 
 den, they contrived how to guard themselves at every 
 point, and traffic on parental anguish. Almost prefer- 
 able were it, within our civilized bounds, to have wild 
 beasts again at large, against which the arts and wiles of 
 men can defend themselves, rather than savage beasts 
 in human shape, setting at naught their pursurers. Few 
 criminal secrets are so inscrutable as to bid defiance to 
 well-directed and resolute researches. Murder it has 
 been truly said, " will out," and by the corrosive nature 
 of guilt gnaws its own way to open exposure. The 
 spoils of the robber are from time to time unearthed, 
 and restitution is made; while this looks like the very 
 triumph of wickedness, as the most precious of all 
 stolen treasures remains hidden, and the lost is not 
 found. 
 
 "The police of cities, the ingenious plans of experts 
 and detectives in every quarter, the stimulus of large, 
 rewards — all these, combined with a keen sympathy 
 which has put all the humane on the alert, have so 
 far resulted only in disappointment, and in hope 
 deferred, 
 
 " Is the fate of Charley Ross to be despaired of? 
 Not by the help of God, if every parent who loves his 
 child, if the whole motherhood everywhere, is silently 
 pledged to join in and renew the search." 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE ABDUCTION. 
 
 EARLY two years have passed away since my 
 two children were taken from Germantown, 
 Pa., in which place they were both born, and 
 where I have resided about ten years. Germantown is 
 a suburb of Philadelphia and within its corporate limits. 
 
 My residence is on East Washington Lane, about 
 seven miles from the centre of the city. The Lane 
 begins at Main Street and runs in a north-easterly 
 direction. The distance from the main street to the 
 Chestnut Hill R. R. station is about half a mile. 
 
 On both sides of the Lane, between these two points, 
 are a number of very handsome residences, all set back 
 some distance from the roadway, and having well-kept 
 lawns in front, planted with trees and shrubbery. The 
 houses have from one to ten acres of ground attached 
 to them, and all have kitchens, gardens and stables in 
 the rear. 
 
 My house is on the north side of the lane, the eighth 
 from the Main street, and the second from the Chestnut 
 Hill R. R. station ; it is a double house built of stone, 
 two stories in height, and surmounted by a cupola; it has 
 back buildings, and a piazza built upon three of its sides. 
 
 It stands on rising ground, about fifty feet from the 
 road; the lawn is ornamented with evergreens and 
 other trees. Between this house and the nearest one 
 2 (25) 
 
26 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 on the west is an unoccupied field of about three acres 
 in extent ; in this field along the line of the road are a 
 large number of trees and small bushes, which grow 
 very close together and completely shut out the view 
 of the road from any one looking diagonally in that 
 direction, either from my house or from that of my 
 neighbors on the other side of the field. It was between 
 these two houses and opposite the open field, that the 
 abductors carried on their conversation with the child- 
 ren when they enticed them into the wagon. 
 
 On Friday, June 26th, 1874, my two eldest children, 
 Stoughton and Harry, left their home early in the 
 morning to spend their summer vacation with their 
 grandmother in Middletown, Dauphin County, Penn- 
 sylvania. 
 
 On the same day my wife, being out of health, went 
 with our eldest daughter, Sophia, to Atlantic City, 
 intending to remain several weeks. Before leaving 
 home she said to Walter and Charley that at the end 
 of two weeks she would send Sophia home, and they 
 should come down to her. This proposed visit to the 
 seashore was looked forward to, by both the boys, with 
 much pleasure; and in two of the letters from the 
 abductors, Charley is represented as fretting lest he 
 should not get home in time to join his mother at 
 Atlantic City. 
 
 The members of the family remaining at home were, 
 in addition to myself, Walter Lewis, Charles Brew- 
 ster, Marian Kimball and Annie Christine Ross, our 
 youngest child, Bridget and Sarah Kerr, who took care 
 of the children, Mary, the cook, and Thomas Foley, 
 gardener. 
 
THE ABDUCTION. 2/ 
 
 On Saturday, June 27th, about half past four o'clock 
 in the afternoon, while sitting alone in the nursery, 
 Walter came up- to me and said that a man in a wagon 
 had given Charley and himself some candy. The piece 
 he had in his hands was white and plaited, about four 
 inches long. Walter said Charley did not want his 
 just then, and that he was keeping it for him. 
 
 I asked him if he knew who the man was, and if he 
 had asked for the candy. He replied " No sir," and 
 then went away, cautioned by me not to ask strangers 
 for anything. The only thought that occurred to me 
 about the matter was, that some one fond of children 
 had, as an act of kindness, given the candy to the boys, 
 and the impression on my mind was rather a pleasant 
 one. 
 
 I heard no more of the man who had given them 
 candy, and nothing unusual occurred that I was aware 
 of until Wednesday evening, July 1st. On the morn- 
 ing of that day the children asked me for money to buy 
 fire-crackers for the Fourth of July. I told them I 
 would get some for them, and be with them on the 4th; 
 that I was afraid they would set fire to the house or 
 stable if alone. Their minds seemed set on having 
 them at once, and to please them I told them I would 
 send home a cart load of sea-shore sand in which they 
 could play on the Fourth of July, and they could fire 
 their crackers in it. In order to fulfil my promise to 
 the children, I came to Germantown on July 1st earlier 
 than usual, bought the sand, and got home before six 
 o'clock. 
 
 Not seeing the little boys, I inquired of one of the 
 servants where they were, and was told that since their 
 
28 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 bath, they had been playing on the sidewalk in front 
 of the house, with the children of Mr. McDowell, our 
 nearest neighbor. I went to the gate, but could not see 
 them; thinking, however, that they must be somewhere 
 in the neighborhood, I felt no uneasiness until tea-time, 
 when I again looked and called for them ; but not being 
 able to see them, and getting no response, I sent to look 
 for them, but they were not to be found. I now became 
 very anxious, and sent the girls to every house in the 
 neighborhood where they might chance to be, and finally 
 started myself in a different direction to look for them. 
 But I was not successful in learning anything of the 
 boys, and was returning to the house, not a little wor- 
 ried, but believing there was still no serious cause for 
 alarm, when as I was passing Mrs. Kidder's house — on 
 the other side of tlie unoccupied field referred to — Miss 
 Mary Kidder called to me and asked whether I sup- 
 posed the boys would be likely to take a ride with 
 strangers. I replied that they would be very likely to 
 do so if asked. She then said she believed Walter and 
 Charley had gone away with two men in a wagon ; 
 for she heard them talking to some men beyond the 
 bushes, and next saw them pass her house in a wagon 
 with two men. 
 
 This intelligence greatly alarmed me, and when I 
 reached home, finding that the children had not re- 
 turned, I started immediately for the Police Station in 
 the Town Hall, for the purpose of telegraphing to the 
 Central Office in the city, to inquire whether they had 
 been brought into any of the Station-houses. Mr. Wal- 
 ter Kidder joined me, and before we arrived at the top 
 of the hill on our way towards the Main street, we saw 
 
THE ABDUCTION. 29 
 
 Walter in charge of a man coming toward us. This 
 was about eight o'clock in the evening. 
 
 When we joined them, I asked Walter where he had 
 been. The child was so much frightened that he could 
 not reply. Mr. Peacock, with whom he was, answered 
 for him, that he had found him in Kensington, one of 
 the northern districts of Philadelphia, on the corner of 
 Palmer and Richmond streets. 
 
 I then asked Walter where Charley was. He an- 
 swered, " Why, he is all right; he is in the wagon," sup- 
 posing that he himself was the lost one, and not doubt- 
 ing that Charley would be brought back. Mr. Peacock 
 then said that Walter had not spoken anything about 
 his brother on his way home. 
 
 The case had now assumed a very serious aspect, 
 and I was utterly at a loss to know what to do. That 
 Charley was lost was certain. Every effort to find him, 
 with as little delay as possible, was my first duty. 
 
 Sending Walter home, Mr. Kidder and I hastened 
 on to the Police Telegraph Office, and sent a message 
 to Philadelphia, inquiring whether a child of Charley's 
 description (briefly giving it) had been brought to any 
 of the District Station-houses. In about half an hour 
 a reply was received, that no such child had been 
 found. 
 
 We now turned toward home, after being instructed 
 to inquire for Captain Heins at the Central Police Sta- 
 tion in Philadelphia. On my way to the station I 
 stopped at the house of Mr. Joseph W. Lewis, my wife's 
 brother, and told the family where I was going and 
 what my errand was. My nephew, Frank D. Lewis, 
 volunteered to go with me. 
 
30 CFIARLEY ROSS. 
 
 It was nearly eleven o'clock when we reached the 
 Central Police Station at Fifth and Chestnut streets. 
 Capt. Heins had just gone home, and Detective Joyce 
 was in charge of the office for the night. We told our 
 story to Mr. Joyce, who replied that it seemed to him 
 like a drunken frolic, and that the men would either 
 take Charley home, or put him out of the wagon where 
 he would be picked up by some of the patrolmen dur- 
 ing the night. 
 
 This theory was not satisfactory to us, and we deter- 
 mined to go directly to Kensington. First we went 
 to the District Station-house nearest the spot where 
 Walter was found, and made inquiry of the officers on 
 duty. They however had seen nothing of Charley, 
 and had heard nothing of the loss of the children. Our 
 next inquiry was for Mr. Peacock's residence in Euston 
 Street. Arousing him, we asked if he had heard any- 
 thing of Charley ; (I had requested him to make in- 
 quiry for the missing boy after he got home from Ger- 
 mantown.) He said he had learned nothing, and 
 directed us to the corner where Walter had been put 
 out of the wagon. 
 
 After walking about the district several hours, in- 
 quiring at many points and failing to get any informa- 
 tion, we concluded to return home. It was now about 
 three o'clock in the morning. The street cars had 
 ceased running, and we were unable to get any one at 
 the livery stables to send us home, or even believe our 
 story. There seemed no alternaJtive but to walk ; the 
 distance is about six miles. Soon we reached German- 
 town Avenue, the most direct road to our homes ; and 
 after walking about a mile, we fortunately found a 
 
THE ABDUCTION. 3 1 
 
 livery stable open, and procured conveyance to Ger- 
 mantown. 
 
 It was nearly five o'clock in the morning of July 2d 
 when we reached Washington Lane. Nothing had 
 there been learned of the object of our search. I slept 
 none, had no appetite, was unnerved, and anything but 
 fitted for the day's work that was before me. 
 
 At about half past seven o'clock I awakened Walter, 
 and refrained from saying anything to him about his 
 adventure of the preceding day until he had his break- 
 fast. He was pale and nervous, not having wholly re- 
 covered from his fright. I took him to his Uncle 
 Joseph Lewis's house, where he was thoroughly ques- 
 tioned on the matter of the carrying away of himself 
 and his brother Charley. 
 
 The story that Walter told was, that two men driv- 
 ing on the Lane in a buggy had given him and his 
 brother Charley candy on Saturday, June 27th; Mon- 
 day, June 29th ; Tuesday, June 30th ; and Wednesday, 
 July 1st; and that Charley had asked them for a 
 ride, and also whether they would not buy him fire- 
 crackers, which they promised to do. After driving to 
 the top of the hill, they turned around and took them 
 into the wagon. Walter asked them to go to the Main 
 street to get the fire-crackers. To this request the 
 men said " No ; we will take you to Aunt Susie's, (a 
 fictitio.us person), who keeps a store, and will give you 
 a pocket-full for five cents." He said Charley was 
 placed on the seat between the men, and he sat on the 
 knee of the one who was not driving. He also said 
 that the men talked to them as they drove along, but 
 said more to Charley than to him ; that they did not 
 
32 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 talk much to each other; about all he remembered 
 their saying, was that the one on whose knee he sat 
 took off his hat, and showing it to his companion re- 
 marked that it was about worn out, and he would have 
 to get another one. This man also said to the driver 
 "Slower, slower," or "Faster, faster," as they were 
 ascending or descending a hill. The men gave them 
 candy as they went along. 
 
 After they had gone some distance, Charley began to 
 cry, and begged to be taken home; he was pacified by 
 being told they would soon be at Aunt Susie's. On 
 reaching Palmer and Richmond streets, Walter was 
 given twenty-five cents, and directed to a cigar store 
 next to the comer, where fire-works were displayed in 
 the window, and told to get fire-crackers for him- 
 self, and torpedoes for Charley. When he reached 
 home he had two packages of fire-crackers and one 
 package of small torpedoes in his hands, and four cents 
 in change in his pocket. While Walter was in the 
 store buying the crackers and torpedoes, the men drove 
 off, taking Charley with them; and when he came out 
 he looked up and down the street and around the cor- 
 ner, but could see nothing of the horse and wagon, the 
 men, or his little brother. Finding himself deserted, 
 he cried loudly; a crowd soon gathered around him, 
 and one of the number was Mr. Henry G. Peacock, who 
 brought him home. 
 
 Walter's story of this part of the transaction was 
 confirmed by a little girl who saw the men give 
 him the money and direct him to the cigar store. 
 She also saw them drive up Palmer street to the first 
 small street and turn the corner, and disappear in an 
 
THE ABDUCTION. 33 
 
 easterly direction, before Walter returned. She was 
 the first person who attempted to pacify him when he 
 began to cry. Walter amongst other things stated that 
 the men had a bottle on the seat of the wagon, and that 
 at two different places they put him out of the wagon 
 to get some water; when he handed them the cup, they 
 poured some liquor into the water and drank. 
 
 After concluding our examination of the boy on these 
 points, we asked him what kind of looking men they 
 were? The driver he described as being of medium 
 size, about my height (five feet nine inches), rather full 
 and red in the face, with red or sandy mustache, and no 
 beard ; he wore eye-glasses, and had an open-faced gold 
 watch, gold vest chain and green sleeve buttons. 
 
 The other man was older, taller and heavier than the 
 driver. He had whiskers about three inches long, of a 
 red or sandy color, and a nose which was turned up or 
 in some way deformed; he wore gold-bowed spectacles, 
 and two gold rings on one of his middle fingers — one 
 plain, the other set with a red stone. 
 
 The horse was of a medium size, of a dark bay or 
 brown color, with a white mark on his forehead. The 
 harness was old, and the silver plating of the mount- 
 ings pretty well worn off. 
 
 The wagon was a rather old falling-top buggy, 
 painted a dark color, with red stripes on the wheels, 
 and lined with blue cloth. There were two lap covers, 
 one torn and dirty. 
 
 At the time of the abduction Walter was nearly six 
 
 years old — having been born Oct. 1 2th, 1 868. He was of 
 
 rather slight build, had light brown hair. Charley was 
 
 born May 4th, 1 870, and was about four years and two 
 
 2* 
 
34 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 months old when he was stolen. His body and limbs 
 were straight and well-formed; his face round and full; 
 his chin small, with a noticeable dimple ; his hands very- 
 regular and prettily dimpled ; small, well-formed neck ; 
 full, broad forehead ; bright, dark brown eyes, with con- 
 siderable fullness over them ; clear, white skin ; healthy 
 complexion ; light flaxen hair of a silky texture, easily 
 curled in ringlets when extending to the neck ; hair 
 darker at the roots, a slight cowlick on the left side 
 when it was parted; very light eyebrows. He talked 
 plainly, but was shy and retiring, and had a habit of 
 putting his arm up to his eyes when approached by 
 strangers. He had no marks upon his person, except 
 those of vaccination. 
 
 Charley was a depending, confiding child, and very 
 sensitive ; a word spoken harshly to him would cause 
 his eyes to fill, and the tears to slowly trickle down 
 his cheeks. He rarely cried aloud, and as soon as any 
 evidence of forgiveness was manifested, was quick to 
 perceive it, and would hasten to be caressed. In con- 
 sequence of his confiding disposition, he was the fa- 
 vorite of his older brothers ; and nothing would please 
 them more than to get the consent of their mother to 
 allow Charley to sleep with them. Anything they 
 could do to please him, was readily, cheerfully and lov- 
 ingly done. He seemed to know and feel that as soon 
 as they returned from school, they would gladly join 
 with him in any play he desired; and generally he was 
 on the lookout for them, when the hour for their return 
 approached. 
 
 He had a good constitution, and when taken away 
 was full of flesh and in good health — never having been 
 sick after he was six months old. 
 
THE ABDUCTION. 35 
 
 Having obtained from my son Walter all he could 
 tell, my nephew and I drove to the Central Police 
 Office in the city, and inquired if there was any news 
 of the missing child. Nothing had been heard of him. 
 Detective Wood and several other officers of this branch 
 of the police department were then informed of all we 
 knew concerning the taking away of the children, the 
 return of Walter, and the continued absence of Charley, 
 together with all the facts which we had obtained from 
 Walter. Their impressions were that the men had 
 taken the children while under the influence of Hquor, 
 and after regaining their senses, were alarmed at what 
 they had done, and were afraid to take Charley home, 
 but would turn him adrift during the day. They advised 
 us to go to Kensington and make inquiry for him. 
 Officer Joyce volunteered to assist us in the search. 
 Permission was granted Mr. Peacock by his employers 
 to accompany us. 
 
 Our first inquiry was at the District Station-house 
 where we had inquired the previous night. We were 
 informed there that nothing had been reported by the 
 night patrol, and instructions had been given to the day 
 officers to keep a lookout for the child. 
 
 Inquiry was then made of the people residing in the 
 neighborhood of Palmer and Richmond streets, to find 
 a trace if possible of the men, the horse and wagon, 
 and of the direction they went after leaving Walter out 
 of the wagon ; but no one was found who had seen 
 them, except the little girl before mentioned, who saw 
 Walter leave the wagon. 
 
 The proprietor of the store recollected that a boy 
 had bought fire-crackers and torpedoes the previous 
 
36 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 afternoon; but supposing him to be a child belonging 
 in the neighborhood, had not observed him particularly, 
 and did not see the horse and wagon with the occu- 
 pants. Officer Joyce made inquiries of the ferry master 
 at Shackamaxon Street ; but he did not recollect see- 
 ing the described party passing through the gates of 
 the ferry. 
 
 Baffled in all our efforts to gain information where 
 we supposed we should certainly discover something 
 that would aid us in tracing the child, we left Mr. Pea- 
 cock with several police officers to continue the search 
 through the district, and determined to drive home 
 over the route usually taken in going from Kensington 
 to Washington Lane, making inquiries at livery stables, 
 feed stores, taverns and watering places, wherever we 
 supposed persons might have been congregated who 
 would be likely to observe vehicles passing, or wher- 
 ever there was a probability of a horse and wagon be- 
 ing hired. This we did, and found no one who had 
 seen the men and children, or had hired out a horse 
 and wagon of the description on any of the days upon 
 which the men were on Washington Lane. We then 
 concluded that the abductors had taken a different 
 route, and resolved after we arrived home to get a fresh 
 horse, and take Walter with us to point out the roads 
 and streets the men had driven over the day before. 
 
 With Walter as our guide, we started from Washing- 
 ton Lane about three o'clock the same afternoon, telling 
 him to point out to us the road taken by the men on 
 the previous day. Following his directions, we went 
 up Washington Lane to Limekiln Turnpike, along the 
 pike to a small street leading to Church Lane, down 
 
THE ABDUCTION. 3/ 
 
 Church Lane to Hancock Street, down Hancock Street 
 to Shoemaker Lane, thence to Wakefield Street, thence 
 to Fisher's Lane, thence to Broad Street, thence to 
 Cayuga Street (a small street north of the Reading 
 Railroad Bridge), thence to Old York Road, thence to 
 Germantown Avenue, thence to Lehigh Avenue, thence 
 to Second Street, thence to Thompson Street, thence 
 to Frankford Road, thence to Girard Avenue, thence 
 to Shackamaxon Street, thence to Richmond Street, 
 thence to Palmer Street, and North along Palmer Street 
 to the place where Walter was left by the abductors. 
 
 The route was a tortuous one, evidently selected for 
 the purpose of baffling, the abductors never supposing 
 that a child of Walter's age would be able to remember 
 all its twistings and turnings. He showed great 
 powers of observation, and although he knew the 
 names of no streets or roads after leaving the Limekiln 
 Turnpike, yet he had certain landmarks fixed in his 
 mind, which he recognized immediately, and directed 
 our course without a mistake. We tested his memory 
 at more than one point, but found him always correct. 
 Several more prominent objects, as a pump at which 
 the men stopped to get a drink, the different bridges, 
 and the Kensington Water Works, were named and 
 described before they were in sight. The correctness 
 of the route was further verified by the statement of 
 different parties of men who were working on the road, 
 who told us that a little while before six o'clock on 
 July 1st they had seen the wagon, with the two men 
 and children in it, pass by. The route was about eight 
 miles in length, and that Walter should have remem- 
 bered it so accurately was very remarkable, as he had 
 
38 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 never been over it before. We asked him how he 
 knew the names of the places, bridges, etc. He re 
 plied that he had inquired of the men as they passed 
 them. 
 
 While driving along, Walter said that the man on 
 whose knee he sat had remarked that he was a farmer, 
 and owned a lot of ground which we would soon reach, 
 and when we approached it he pointed it out to us. 
 We inquired at the adjoining house for the owner. 
 His name was given, with the information that he was 
 not at home. The person of whom we were making 
 inquiries could not say where he was, but said he had 
 been to ride July ist, and did not return until the 
 morning of the 2d. When pressed very closely where 
 he could be found, we were told, probably at a tavern 
 not far distant, as he had been absent for several days. 
 Now we concluded we certainly had some information 
 of value, as circumstances looked suspicious, and ac- 
 corded with the theory that the abduction had been ac- 
 complished during a drunken frolic. On reaching the 
 tavern, a boy told us we would find the object of our 
 search in a shed, pointing to a building which proved 
 to be a cow-shed. My nephew finding him led him 
 to the wagon, and asked Walter if he had ever seen the 
 man before. He replied, no. After questioning him 
 as to where he had been, and his answers being con- 
 firmed by the boy and a man who were in attendance 
 at the place, we were satisfied that he was not guilty of 
 taking the children. (We tried to explain to him why 
 he had been disturbed ; but he seemed not to realize 
 what was said, and regarded it rather as a joke.) 
 
 Disappointed in our first day's efforts to discover any- 
 
THE ABDUCTION. 39 
 
 thing, either along the route traveled by the abductors, 
 or in the neighborhood where the elder of the two 
 boys had been abandoned, shortly after five o'clock 
 we drove to the Central Station, and nothing having 
 been heard there, we prepared the first advertisement, 
 which appeared in the Public Ledger of the 3d of 
 July, as follows : 
 
 Lost, on the first instant, a small boy about four years of age, light 
 complexion, and light curly hair, A suitable reward will be paid on his 
 return to E. L. Joyce, Central Station, corner of 5th and Chestnut streets. 
 
 The reason for using officer Joyce's name instead of 
 my own in the advertisement was to conceal the loss 
 from Mrs. Ross; for I hoped that the child would be re- 
 covered before she would hear of his having been taken 
 away. Before leaving the Central Station for home, 
 arrangements were made to telegraph me in case any 
 intelligence was obtained. A storm soon came up ; 
 we stabled our horse, and returned home on the seven 
 o'clock train. 
 
 By this time the news of the loss became known to 
 many of my neighbors and friends, and during the 
 evening a number called at my house and expressed 
 their warmest sympathy, and endeavored to encourage 
 me with the hope that the child would certainly be 
 restored as soon as the advertisement appeared. Their 
 opinions seemed to be that he had been retained with 
 the expectation of seeing a reward offered for restoring 
 him. Many persons offered their services, if required, 
 in any way I might suggest. Their judgment and 
 kind expressions of sympathy encouraged me with the 
 hope that the following day would be more favorable 
 in its results than the preceding one had been. 
 
40 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 On the morning of July 3d, my nephew and I called 
 to see Mr. Samuel Johnson, who had been reported by 
 one of my visitors on the previous evening as having 
 seen the men give the children candy. Mr. Johnson's 
 description of the horse and wagon agreed in all essen- 
 tial points with that of Walter. The men impressed 
 him with the idea that they were farmers ; but he was 
 not near enough to distinguish their features. 
 
 We went immediately from Mr. Johnson to the Cen- 
 tral Station, where we saw Mayor Stokely, District At- 
 torney Wm. B. Mann, Chief of Police Jones, Alderman 
 Carpenter and Captain Heins, with a number of detec- 
 tives, and again related all that was known of the 
 abduction of the children, with a description of the 
 horse and wagon and men, as given by Mr. Johnson 
 and Walter, together with the route that was taken to 
 reach the corner of Palmer and Richmond streets. 
 
 While I was conversing with the Mayor and others, 
 the Chief of Police requested my nephew to state to 
 the Lieutenants of Police of the various Districts every- 
 thing he knew about the matter. Shortly after I was 
 called in, and asked if I had any suggestion to offer. I 
 replied that I thought a diligent search for the horse 
 and wagon should be made, as I believed that if they 
 could be traced the mystery would be cleared up. 
 Chief Jones immediately instructed the Lieutenants to 
 detail a sufficient number of men in citizen's dress in 
 each district to visit and examine every livery stable, 
 blacksmith shop, and all other places where there was 
 a possibility of the horse being hired or kept, and to 
 direct all their respective officers at the next roll-call to 
 keep a strict watch on all suspicious persons, as well as 
 to make inquiries for the child. 
 
THE ABDUCTION. 4I 
 
 I was then subjected to a close questioning by the 
 detectives, to find out if possible what motive could have 
 prompted the act. Inquiry was directed to the follow- 
 ing, beside many other points : 
 
 First, Were there any difficulties in my family rela- 
 tions ? To this I unhesitatingly answered, none what- 
 ever. Second, What servants were now in my employ ? 
 I gave the names, and related, so far as I was able, how 
 they were obtained, and expressed my belief they were 
 not in the conspiracy. Third, What servants, male 
 and female, had been discharged from my employ? 
 The names were given^ and they were subsequently 
 traced. (The detectives, after a thorough investigation, 
 were satisfied that they were not implicated in the mat- 
 ter.) Fourth, Did I suppose that any of my creditors 
 would be likely to do an act of this kind ? To this 
 query I emphatically replied in the negative. Fifth, 
 Had I ever had a disagreement with any one, which 
 would likely cause such an act to be done out of re- 
 vengeful motives ? I declared that I bore no ill-will to 
 any living person, and certainly knew of no one who 
 had any enmity against me, for I had never given cause 
 for any such feeling. Sixth, Had I served on a jury 
 that had convicted any one of crime ? I answered, on 
 one case years ago. (The person so convicted was 
 hunted up and cleared himself of any complicity in the 
 case.) 
 
 The detectives declared there must have been some 
 motive for the act, and were utterrly at a loss to even 
 surmise what it could be. I said I was at as great a 
 loss as they possibly could be; that since the occur- 
 rence I had thought the matter over in all its bearings, 
 
42 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 and was unable to divine any reason why my child 
 should have been stolen. 
 
 After some further conversation, it was suggested by 
 Officer Joyce that I would get an anonymous letter be- 
 fore many days, revealing something in relation to the 
 mystery. This was merely a guess on his part ; but it 
 proved to be a shrewd one, and the correctness of his 
 surmise was demonstrated shortly after. 
 
 In the afternoon Detectives Wood and Joyce, with 
 my brother Joseph, went over the route, taking Walter 
 for their guide. On returning, they expressed their as- 
 tonishment at the boy's wonderful memory of localities, 
 in which all the officers concurred. They again ques- 
 tioned the ferry master at Shackamaxon street about 
 the party crossing the river ; but he remained firm in 
 the belief that they did not go over the river at that 
 ferry. In the meantime I remained at the Central Sta- 
 tion in conference with the detectives, especially with 
 Capt. Heins, who plied me with questions, endeavoring 
 to find a motive for the abduction. 
 
 During the afternoon information was received 
 through Frances Ducass^s, a man in the employ of Mr. 
 A. H. DeHaven, that a band of gipsies, who had been 
 encamped not far from Washington Lane, had broken 
 camp, and were then passing down Germantown Ave- 
 nue. Persons along the route over which these people 
 had traveled, stated that m one of their wagons was a 
 child who was crying bitterly, and who they suspected 
 did not belong to them. Measures were immediately 
 taken to institute a search for them. Instructions were 
 telegraphed to all the Police Stations for the officers to 
 inquire the route taken by the gipsies, and to report to 
 
THE ABDUCTION. 43 
 
 the Central Station. About ten o'clock at night it was 
 reported from the Sixteenth District that a party of gip- 
 sies were about encamping in a wood in the vicinity of 
 Fifty-fifth and Walnut streets. 
 
 On receipt of this intelligence, three officers with my 
 brother Joseph (to identify the child if found) left the 
 Central Office for the Sixteenth District Station-house. 
 The Lieutenant of the Sixteenth Police District joined in 
 the search for the gipsies, who, after considerable trou- 
 ble, (for the night was very dark,) were found encamped 
 in a secluded spot. The party consisted of two men 
 and several women, some of whom were quite young. 
 They had with them a number of fine horses and two 
 wagons. The men had been fighting, and one of them 
 was badly cut in the face. As soon as the officers 
 reached the • spot, one of the men loudly protested 
 against being molested, and threatened to shoot any 
 one who should attempt to disturb his party; but he 
 was soon convinced that the intruders in his camp were 
 not to be trifled with. On being questioned, he admit- 
 ted that they had passed down Germantown Avenue 
 during the afternoon, but declared that they had no 
 small child with them. Notwithstanding his assertion, 
 without further delay, a thorough search was begun. 
 The contents of the wagons were overhauled, chests 
 were opened, and their contents taken out to see if any 
 children's clothing was in them. Neither child nor 
 children's clothing was found; but the officers found a 
 lot of stuff, such as laces, watches and pistols, which 
 were in all probability not legitimately obtained. The 
 two men were taken to the Station-house and detained 
 until morning; and nothing being discovered to connect 
 
44 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 them with the stealing of the child, they were dis- 
 charged. 
 
 My nephew and I remained at the Central Station 
 anxiously awaiting news from the searching party. Part 
 of the time we spent in writing the second advcrtisment, 
 offering a reward of three hundred dollars for the return 
 of the child — having made arrangements with Mr. 
 Rufus Walborn to have Charley brought to his place 
 of business, No. 5 North 6th street, in the event of the 
 person who had stolen or found the child bringing him 
 to claim the reward. This advertisement was put in as 
 many papers as possible ; but owing to the lateness of 
 the hour, some had gone to press, and we were not 
 able to have it inserted in all that appeared on the fol- 
 lowing morning, the 4th of July. 
 
 $300 reward will be paid to the person returning to No. 5 North Sixth 
 street, a small boy, four years old, having long, curly flaxen hair, hazel 
 eyes, clear, light skin and round face, dressed in a brown linen suit, with 
 short skirt, broad-brimmed straw hat and laced shoes. This child was 
 lost from Germantown on Wednesday afternoon (ist instant) between 
 four and five o'clock. 
 
 My name was not put to this advertisement, for the 
 same reason that it did not appear in the first one; viz., 
 because I did not wish Mrs. Ross to know that the 
 child was lost. 
 
 About three o'clock on the morning of the 4th of July, 
 we went to get our horse with the intention of driving 
 home, but were unable to arouse any one at the stable, 
 and were compelled to return to the Station-house, and 
 passed the remainder of the night in talking over the 
 mystery connected with the loss of Charley. About 
 four o'clock my nephew was persuaded to go home, 
 
THE ABDUCTION. 
 
 45 
 
 while I remained in the city, to be on hand in the event 
 of any one appearing at an early hour with the child, 
 at No. 5 North 6th street. 
 
 Up to this time it was thought by all that some one 
 might have picked up the boy, and was waiting to see 
 a reward offered before returning him. No one had 
 any idea at this time of the real nature of the abduc- 
 tion, and no one was prepared for the startling revela- 
 tions which were soon afterwards made by the abductors. 
 
 Nursery in Charley's Home. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE FIRST LETTER FROM THE ABDUCTORS, AND bisGIN- 
 NING OF THE SEARCH BY THE POLICE. 
 
 JFTER awaiting the result of my advertisement 
 at No. 5 North Sixth Street from an early 
 hour of the morning of the 4th of July until 
 about nine o'clock, I returned to the Central Police 
 Office dispirited and disappointed. Scarcely had I 
 reached there when my brother Joseph came hurriedly 
 into the room, in a state of excitement fully warranted 
 by the missive he bore, exclaiming, " I have it ! I have 
 it!" He held in his hand a letter partially opened, 
 which he passed to me. Upon the envelope was writ- 
 ten, in a hand ever afterward distinguishable at a glance, 
 my full name and address. Its postmark was Phila- 
 delphia, July the 3d, eight A. M. 
 
 In a moment all present eagerly gathered around 
 me, whilst I deciphered the terrible communication. 
 Captain Hcins took possession of the letter as soon as 
 I had jead it, and invited me, with a few of my friends 
 and several detective officers, into a private room. The 
 letter was then read aloud. So overwhelming was the 
 astonishment and indignation that for a time every one 
 was silent. Then followed varied expressions of hor- 
 ror, as each one realized that there existed a human 
 being capable of committing an act so cruel, so full of 
 unspeakable torment to its victims, as that of child- 
 
FIRST LETTER FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 4/ 
 
 Stealing. The disguised writing, the evident effort at 
 bad speUing, the absence of any signature, and the re- 
 velation of the fact that my child had been taken away 
 for money, indicated that the wretch who designed the 
 plot had carefully prepared to guard himself and his 
 vile accomplices from detection. The officers were of 
 the opinion that the abductors could not withhold oi 
 conceal the child many days. 
 
 The first shock over, my own feelings were those of 
 relief. The suspense of the past three days and nights, 
 utterly blank and fruitless as they had been, yielding 
 no ray of light upon the fate of the child or the motive 
 for his taking away, was intolerable. It is affirmed by 
 persons who have been rescued from drowning that, in 
 the brief moment before loss of consciousness, as if by 
 a preternatural quickening of memory, every long- 
 forgotten action of their lives vividly passed before their 
 minds. So it seemed to me that in these three days 
 my imagination had conjured every possible as well as 
 impossible cause of my son's absence. Added to this 
 was the torment caused by the suspicion vaguely hinted, 
 and here and there directly implied in the questioning 
 to which I was subjected, that either myself or persons 
 closely connected with me were concerned in conceal- 
 ing the child. With this oppressive weight on my 
 mind, a sense of relief was felt on receiving the first in- 
 formation that Charley was alive, and that there was 
 some hope that he would soon be safe at home. 
 
 I was convinced that the writer of the letter had pos- 
 session of Charley, not only because he declared it ; 
 but more surely from the fact that he gave correctly 
 Charley's middle name " Brewster," a name by which 
 
48 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 he was rarely called, but which was known to Walter, 
 and was elicited from him during the drive to the city. 
 Believing that a fac simile of this, as well as several 
 other letters, will be of interest, they are inserted in the 
 order in which they were received, and closely follow- 
 ing the printed text. 
 
 [No. I.] 
 July 3 — Mr. Ros : be not uneasy you son charley bruster be all wril 
 we is got him and no powers on earth can deliver out of our hand, you 
 wil hav two pay us befor you git him from us, and pay us a big cent to. 
 if you put the cops hunting for him you is only defeeting yu own end. 
 we is got him put so no living power can gets him from us a live, if 
 any aproch is maid to his hidin place that is the signil for his instant 
 anihilation. if you regard his lif puts no one to search for him yu mony 
 can fech him out alive an no other existin powers, dont deceve yuself 
 an think the detectives can git him from us for that is imposebel. you 
 here from us in few day. 
 
 This letter, although indefinite, was the first clue 
 towards unravelling the mystery of the case. My 
 friends now persuaded me to take Walter to Atlantic 
 City and inform Mrs. Ross of our loss, who up to this 
 time had not heard one word of it. Although the fact 
 of Charley's being stolen was known to the persons 
 with whom she was staying, they had carefully con- 
 cealed it from her. 
 
 We reached the cottage where she was at about 8 
 o'clock on the evening of July 4th, in the midst of a fear- 
 ful storm which continued until morning. One of the 
 very first questions asked by Mrs. Ross was " Why did 
 you not bring Charley along with you ? Is he well?" 
 We soon retired to our room, and now came the hard- 
 est task of all. I said to her that I had bad news to tell 
 her, yet not so bad as it might be; that Charley had 
 been stolen from us, but we hoped to have him again in 
 a few days. She was extremely anxious to know all 
 
Hr' 
 
 y<.^. (Purl— ^ tC — /WrA \\AU>«>]^ 
 iaaX W*w- /tu/^ . Amxm KjJi 
 
 i4h\ /vy^ <\)t^ 
 
 Fac-Simile of the First Lf,to:e^ : ; , 
 
/ufij ^ /l/\\m\M^ COAX V ^U^ 
 
 C>aA^ fvV^ KvV^ |xA)'Vvv^ j^jj) 
 
 9 > > # C 
 
 Fac-Simile of the First Letter. 
 
FIRST LETTER FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 53 
 
 the circumstances — for what object he had been taken, 
 and if we had heard anything of him. To these ques- 
 tions and many others, oft repeated, I gave the most 
 favorable answers possible ; yet the task was very, very 
 difficult and painful. The anguish of my wife I could 
 not undertake to assuage. Silence, as though in the 
 chamber of death, seemed most fitting. Tears afford 
 an outlet for grief, but with her the fountain was dry. 
 " Oh if I could cry, I know I should be relieved of this 
 terrible weight that oppresses me !" was her frequent 
 exclamation. Yet in the midst of this severe affliction, 
 from the first knowledge that her boy had been taken, 
 until now, sustained as she believes, and no doubt has 
 been by Him who will not let a sparrow fall to the 
 ground without His notice, she has attended to all her 
 duties as a mother, ever hopeful that God, who per- 
 mitted this inscrutable affliction, will yet dissipate the 
 dark cloud, and restore to her the little one she loves 
 so well. The publication of private griefs is rarely ad- 
 missible ; but the loss of our child in so atrocious a 
 way has taken such hold upon public sympathy that 
 there seems to be a necessity for violating the sanctity 
 of home, and giving to the world that which otherwise 
 would have been kept sacredly within our own hearts. 
 During the afternoon of July 4th, my nephew and 
 Officer Wood prepared an advertisement giving a fuller 
 description of Charley, with an account of the taking 
 away of the children, and offering a reward of ;^300 for 
 the return of Charley to my place of business. No. 304 
 Market street. This advertisement appeared in the 
 papers on Sunday, July 5th, and during the following 
 week. They also had printed a large number of bills 
 
54 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 similar to the advertisement, which were posted in every 
 public place in the city and surrounding country, and 
 in New Jersey. On the seventh of July my nephew 
 took a package of these posters to New York, and left 
 them with one of the Inspectors of Police in that city. 
 The first letter from the abductors opened to the 
 authorities a new field for the search. They at once 
 determined that vigorous efforts must be made to ferret 
 out the perpetrators of the outrage, which, by the reve- 
 lations made in the letter, showed that the crime was 
 not only against one family, but was of such a nature 
 as to menace the security of every home in the land. 
 The mayor of the city instructed Chief Jones and Capt 
 Heins to use every possible effort to arrest the crimi- 
 nals and recover the child; and if necessary employ 
 every man belonging to the police and detective forces 
 to accomplish these objects. The lieutenants of the 
 several districts were directed to make known to their 
 men the facts of the abduction, and to interest them in 
 the search by appeals to their humanity as well as to 
 their reputation as officers. While all were required to 
 be vigilant, selections of the most reliable men in citi- 
 zen's dress, and men of families, were made from each 
 police district and put on this special duty. They were 
 required to search every vessel, steam and canal boat 
 on the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers; to examine 
 every suspicious place, public and private ; to visit all 
 the ferries leading to New Jersey ; to stop all covered 
 vehicles passing over the various bridges ; to question 
 keepers of toll-gates in the adjoining counties and New 
 Jersey ; to keep watch on the railroad depots day and 
 night ; to look into all barns and unoccupied houses ; 
 
FIRST LETTER FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 55 
 
 to go through all known haunts of the criminal classes; 
 to examine the houses of Italians, professional beggars, 
 and all the abodes of vice; to keep watch on every 
 person known as a criminal, or to whom any suspicion 
 was attached; and to examine anew all stables and 
 sheds, both public and private. At a designated hour in 
 the evening they searched all houses of ill repute. 
 Soon followed an order to visit and examine every 
 house, public and private, throughout the whole city. 
 The labor performed was immense ; the whole ground 
 appeared to be covered — the time occupied in these 
 duties extending to the middle of August. The officers 
 in the district in which my residence is located extended 
 their search far beyond the city limits into the adjoin- 
 ing counties ; visiting every house, making inquiries of 
 the people, examining the barns, out-houses, sheds, and 
 every place in which a horse and wagon might be kept 
 or concealed. They traveled over many miles, and 
 were often absent many days. 
 
 The reports of the operations of the police, as made by 
 the various officers, are full — the detail of which, when 
 summed up, shows a vast amount of work done, with a 
 zeal never before known. The search was not confined 
 to our own State ; but officers were sent up and down 
 on both sides of the Delaware river. They stopped at 
 all the villages, examined the boats, and put up bills 
 of advertisement. In conjunction with the authorities 
 of Chester, Pa., Wilmington and New Castle in the 
 State of Delaware, they searched all the vessels and 
 boats in the river, and the creeks flowing into it. They 
 also examined all houses in those places that were 
 known to be at all disreputable or suspicious. In the 
 
56 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 State of New Jersey, Camden, Gloucester, Burlington, 
 Riverton, and in fact all the villages up to Trenton, 
 were' visited and searched, and inquiries of the inhabi- 
 tants made for the horse and wagon, and men answering 
 to the descriptions. Several officers went to Baltimore 
 and Washington, and with the authorities of those cities 
 looked into the vessels and boats lying at the wharves 
 and in the docks. 
 
 It was supposed the child would most probably be 
 concealed on a boat or vessel. Special care was taken 
 to examine canal boats ; officers followed the line of 
 the canal as far as Yardleyville, Pa., examining boats, 
 and making inquiry of the lock-tenders, to find out i! 
 they had observed a child on any of the boats passing 
 through the locks. At the same time they distributed 
 and posted the descriptive hand-bills. The small vil- 
 lages scattered through the pines of New Jersey, in the 
 counties of Camden and Gloucester, were all visited 
 and examined, and thus publicity was given to the 
 abduction. I cannot better state the feelings and the 
 operations of the police force of this city, than by giv- 
 ing an extract from one of the reports of a Lieuten- 
 ant to the Chief of Police, dated August 1st, 1874: 
 
 " It affords me great pleasure to be able to testify to 
 the sincere interest, and active zeal, universally dis- 
 played by the police of this district, in contributing 
 their best efforts towards an intelligent solution of the 
 mysterious crime. Every house or locality in the dis- 
 trict of the least doubtful character, or to which the 
 slightest suspicion is attached, has been promptly and 
 thoroughly searched ; every person of known evil pro- 
 pensities has been placed under strict surveillance, and 
 
FIRST LETTER FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 5/ 
 
 every instance promising the slightest probable clue 
 has been submitted to an early and rigid examination. 
 All coal-yards, lumber-yards, sheds, stalls, out-hcuses 
 and unoccupied buildings of every description, have 
 been carefully and thoroughly examined. All railroad 
 depots and other centering points of travel have re- 
 ceived the closest attention. All vehicles justifying 
 the slightest suspicions, and especially all covered 
 wagons, have been stopped or subjected to the closest 
 scrutiny and inspection. The police of this district 
 have been, and are still, faithfully and diligently in- 
 quiring, observing, and doing whatever suggests itself 
 in the matter as worthy of being done," etc., etc. 
 
 The above extract indicates the active official interest 
 felt by the whole police force of the city. Similar re- 
 ports are in my possession from the lieutenants of every 
 district. 
 
 While no information was obtained that resulted in 
 discovering any one connected with this crime, yet in a 
 number of cases, while searching houses occupied by 
 criminals, merchandise and other valuables were discov- 
 ered, which led to arrests and conviction for theft and 
 burglary. 
 
 On the 19th, 20th, and 22d of June, two men had 
 hired at a certain livery stable a team answering in de- 
 scription to the one we were in search of. On the 23d 
 of June they applied for the same horse and wagon for 
 five days, but failed to get it, because the owner had 
 seen them enter a public house which he knew to be a 
 resort for thieves, and suspected that they designed 
 engaging in some unlawful business. To the officers 
 visiting this house the proprietor refused to reveal who 
 3* 
 
58 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 the men were, or where they could be found, and not 
 until arrested himself did he tell their names and resi- 
 dences. On searching their house, located on one of 
 the most public streets of the city, not the men, but a 
 large quantity of household goods and silver-ware was 
 found, which proved to have been stolen from dwellings 
 in Germantown during the days they had the horse and 
 wagon. The men were subsequently arrested, tried, 
 convicted, and sentenced to imprisonment. 
 
 Every possible effort was made by the officers to trace 
 the horse and wagon, and particular attention was paid 
 to find persons who had seen strangers driving on Wash- 
 ington Lane during the last days of June and the first 
 of July. 
 
 A few days after the abduction, information was ob- 
 tained that a number of strangers had been stopping at 
 a hotel on the corner of Main street and Washington 
 Lane, Germantown ; that they had horses and wagons, 
 some of which answered the description of those used 
 by the abductors, and that they had been seen repeat- 
 edly driving on the Lane. They arrived at the hotel 
 on different days during the month of June, and were 
 acquainted with each other. They were eight in num- 
 ber, and had with them four horses and wagons. On 
 further inquiry it was ascertained that a woman, with a 
 child about four years old, came to the hotel on June 
 29th, stating that she expected to remain several days ; 
 but went away on the evening of July ist, sending her 
 baggage in one direction while she went in a different 
 one. An employee at the hotel was invited to ride with 
 one of the men, who drove through Washington Lane 
 and other streets in Germantown, and asked the names 
 
FIRST LETTER FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 59 
 
 of property owners in several instances. At first these 
 strangers seemed actively employed in attending to 
 business ; but for a week previous to July ist had not 
 attempted to do anything. 
 
 These circumstances taken together were regarded as 
 suspicious, and required investigation. It was discov- 
 ered that the horses and wagons were obtained in Cam- 
 den, N. J., and had been returned. The officers went 
 to Camden, and found the names of all these men on 
 the register of the hotel ; but they had left some days 
 previously. The writing was carefully compared with 
 the letters received from the abductors up to this time; 
 but there was no resemblance. This party on leaving 
 Camden had scattered, some having gone to northern 
 New Jersey, others to the State of New York, and the 
 rest to Ohio. The information was deemed sufficient 
 to warrant the following up of the men, woman and 
 child, and a full investigation of the matter. 
 
 The very evening before the officers started to New 
 Jersey, the postmaster in the town in which they ex- 
 pected to find two of the men, telegraphed as follows : 
 "The Ross child here; send immediately." This tele- 
 gram encouraged the belief that we were on the right 
 track. The officers found two of the men at this place, 
 and calling on the postmaster, learned that a man with a 
 boy had applied for permission to stay at the county 
 alms-house, and was denied admittance; that from the 
 description he had of the child, he believed him to be 
 my child. He indicated the direction they had taken. 
 One of the officers remained at the hotel with the men, 
 while the other two followed the one with the child. 
 Traces of them were soon found. On coming to a 
 
<-0 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 bridge the toll collector said the man and child had 
 passed over the bridge a few hours before. He described 
 the boy as of a dark complexion, of foreign — most pro- 
 bably Italian origin ; said he spoke broken English, and 
 was about nine years old. This description of the boy 
 so exactly corresponded with that given by other per- 
 sons along the road, that the officers were satisfied that 
 the child was not the one they were looking for, and 
 they abandoned the pursuit. The bridge- keeper had a 
 likeness of Charley in his office, and said that he was 
 looking out for him, and that he would not have allowed 
 the party to pass over the bridge had the child resembled 
 the lost one. It was subsequently ascertained that they 
 had no connection with the suspected party the officers 
 were sent to trace. This ended the matter, so far as 
 that child was concerned. 
 
 The officer who had been left behind entered into 
 conversation meanwhile with the men at the hotel. 
 They stated they had been to Germantown taking orders 
 for trees and shrubbery, and were agents for a lar^e 
 nursery; that they had stopped trying to get orders 
 about a week before the first of July under instructions 
 from their employers, and because the farmers were en- 
 gaged with their harvest, and would not give attention 
 to anything else ; that their object in making inquiries 
 about who owned the properties on Washington Lane 
 and elsewhere, was to find out who were responsible 
 persons, and to whom they might safely sell. They 
 hired teams in Camden, N. J., because they could do so 
 at prices within their allowance for expenses, which was 
 impossible in Germantown. Business being dull, their 
 employers had written them to go to their homes, and 
 
FIRST LETTER FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 6l 
 
 they accordingly had left Germantown, and were when 
 questioned on the way to their several homes. Those 
 living in Ohio were found, also the woman and child. 
 She proved to be the wife of one of the men, and the 
 child was her own. 
 
 This search was a long one, based on what were 
 thought very suspicious circumstances when grouped 
 together, but satisfactorily explained when everything 
 was known. The parties of course disclaimed any 
 criminal knowledge of the abduction, and proved very 
 clearly that all our suspicions were groundless. 
 
 It was deemed important to find, 'if possible, other 
 persons besides Walter and Mr. Johnson, who had seen 
 the men driving on the lane during any of the days 
 Walter said they had been there. Officer Wood and 
 my nephew were sent to interrogate every person who 
 had been or was then working in the neighborhood. 
 A number of persons were found who had seen a horse 
 and wagon with two men driving on the lane, which at 
 first they supposed were the kidnappers ; but subse- 
 quently they satisfied themselves that they were the 
 " tree" men before referred to. So nearly did they cor- 
 respond to the description we had of the abductors, that 
 it was difficult to distinguish them from the real abduc- 
 tors. They however found Mr. Buddy, who had been 
 working nearly opposite my residence, and who saw 
 the men on the 27th, 29th, and 30th of June, conversing 
 with the children and giving them candy ; but who 
 was not at work July ist. They also found Peter Cal- 
 lahan, a gardener employed by my next neighbor, who 
 saw one of the men walking and holding a handker- 
 chief to his face, whilst the other sat in the wagon 
 
62 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 / 
 
 driving the horse. His description of these men was 
 somewhat more minute ; but in all essential particulars 
 agreed with that which we had from Walter. 
 
 The next day my nephew and I followed up the in- 
 quiries, and drove along the route taken by the men, 
 inquiring at every house, of men working in the fields 
 along the line of the road, at the toll-gates, the places 
 where Walter said he got out for water, of the men who 
 were working on the road, and had seen the men witli 
 the children pass ; in fact, of every one from whom we 
 thought it possible to gain any information ; but failed 
 to find any one who could impart additional light on 
 the matter. 
 
 Captain Heins, on July 6th, with my nephew, drove 
 to Palmer and Richmond streets, and taking the road 
 along the Delaware river, visited all the villages, and 
 making a wide circuit, stopped at all the watering 
 places, blacksmith shops, and hotels, returning late the 
 same night without being able to hear anything of the 
 parties. Similar excursions were made daily, until the 
 whole country within a radius of ten to twelve miles 
 was thoroughly canvassed. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS AND INCIDENTS 
 CONNECTED WITH THE SEARCH. 
 
 OU here from us in few day." This, the clos- 
 ing sentence of the first letter received from 
 the abductors, awakened a most intense de- 
 sire to know what the next would reveal ; and the hours 
 passed slowly whilst waiting with trembling anxiety 
 and painful unrest, to learn what was meant by " You 
 wil have two pay us befor you git him from us, and 
 pay us a big cent to." 
 
 The time of waiting was not long. On Monday, July 
 6th, on my way to Germantown from Atlantic City 
 with Mrs. Ross and the children, the second letter was 
 handed me at my place of business. My brother had 
 read it, and said, "No harm has come to Charley; but 
 ;^20,ooo is demanded for his ransom." " Certainly you 
 have not read rightly," I replied. On opening the let- 
 ter I too plainly saw the figures ;^20,ooo. I was so 
 dumfounded that I read no more at that time; but 
 joined my family with a heavy heart, and went home 
 
 At the first favorable opportunity, as I read the letter 
 over, many thoughts passed quickly through my mind. 
 I asked myself, " Can it be possible that the life of our 
 little boy is depending on the payment of so large a 
 sum of money? can it be that men are so hardened as 
 
 (63) 
 
64 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 to harm, nay kill an innocent child without cause? will 
 the cruel and cold-blooded threats be executed ?" 
 
 Although greatly distressed, I felt the necessity of 
 appearing as cheerful as possible in the presence of my 
 wife; and when she desired to see the letter, I told her it 
 was better she should not read it, and endeavored to en- 
 courage her with the hope that it could not be long ere 
 Charley would be with us again. 
 
 It may be well to say here that Mrs. Ross did not 
 read any of the letters until they were published in the 
 newspapers of September of the following year — except 
 one which is milder in tone than the others, and which 
 was given her to read by her brother. Everything they 
 contained was kept from her, except those portions that 
 referred to Charley's health. This was done to spare 
 her the torture which the cruel threats would have 
 caused, and was acquiesced in by her without any 
 questioning. 
 
 The second letter not only reveals the price fixed as 
 the ransom, but distinctly states that a reward of five 
 times the amount will not secure the restitution of the 
 child. It sets at defiance the powers of the universe to 
 discover the place of his concealment, or that of the 
 persons who stole him; repeats with cruel emphasis the 
 threats of the first letter; and prescribes a means of 
 communicating answers to the writer. 
 
 A fac simile of this letter is also given, with that of 
 
 an envelope, all of which are similar, the address being 
 
 the same and the postage stamp of each placed on the 
 
 lower left-hand corner. 
 
 [N<.. 2.] 
 rmi.AnEi.rHiA, July 6. — Mr. Kos : "We supos you got the other 
 Icter that laid yu we had yu child all saf and send. 
 
W^^<;3aXXx \vN^ >i^x\> ^TivSs. ^irKviV_^ 
 
 \)uirvr\ro^ 
 
 ^uvvv_ ?\Art>\v. \fe^~~ WAvi Vvw^ Vv/^wv /yv- 
 
 NV'Syj.^ KTsj uvpS^'JV i'^^Y^ ]\N>>\^. CVJ^ (X^ - . 
 
 W> \N>A^^^fo^ /A^1.(^^^V c>^iv>vjOov . A ^Y)O^JL, 
 cA^oiL)^ i^3vv^^ c'Vwtvi (W/^ Ia^ ^aAj::)^ J 
 
 Nv<_ tftAAT- N^^ . IV>^ VW^ IVvvM.. (vyv^ Vv-«.AvA^ vv) 
 
 Reduced Fac-Simile of the Second Letter. 
 
kX^J^>^ J)L \^,rK^ *vv^ (V\v>w IWmv>*a-v y»/»^^ ^^^}^ 
 
 Reduced Fac-Simile of the Second Letter. 
 
70 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 Yu mile ofer one ^ioo,cxx) it woud avale yu nothing, to be plaen 
 with yu yu mite invok al the powers of the universe and that cold not 
 get yu child from us. we set god — man and devel at defiance to rest 
 him ot of our hands. This is the lever that moved the rock that hides 
 him from yu ^20,000. not one doler les — impossible — impossible — 
 you cannot get him without it. if yu love money more than child yu 
 be its murderer not us for the money we will have if we dont from 
 yu we be sure to git it from some one els for we will mak examples of 
 yurc child that others may be wiser. We give yu al the tim yu want 
 to consider wel wat yu be duing. Yu money or his lif we wil hav — 
 dont flater yu self yu wil trap us under pretens of paying the ransom 
 that be imposible — d'ont let the detectives mislede yu thay tel yu thay 
 can git him and arest us to^if yu set the detectives in search for him as 
 we teld yu befor they only serch for his lif. for if any aproch be made 
 to his hidin place by detective his lif wil be instant sacrificed, you wil 
 see yu child dead or alive if we get yu money yu get him live if no 
 money yu get him ded. wen you get ready to bisnes with us advertise 
 the folering in Ledger personals (Ros. we be ready to negociate). we 
 look for yu answer in Ledger. 
 
 This letter was received through the post-office on 
 the morning of the sixth of July, is dated and post- 
 marked Philadelphia, and has a three cent postage 
 stamp on the envelope, as have all of them. The same 
 afternoon I took it to the Central Police Office, for the 
 purpose of consulting with the authorities as to what 
 was now to be done. 
 
 I stated in the first chapter that the fact of the loss 
 of the child was immediately communicated to them, 
 and no action was taken by me except by their counsel 
 and instructions. 
 
 ' Among the persons present at the reading of the 
 letter were District Attorney Wm. B. Mann, and City 
 Solicitor Charles H. T. CoUis. Many comments were 
 made on the letter and the enormity of the crime ; but 
 all united in expressing the belief that the threats 
 would never be carried out, the object sought by the 
 
LETTERS AND INCIDENTS. 7 1 
 
 villians being money only ; and that as soon as they 
 should be satisfied that they could not accomplish this, 
 the child would probably be left on the street or high- 
 way, and thence find his way home. 
 
 They all agreed that vigorous efforts must now be 
 made to find the writer of the letters and rescue the 
 child ; and decided to reply as directed in the last letter 
 through the personal columns of the Public Ledger, 
 
 The personal in reply to this letter appeared in the 
 paper on the morning of July 7th, as follows: 
 
 " Ros, we be ready to negociate." 
 
 Measures were at once adopted by Captain Heins to 
 trace the writer of the letters. He instructed his men 
 to keep close watch on all criminals, particularly those 
 known as confidence men, and detailed a number of 
 officers to visit the hotels to find out if any suspicious 
 strangers were in the city, and to examine the registers 
 to see if any signatures could be found similar to the 
 writing in the letters I had received. They were en- 
 joined to be unremitting and persevering in their 
 efforts. 
 
 The letters themselves were minutely examined, 
 every expression and word used, and the formation of 
 every letter was carefully scrutinized. 
 
 While it was believed that the author of the letters 
 was the real abductor, yet there was a possibility that 
 they might have been written for the purpose of black-* 
 mailing by some one who was not at all connected 
 with the crime ; and therefore everything that seemed 
 to bear on the case was investigated. Nothing of a 
 character in the least suspicious was suffered to be 
 passed without satisfactory explanation. 
 
72 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 In consequence of the general investigation by the 
 police already in progress for several days, numbers of 
 persons called at the Central Office, professing to have 
 information ; some of suspicious persons, and others of 
 horses and wagons which they thought answered the 
 published description. All were heard, and whenever 
 anything seeming to relate however remotely to the 
 case was presented which was suspicious, it was patiently 
 and thoroughly examined. 
 
 The personal given above appeared on the morning 
 of July the 7th in the Public Ledger. About two 
 o'clock of the same day the following reply was 
 received : 
 
 [No. 3.] 
 Philadelphia, July 7.— iWr.i^ox.- We sc yu anser in Leger the 
 question with yu is be yu wilin to pay for thosand ponds for the ran- 
 som of yu child, without it yu can never get him alive if yu be ready 
 to come to terms say so. if not say so. and we wil act acordinly. we 
 take yu anser either way xs granted and wil act on it. we care nothin 
 bout yu schemin and plotin to detect us. that is only childrens play with 
 us. this thing is wel understod with us and is taken out of the power 
 every humin l>ein to detect us. yu wil find it so at the end of this 
 hisines. the only answer we want from yu now is, be yu wilin to pay 
 %2QfXO to save Charley, if yu love yu mony more than him his blood 
 be upon yu and not us fo wil show him up to yu either dead or a live (it is 
 left with yu) anser the folering in evnin herald or star. Ros. — ^wil come 
 to terms. Ros. — wil not come to terms, omit either line yu pleas 
 try the experiment, offer ;$ 100,000 reward se if it avales any thing, 
 use the detectives as yu pleas but dont let them mislede yu to the sac- 
 ytice of Charley, dont concent to any thing only in good faith, we 
 wil act upon yu word, if yu prove faithles we will prove to yu heart's 
 sorow that wil keep our word to the very letter. 
 
 The expectation that something would be revealed 
 in the letters by which the child could be traced, or 
 that a blunder would be committed that would lead to 
 
 ■m 
 
LETTERS AND INCIDENTS. 73 
 
 the detection of the writer, excited the greatest anxiety 
 to receive them, and yet my heart beat with misgiving 
 when they came; the cold chill of horror that followed 
 their perusal cannot be expressed in writing. There 
 appears in this letter a fiendish effort to increase the 
 torture already inflicted, by repeating again and again 
 the cruel threatenings. This, together with the confi- 
 dence with which the abductors speak of the impossi- 
 bility to discover the child, and the fearlessness they 
 assumed in boasting of their own security, well nigh 
 led me to despair, and to dread the worst results. 
 
 About this time it became known to the public that 
 anonymous letters had been received, and answers had 
 been published in the newspapers. Private citizens now 
 joined in the search ; they went by unfrequented roads, 
 as well as the more public highways, through woods and 
 swamps; examined stone-quarries, mills and factories, 
 called at houses and huts scattered through the country, 
 made inquiries of persons wherever they were seen, and 
 told the story of the abduction. Wherever they went 
 the people became interested and excited, and gave in- 
 formation of tramps, gipsies, and suspicious men and 
 women — very often exaggerated reports ; but, neverthe- 
 less, the parties were looked up, and forced to give such 
 account of themselves as would clear them of any con- 
 nection with this crime, which now was rightly begin- 
 ning to be regarded as committed against the public, 
 and striking at the peace and security of the whole com- 
 munity. Many of the searches made by private citizens 
 extended over a large area of country. They traveled 
 night and day, never stopping until the object of their 
 pursuit had been reached. Thus was the intelligence 
 
74 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 quickly carried to the whole country surrounding the 
 city. 
 
 When it became known in the city that a large sum 
 of money was demanded for the return of the child, 
 and that his life was held as the forfeit, the greatest ex- 
 citement prevailed; men stopped on the streets and 
 talked over the outrage, denominating it the worst of- 
 fense ever committed in our country. Women were 
 afraid to permit their children to go out of their sight 
 It was the subject of conversation in stores, in families, 
 and on the cars. Newspapers were eagerly bought up 
 to find out what was the latest intelligence. Vengeance 
 was declared against the abductors, and sympathy ex- 
 pressed for the child and parents. Many amateur detec- 
 tives offered their services, both male and female, ready 
 to go anywhere, or do anything, that would aid in find- 
 ing the child or his abductors. 
 
 Even criminals themselves joined in the general 
 clamor for the ferreting out of such heartless offenders. 
 " Bad as we are, and as you know us to be," they said, 
 *' we would only be too glad to give information, if we 
 could, that would lead to the exposure of the perpetra- 
 tors of such an unnatural crime." The worst criminals 
 being apprehensive of popular vengeance, and knowing 
 they were under close surveillance, stood in awe, fear- 
 ing that they might be accused of complicity, or even 
 be siispected of guilty knowledge of the abduction. In 
 consequence of this dread, and the vigilance of the po- 
 lice, the city for months was comparatively free from 
 crime. 
 
 The letter carriers were instructed to keep memo- 
 randa of the street boxes from which they obtained 
 
LETTERS AND INCIDENTS. 75 
 
 letters addressed to me, in order if possible to fix the 
 locality where the writer lived. The drop boxes both 
 outside and inside the Post Office were watched. 
 Neither of these plans resulted in discovering anything: 
 The letters came without interruption. 
 
 Letters were now received from other persons, some 
 anonymous, and evidently disguised. All were com- 
 pared by experts with the letters from the abductors ; 
 the writing of blackmailers or confidence-men was ob- 
 tained and closely scrutinized ; in fact, every suggestion 
 made which was thought might result in throwing light 
 on this mysterious correspondence was tried ; but with- 
 out resulting in any practical good. 
 
 In June, about ten days before the abduction took 
 place, three strangers arrived at one of the large hotels. 
 They came at different hours, and registered their 
 names as coming from different places. They appeared 
 not to know each other ; but very soon it was discov- 
 ered by an observing clerk of the hotel that they were 
 acquainted. His attention being attracted to them, he 
 watched their movements both in the hotel and on the 
 streets ; and satisfying himself they were about to en- 
 gage in some unlawful enterprise, he sent for a detec- 
 tive officer to look after them. They were followed and 
 Avatched for days, without the officer discovering any- 
 thing criminal in their conduct. 
 
 After the abduction, the officer who had been watch- 
 ing their movements suspected that they were connected 
 with the kidnapping, and upon examining the hotel 
 register detected a similarity in the writing of one of 
 them to that of the letters I had received, and called 
 the attention of a number of other persons to it, who 
 
y6 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 agreed that the matter demanded further investigation. 
 On inquiry, he found the men had gone away, and the 
 only means by which they could be traced was a copy 
 of an address of a letter mailed by one of the men, 
 which pointed to New York as his possible home. 
 
 On this supposition two detectives and my nephew 
 undertook to find him and his companions. Arriving 
 at New York they obtained the assistance of a detective 
 officer, and after patient waiting and watching for sev- 
 eral days and nights, the man was seen to enter the 
 house where they hoped to find him. Information was 
 received also while waiting in New York that the other 
 two men, who had been in the hotel in Philadelphia, 
 were in a village in Pennsylvania. The two officers 
 proceeded at once to Pennsylvania, found one of the 
 men, and brought him to Philadelphia. The following 
 day the one who resided in New York left for Reading, 
 Pa., pursued by my nephew. He there received a tele- 
 gram from his companion in Philadelphia, that he was 
 under arrest, and to come on immediately. The next 
 train was taken. My nephew telegraphed to an officer 
 to be at the depot on the arrival of the train, where 
 the New York man was also arrested. Both of the 
 men were brought into the presence of Walter, who 
 said he had never seen them. They also underwent 
 a rigid examination by District Attorney Mann and 
 others, in which they acquitted themselves satisfactorily 
 of any connection with the abduction. 
 
 The last letter, No. 3, asked for an answer the same 
 day it was received, in the Ev€7iing Herald or Star^ 
 showing a desire to hasten the negotiations. The let- 
 ter reached me too late to reply in the afternoon papers, 
 
LETTERS AND JNGIDENTS. 7/ 
 
 and the following personal appeared in the Public Led- 
 ger of July 8th. 
 
 " Ros will come to terms, to the extent of his ability." 
 
 This personal, as well as all others that were after- 
 wards published, except the last two in the N. Y. Her- 
 ald of Nov. 15th and 19th, was prepared by the author- 
 ities, who in the interests of public justice had full and 
 complete charge of the case. Everything was referred 
 to them, that they might adopt whatever means they 
 thought best to discover the writer of the letters, being 
 satisfied that if successful in that, they would find out 
 the abductors and recover the child. 
 
 To the personal of the 8th of July, the following re- 
 ply was received : 
 
 [No. 4.] 
 Philadelphia, July 9. — Ros. we is set your price. We ask no 
 more, we takes no les we no the extent yu bility. how mucht 
 time yu want to obtain this money, yu is only in part answered our 
 question, the only question for yu to answer is is u got it and be wiiin 
 to pay it then we wil proceed to bisiness at once, is it necessary to 
 repeat the fatle consequences of delayin to give time to detectives to find 
 his hidin place, we teld yu it be posible to find his place, but imposible 
 to find him. no aproch can be made to it without a known signal 
 and any stranger forcibly comin to it wold be the signal for his instant 
 anihilation were he wold never be herd of. this makes our party safe 
 and shows yu that if it come to extremes we wil spare not the child, 
 thus yu se al the detectives in the country could avale yu nothin only 
 Jeopodisin his life Ros this undertaken cost us j^iooo to prepare the 
 machenery to perform the work therefor consider wel befor yu consent 
 to pay it. for pay it you have to or sacrifice yu child, we want no other 
 anser but this and on the fath of yu word his lif hang. Ros i is got it 
 and be wilin to pay it. this anser or omition it satifies us. 
 
 In this letter there is evidently a design to impress 
 me that the amount of money required to restore 
 
^S CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 Charley was Jixcd. Objection is made to this part of 
 the personal, " To the extent of my ability." The cruel 
 threats of the previous letters are repeated, and the life 
 of Charley made to depend on the abductors' personal 
 safety. A more powerful stimulant to our fears could 
 not have been devised. 
 
 They also state the sum expended in preparing their 
 plans, showing that they were pre-arranged, and end 
 by dictating another personal, committing me to a posi- 
 tive assertion that I had the money and was willing to 
 pay it. 
 
 The boldness which the abductors assumed, struck 
 every one conversant with the facts with amazement. 
 That three days after the crime was committed, a letter 
 should be received, announcing that the child was 
 taken for a price, and almost daily correspondence be 
 kept up, defying the efforts of the most acute to detect 
 the least mistake or to get a single trace of the writer, 
 was admitted by all to be unparalleled in their experi- 
 ence. Efforts, however, continued to be unremitting. 
 Nothing was omitted that could be devised to obtain a 
 starting point from which to work; but all efforts 
 failed, and thus day after day passed without a ray of 
 light to guide us amidst the impenetrable darkness. 
 
 The newspapers of this and other cities made known 
 the fact of the abduction very soon after the loss of the 
 child, and eagerly sought for intelligence to be im- 
 parted to the public. While a great deal was published 
 that had a basis of fiict, yet much was erroneous. 
 Their reports were extensively copied by the papers 
 throughout the country. Thus thousands of people 
 became very soon acquainted with the abduction. 
 
LETTERS AND INCIDENTS. 79 
 
 In the early part of July, while two officers were 
 pursuing a band of gipsies, which they had followed 
 several days, they were informed at Havre de Grace, 
 Md., that two men and a small boy, who was called 
 Charley, answering to the published description of the 
 abductors and the child, were traveling with a horse 
 and wagon through the unfrequented roads, and fol- 
 lowing the small streams, in the direction of Baltimore 
 The officers telegraphed to Philadelphia that they 
 would follow them. About the same time several 
 letters reached me, describing the same men and 
 child, and urging that they should be pursued. A 
 telegram was also received, dated Belle Air, Md. — ''A 
 child supposed to be Charley Ross passed through 
 here last night, the detectives twenty-four hours be 
 hind." 
 
 The pursuit now became exciting. It was difficult 
 to follow the party, as they avoided the public roads. 
 After the chase had been kept up several days^ the 
 officers stopping at a factory were informed by parties 
 there that they knew the persons ; that they lived in 
 Baltimore and were selling patent rights for making 
 machine oil, and for that reason followed the smaller 
 streams, to visit the mills and factories located on them. 
 The officers went to Baltimore, found them, and satis- 
 fied themselves they were pursuing a legitimate busi- 
 ness, and that the child belonged to one of the men. 
 They again took up the gipsy trail, which had been 
 abandoned, to look after what they supposed a better 
 clue. Whilst this pursuit was going on, great excite- 
 ment prevailed for days ; nothing was heard from the 
 officers, but the painful suspense was at last terminatecj 
 
8o CHAKLEY ROSS. 
 
 by a telegram, " Wrong." The gipsies were also 
 found ; and discovering nothing to warrant any suspi- 
 cion against them, the officers returned home after an 
 absence of ten or twelve days. 
 
 Many reports were made by persons residing in the 
 city, of children whom they supposed were in charge of 
 improper persons, or of others who were believed not to 
 be under the protection of their lawful guardians. 
 Sometimes this was done by one neighbor to gratify 
 a grudge against another. In other instances where a 
 family had changed their residence about the time of 
 the abduction, and had a little boy with light curly 
 hair, we were prett>' certain to hear of it. This showed 
 the vigilance and interest of the whole people. 
 
 It was a matter of much speculation as to how the 
 exchange of the money for the child would be proposed, 
 and at the same time how the abductors would guard 
 themselves against detection. There seemed to be no 
 suggestion that could be made to cover these points. 
 It was, however, said by Capt. Heins that the [x.Tson 
 who conceived the plot, and who had so skillfully man- 
 aged it, had his way to accomplish that part also. 
 
 It remained however for the fertile imagination of a 
 correspondent of one of the newspapers to devise a plan, 
 and give it as really the one which was proposed by the 
 abductors. It has been called the " Bridge Story," and 
 was copied by the newspapers all over the country, and 
 is as follows : 
 
 The place selected by the kidnappers for these negotiations is a lonely 
 bridge in the extreme northern part of the county, and the hour in which 
 the business is to be transacted is set down at midnight. The bridge is 
 surrounded on all sides by a flat and ojien country, so that one standing 
 upon its abutment could witness an approach from any direction. The 
 
LETTERS AND INCIDENTS. 8 1 
 
 plan states that Mr. Ross must come to this bridge with the money. 
 While en route for the designated point, and before he arrives at it, he 
 will be met by a man who will step before him and say — "Good evening, 
 sir." To this Mr. Ross must render an immediate reply, and then pass 
 on towards the bridge. A second man will approach him in the same 
 manner as the first, and say, "Mr. Ross, how do you do." To this Mr. 
 Ross must also render an appropriate reply, when he will reach the 
 bridge, and there meet a third man, who will ask the following ques- 
 tion : " Mr. Ross, have you got that ?" After Mr. Ross has paid the 
 money there will be a slight delay ; but in a few moments he is promised 
 that his little one, Charley, will be delivered over. The robbers elude 
 all possibility of detection by the following conditions : The three men 
 will be armed and in disguise. If Mr. Ross does not come alone, or if 
 'a single soul is seen lurking anywhere in the neighborhood, the kidnap- 
 pers will fail to keep their appointment. The bridge stands all by itself, 
 three different roads intersect its site ; and the country being open and 
 level as the floor, the confederates stationed out along the different roads 
 can see Mr. Ross for a long distance off, and know whether he comes 
 alone or with some one else. Moreover, Mr, Ross will be watched from 
 the time he leaves the city until the time he is accosted by the first man, 
 and any attempt to assemble a posse of citizens or police near the bridge 
 will be sure to be seen by the kidnappers, whom, of course, the police- 
 men do not know. 
 
 Many persons in our own city called on me and 
 offered suggestions as well as their services to circum- 
 vent this plan. They did not stop to think that there 
 is no locality such as described, and when asked where 
 they supposed the bridge to be, at once saw that it was 
 all a fiction. Persons at a distance wrote letters giving 
 their ideas of the manner in which the parties could be 
 entrapped, and both money and child recovered. Some 
 of these plans are original, but appeared ridiculous to 
 those knowing the facts of the case. A gentlemen in 
 California suggested that large logs be hollowed out 
 and fastened near or under the bridge, and that on the 
 evening of the day for the exchange men of known 
 
82 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 courage be secreted in them, and covered over with 
 brush and moss; that after I had possession of the 
 child, these emerge from their hiding places, attack 
 the party who have the money and compel them to 
 surrender, and thus recover it. He showed his sin- 
 cerity by adding that he would like to come to Phila- 
 delphia and be one of the number to engage in this 
 undertaking, if I would notify him of the time the pro- 
 posed exchange would take place. Another gentleman 
 proposed the following : 
 
 A sufficient number of tried men can be brought into the neigh- 
 borhood a week before the time fixed for the exchange; perhaps 
 in the bottom of vegetable carts, concealed in boxes, and covered 
 up with vegetables. They must have cloaks the color of the soil, 
 and make their way in the night by creeping across the country 
 under the cloaks to a suitable rendezvous near the bridge, where ihcy 
 must dig a cave capable of holding them all, and find some means 
 of disposing of the dirt. The hole must be roofed, and the roof 
 covered with soil, holes being made for ventilation and ingress, 
 covered with cloth the color of the soil. They should assemble there 
 the night before the one appointed, and keep out of sight all the next 
 day. On the night chosen they should creep out after dark alongside 
 of the roads, under their cloi^ks, with wool on the soles of their shoes, 
 and lie flat on the ground, having night glasses, etc., etc. By nightly 
 observations during the week, they will have observed, without being 
 seen, the movements of the confederates. Their food and water will be 
 stored in the rendezvous ; and if they have the patience and endurance 
 that every hunter has to practice in creepmg upon game, and can hunt 
 for such a reward as the friends of Ross, who are parents, can afibrd to 
 pay, I don't see what is to prevent their capturing the man who takes 
 the ransom, and compelling him to restore the money and child under 
 fear of death. The confederates after so much observation might be 
 ♦.racked to their lairs, and some of them would likely be caught with the 
 principal offender. 
 
 Another writes thus: 
 
 In this morning's Herald I read an account of the kidnapping of little 
 Charley Ross. Sympathizing as I do with the afflicted family, although 
 
LETTERS AND INCIDENTS. 83 
 
 unknown to me, I presume to write you, and to suggest that if Mr. Ross 
 would go to the designated spot and get his child, and if he could 
 secure a pack of good blood-hounds, they could be put on the track of 
 these scoundrels as late as six hours after leaving the place. I am a 
 Southerner, and have known this to succeed time and again, when all 
 else failed. Should the parties take to the water, the hounds can be sent 
 up and down the embankments; and after they are once on the trail, they 
 (if good) will not mistake the scent. Being a parent, my sympathies are 
 very much exercised in behalf of this sorely distressed family. 
 
 Hoping you will be successful, I am yours. Southerner, 
 
 These selections, from many other letters that were 
 received, not only show a great desire that the abduc- 
 tors be captured and the child restored ; but a willing- 
 ness to aid in accomplishing these results, by sugges- 
 tions, and in some instances by being active participants. 
 
 On the 9th of July the following personal appeared 
 in the Public Ledger: 
 
 " Ros is willing. Have not got it ; am doing my best to raise it." 
 
 No answer was made to this personal. In its wording 
 it does not follow strictly the form ; and accordingly, no 
 letter being received in reply to it, on the 13th of July 
 another was inserted in the same paper, in the very 
 words prescribed : 
 
 *• Ros is got it, and is willing to pay it." 
 
 On the same day the following answer was received : 
 
 [No. 5.] 
 Philadelphia, July 13 — I^os : Yu say yu be redy to comply, we 
 presume yu have wel considered be for yu maid this promis we take yu 
 at yu word and we hold the lif of yu son to the strictest performanc of 
 yu word, we want yu mony. yu want yu child, the question between 
 us is do yu mean to give the mony or do yu think by holdin out a faLs 
 promis to ensnare us into the hands of the authority, i want to explane 
 this mater to yu so yu wil not deceve yu self for it is imposible for the 
 wole detective force combind to put even one of us in the power of the 
 law. in transfering yu mony to us be for yu get yu child yu have got 
 
84 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 to rely entirely on our word, we ask no more money, we wil take no les. 
 if we wanted more we wold ask it now. in 5 ours after we receve the 
 mony and find it corect, yu wil se yu child home saf. Aft we gets the mony 
 we has no further use for the child, an it is our interest then to restor him 
 home unharmed, so that others will rely on our word, if we don't get the 
 mony from yu the child's life wil an shall be sacrificed, consider wel, then, 
 wat yu be doin, for any promis yu mak us we hold the life yu child to 
 bind you to it. Ros, it would be more satisfact to yu to give this mony 
 to the detectives than us, but if we git it yu git yu child — if not yu child 
 must die, that we can sho others that we mak no threths wich we don't 
 kepe. Ros, it is our place to dictate, yues to comply, be you redy to 
 pay it as we dictate, if so, have the ^20,000 in United States notes, in 
 denomination not excedin " tens." have yu money were yu can git it 
 any moment wen cal for, the detectives, wen they read this, wil tel yu 
 they have now got the key that opens the secret, but don't be misled by 
 them (we alone hold the lock wich is yu child, if they open the dor for yu 
 it wil only revele his (ded body) if yu regard his life let a fatherly love be 
 yu gide. Ros, yu have inevitably got to part with yu mony or yu child, 
 wich is certain as death itself, any fals act on yu part seals the fate of yu 
 child an closes any further bisiness with us. consider wel, an if these 
 terms agre with yu anser the folerin. Ros, it is redy, yu have my 
 word for it. we look for the answer in the Evenin Star, • 
 
 In this letter warning is given in case deception should 
 be practiced upon the abductors. The time of five hours 
 is required after receiving the money, before restoring 
 the child. An intimation is given that it was the purpose 
 of the writer to pursue the business of kidnapping, and 
 that my child must suffer, if I failed to comply with the 
 demands, so that other persons would be convinced 
 that the threats made would be put into execution, in 
 the event I did not accede to their terms. The 
 kind and denomination of money they required is stated, 
 directions given that I should have it on hand at a mo- 
 ment's notice, and the menace made that if I act falsely 
 in complying with any part of the demands, the fate of 
 the child will be sealed, and all further negotiations 
 
LETTERS AND INCIDENTS. 8$ 
 
 cease. It also discloses part of the plan they had ar- 
 ranged, to make the exchange without exposing them- 
 selves to detection. During the five hours required, 
 after getting the money and before delivering up the 
 child, they would examine it, take him where he could 
 be found, and make their escape. By requiring the 
 money to be in U. S. notes not exceeding ten dollars, 
 they guarded themselves against being traced in the 
 future, if the attempt were made to exchange or pass 
 notes of larger amounts. 
 
 The requirement that I was to have the money near 
 me at all times, indicated that at any moment I might 
 be called upon for it. For my protection Capt. Heins 
 detailed two officers in citizen's dress to be near me 
 wherever I went on the street ; to secrete themselves at 
 my place of business and at my home, during the night 
 as well as the day; so that for about three weeks I was 
 never unattended. Every means was made use of to 
 arrest the person who should make the demand for the 
 money. Officers were also detailed to remain at my 
 house constantly, for about three weeks. 
 
 As the plot was being developed, the greater was my 
 anxiety. I keenly realized the increasing danger to 
 which my little Charley was exposed; and while I was 
 encouraged to hope that he would not be injured by 
 those who had possession of him, yet the fact of his 
 being forcibly carried away among strangers I feared 
 would seriously injure his health, even if it should not 
 be attended with danger to his life. This served to 
 increase the anxiety of both my wife and myself 
 
 As the public knew that a large sum of money was 
 demanded for the restoration of the child, a great curi- 
 
S6 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 osity prevailed to see and read the letters. Many 
 acquaintances and strangers desired to satisfy them- 
 selves if the reports which were current were true. 
 
 Newspaper reporters of this city and correspondents 
 of other cities were importunate to have the letters, 
 that they might be lithographed and published. To all 
 I stated, that they had been read and examined by all 
 who by their counsel were assisting to discover the ab- 
 ductors, as well as those who were more actively work- 
 ing in the case ; and by their advice as well as by the 
 instructions of my counsel, I was enjoined not to permit 
 them to be read, or pass out of my poscssion for publi- 
 cation ; — the reasons for which were, that no possible 
 good could result by their being read indiscriminately, 
 or by allowing them to be lithographed, and great in- 
 jury might ensue — moreover, that there certainly would 
 be attempts made to counterfeit them, in which event it 
 would be difficult to distinguish the genuine from the 
 false. Another and an important reason for withhold- 
 ing the letters from the public, was my desire that Mrs. 
 Ross should not know of the threats they contained. 
 
 On Saturday, I ith of July, postal cards containing 
 an account of the loss of Charley, with a description 
 of him and requesting the people to unite in the search, 
 were sent to the pastors of all the churches in the city, 
 with a request to read them the following day to their 
 congregations. Another large poster was prepared, 
 giving fuller descriptions than the first one, and placed 
 in all conspicuous places in the city and neighborhood. 
 
 On July 13th the following note was sent by the Chief 
 of Police to editors of all the newspapers in the city of 
 Philadelphia : 
 
LETTERS AND INCIDENTS. 8/ 
 
 Office of the Chief of Police, \ 
 Philadelphia, yu/y /j, 1874. J 
 
 Dear Sir:— In the interests of public justice, I ask that you will give 
 ordei-s that nothing be published in your papers touching the case of 
 Mr. Ross' child for a few days. Yours Respectfully, 
 
 " Kennard H. Jones, Chief of Police. 
 
 Many of the papers, in their eagerness to print any- 
 thing relating to the case, had published the doings of 
 the police, and thus informed the abductors of every 
 step made in the efforts to capture them. The most 
 injudicious of these publications was the announcement 
 that the post-office was being watched. Up to this 
 time all the letters had been dropped in the boxes of 
 the main office, and the day on which it was published, 
 detectives were both inside and outside of the office. 
 Immediately after its appearance, and while the officers 
 were still on the watch, a letter was dropped in a street 
 box, as were all that were subsequently mailed in Phil- 
 adelphia. 
 
 I will here relate a pleasant episode connected with 
 my sad narrative. About July 13th, a gentleman of 
 this city, a stranger to me, to whom it had become 
 known that ^20,000 was demanded as a ransom for 
 Charley, by a note requested an interview with me, to 
 which I at once replied, that whenever it was agreeable 
 to him I would be pleased to see him. He called upon 
 me the same day, and after introducing himself, added 
 that he had sought this interview, not from motives of 
 curiosity, but because he thought he might render me a 
 service, if I felt inclined to talk freely with him. He 
 then asked me if I had confided to any one my pecu- 
 niary circumstances, and whether I had freely and fully 
 expressed my inmost feelings to any person regarding 
 the present terrible affliction. 
 
88 CHARLEY KOSS. 
 
 I replied, "To no one outside of my own and my 
 wife's family, from whom nothing had been concealed." 
 
 The gentleman then said : " If you will tell me your 
 real condition, I may be able to assist you." To this I 
 unhesitatingly acceded, and told him everything he 
 desired to know of myself and the abduction, at the same 
 time adding that as to the taking away of the children 
 and the keeping of Charley I was absolutely and en- 
 tirely ignorant, both of the parties who had done it and 
 of their object, except as it was revealed in the letters I 
 had received — that to me it was a more perplexing 
 mystery than it could possibly be to any one less inter- 
 ested. 
 
 He replied, "Do you wish to pay the ransom, and run 
 the risk of getting the child in five hours ? If you do, 
 I will give you twenty thousand dollars, and never ask 
 you to return one cent." 
 
 Such an exhibition of generosity and practical sym- 
 pathy I was unprepared for. It overwhelmed me for a 
 moment. On recovering myself I replied, " I thank 
 you, sir, I cannot accept your generous offer; for having 
 taken the position that I would not compound the fel- 
 ony, I prefer continuing to make efforts to find the 
 criminals ; hoping, if successful in getting them, that I 
 will recover my child, and probably prevent a repetition 
 of child-stealing for a ransom." 
 
 He then asked me what were Mrs. Ross's feelings 
 on the subject; to which I replied, that I had no 
 doubt she would make almost any sacrifice to get her 
 child back, as any mother would do ; but that she 
 also was willing to endure, if her family and friends 
 thought it best. 
 
LETTERS AND INCIDENTS. 
 
 89 
 
 With peculiar pleasure do I recall this magnanimous 
 act. In the hour of my deepest darkness, the light of 
 such practical human sympathy, though bright in itself, 
 was doubly so because of the deepened shadows which 
 suspicion had thrown over the cruel facts. In the deep 
 depravity and selfishness of wicked men, my child was 
 stolen ; in the kindly sympathy of a stranger was found 
 a heart large enough, and a hand generous enough, 
 Voluntarily to meet the utmost demands. Great exi- 
 gencies bring out great virtues. This great crime thus 
 brought out this generous offer. 
 
 Swing in Charley's Play-Ground. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE CASE — REWARD OFFERED. 
 
 jHILDREN never seemed half so precious as 
 now. A new cause of anxiety and a new ap- 
 prehension was carried by men to their daily 
 business. A new reason for thankfulness was found 
 that the kidnapper had not invaded the family circle 
 during their absence. Men awoke to the existence of 
 a danger to which their children were exposed, of 
 which before they had had no suspicions, and to the 
 grateful acknowledgment of a protecting Providence in 
 a direction in which before they had no fears. This 
 trepidation of families was manifested in that, if a child 
 was absent from home for only a few hours, the par- 
 ents became agitated and anxious, fearing that kidnap- 
 pers had dragged it off. Instances were reported in 
 the newspapers almost daily of children supposed to 
 have been stolen, but who were soon discovered, hav- 
 ing strayed away. Mendicants were closely watched, 
 lest they should entice or carry off a child. So great 
 was the alarm that every possible precaution was taken 
 by parents to protect their children from being kid- 
 napped. Even little children themselves realized the 
 danger to which they were exposed, and would shud- 
 der and cry out with alarm upon the approach of sus- 
 picious-looking persons, who they supposed might 
 
 carry them away. 
 
 (90) 
 
PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE CASE. 9 1 
 
 In consequence of this general interest felt by the 
 public, and the great enormity of the crime, a number 
 of gentlemen, well known as persons of good judgment 
 and high social standing, conferred together and deter- 
 mined to render what services they could in trying to 
 unravel the mystery which surrounded the case. Among 
 others were Mr. George W. Harrison, President of the 
 Board of Public Charities, Mr. John C. Bullitt, and Mr. 
 Wm. McKean, editor of the Public Ledger. To these gen- 
 tlemen every thing connected with the abduction was 
 made known. The letters from the abductors, as well 
 as all other letters that had been received, were submit- 
 ted to them for examination. They were informed of 
 all the means that had been used to discover the men, 
 horse and v/agon « in fact a complete account was given 
 to them of all that had been done by the authorities and 
 by private individuals, who had been interested in the 
 case from the ist day of July. 
 
 Before these gentlemen engaged in the investigation 
 of the case, by request of Mr. Bullitt and Mr. McKean, 
 I met them, and underwent a most searching examina- 
 tion with regard to my private, social and business life. 
 Without any reservation upon my part, they were made 
 acquainted with every thing they desired to know ; the 
 object of this examination being, as I understood it, to 
 discover if there could be any other motive for the 
 abduction than that of extorting money. 
 
 Immediately after my interview with them, they 
 began to examine into everything that seemed either 
 remotely or more directly to bear on the case. They 
 were "instant in season and out of season" — ready at 
 all times, night or day, to give advice, or make sugges- 
 
92 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 tions as to what should be done, and often went to dis- 
 tant places to investigate matters requiring examination. 
 There was no plan of any importance adopted without 
 their judgment and approval, and whatever measures 
 they proposed were carried out 
 
 Nearly two weeks had now elapsed since Charley 
 was stolen, and the entire community became impatient 
 because nothing had been discovered that seemed to 
 shed any light on the dark mystery. Many persons 
 began to find fault with the police, and censured them 
 for not finding the criminals and the child, charging 
 them with being mercenary; others, because every effort 
 thus far had proved fruitless, began to whisper that if 
 the police wanted to be successful, they should look 
 nearer to the home of the child ; intimating that the 
 parents had in some way connived at the secretion of 
 the child, and that they would prove the real abductors. 
 It was whispered that Charley was not the child of 
 my wife, and many other like unkind and false state- 
 ments passed from one to another. But our one great 
 trouble made these lesser trials seem trivial. 
 
 Few persons were prepared to believe that a child 
 could or would be stolen in this country for the sole 
 object of a ransom. The crime was so atrocious that 
 they could not realize that the helplessness and inno- 
 cence of childhood would be taken advantage of to 
 rend the heart-strings of parents for the sake of gain, 
 and this too as a traffic ; hence everybody cast about 
 to find some other motive for the act 
 
 These whisperings and insinuations were collected, 
 and furnished the correspondent of a newspaper with 
 matter for a long letter; which letter, however, was not 
 
PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE CASE. 93 
 
 published until every effort was made and inducement 
 held out to the authorities and myself to furnish the 
 same paper with the letters which had been received 
 from the abductors for publication. After the corre- 
 spondent's letter appeared, it was copied extensively 
 throughout the country, and increased incalculably the 
 torment which we were then enduring. 
 
 In addition to .this, letters were sent from various 
 places to the Mayor and Chief of Police, extracts from 
 a few of which are here given as specimens. 
 
 One person suggests that the Mayor should send a 
 large force of men to dig up the grounds around my 
 house to the depth of one or two feet, and believes they 
 will find the child. 
 
 Another writes thus : 
 
 Chief of Police. — Has it ever occurred to you that the Ross boy was 
 stolen by his own father? Signed, ;^20,ooo. 
 
 A person writes the Mayor : 
 
 W. S. Stokley. — Sir : I am under the impression that if you will 
 send sufficient force and thoroughly search the house of Mr. Ross, that 
 you will find the child, Chas. B. Ross, concealed in one of the rooms of 
 the house in charge of a lady. " Do not delay." If the child is found 
 I will call for a reward. Signed, 
 
 Another from the far South writes : 
 
 Mayor of Philadelphia. — Dear Sir: I have a peculiar opinion 
 that may assist your detectives in finding the child and thief. If my views 
 lead to the discovery I shall rely on you for a sufficient reward. I believe 
 that Ross (the father) is the villain, with one accomplice; that his accom- 
 plice captured the child and conveyed him to an appointed place. The 
 motive — a desire to levy blackmail from his friends and the city. Ross 
 I do not know. He may stand well; but I believe if you will secretly 
 look to him for his child, it will be found in his control, and he will 
 prove the villain, with an accomplice. If he does not know all about the 
 child, how can he express confidence in its good treatment and safety ? 
 How unnatural that a father whose child had been kidnapped could 
 express confidence in the humane action of the kidnappers. 
 
94 CHAKLEV KOSS. 
 
 Ross is the only one who seems able to suggest a method for deliver- 
 ing the ransom and receiving the child. This plan gives him complete 
 control of the funds, and enables him to appropriate them at pleasure. 
 
 I may be wrong in my suspicions, and would be far from doing vio- 
 lence to the reputation of an honest man, or injuring the wounded feel- 
 ings of an outraged father ; still the conviction rests upon my mind that 
 Ross has planned and managed the whole affair, in conjunction with an 
 accomplice ; that he knows where the child is and controls him, and 
 that the stupendous scheme of villainy was begotten by him for the pur- 
 pose of making money. I know my convictions may seem unnatural at 
 first; but read all the reports, and see whether they do not point more 
 directly to Ross than any other character, and put your detectives quietly 
 to examine his skirts. Signed, 
 
 Dated July ijih, 1874, 
 
 Whether prompted by malice, love of gossip, or the 
 hope of reward, these slanders continued to be repeated, 
 until in September a letter appeared in a newspaper in 
 our State, purporting to be based on information ob- 
 tained from a person from Germantown, which was so 
 flagrant a violation of truth, that my friends advised and 
 insisted that my family must be defended by an appeal 
 to the courts. 
 
 Suit for libel was instituted against the proprietors 
 of this paper. They acknowledged the falsity of the 
 statements, and confessed that great injury had been 
 done to us. After being reprimanded by the Judge for 
 the gross abuse of the liberty of the press, and a fine of 
 ^1,000 being imposed, they were discharged. This 
 ended the further publication of reports that endeavored 
 to connect my family or myself with the commission 
 of the crime. 
 
 The following personal appeared in the Public Ledger 
 of July 14th, in answer to letter No. 5 : 
 
 " Ros, Came too late for Evening Star, It is redy : you have my 
 word for it." 
 
PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE CASE. 95 
 
 Not getting a reply to the above as promptly as we 
 had to the previous personals, the following was put in 
 the personal column of the Ledger^ July 15th : 
 
 " Ros, am anxiously awaiting an answer." 
 
 It should be understood that the extraordinary ex- 
 citement in which we were then living was so great that 
 the time intervening between the appearance of the 
 personals and the receipt of answers, made hours seem 
 hke days. 
 
 On the l6th of July the following reply was received: 
 
 [No. 7. Dropped in letter-box on Delaware avenue, somewhere south 
 of Spruce street.] 
 
 Philadelphia, July 16 — Kos: The reason we did not respond to yu 
 answer was we had to go a bit out in the country an the blasted old 
 orse give out so we could not get back in time. We went as much as 
 anything to se how Charley was. Yu have our word that he is yet 
 safe — in health an no harm done him thoug he is uneasy to get home 
 with Walter, he is afraid he won't get home in time to go to Atlantic 
 City with his mother when Saly comes back. Ros, yu understand the 
 condition the money was to be given us. We wold gladly give yu 
 Charley befor we got the mony but that wold be imposible under the 
 existing circumstances. Yu must satisfy yuself that yu wil git him 
 after we git the mony an find it corect and no sly marks put on the 
 notes. We told yu we wold place him in yu hands in 5 ours after we 
 fond the mony corect but that we can not do but our word for it that yu 
 shall have him insid of 10 ours an may our blasted sols be eternaly 
 darned if we do not keep our word with yu — as we said befor after we 
 gits the mony we have no further use for the child but we have a big 
 object in restoring him to yu safe and sound. We shall be redy we think 
 by Saturday to efect a change with yu (the child for the mony^. Ros — 
 we want to impres upon yu mind the grate danger in efecting this change 
 — the danger lies intirely with yuself if yu wish to make a change an 
 absolute certainty yu must comply in every particular as we instruct yu 
 then a failure is imposible. the first place, yu must not let the detect- 
 ives no how yu are to setle this bisiness (not that we fear them at all) in 
 aresting one of us for as we told yu that is imposible — but they wil 
 
96 CHAKLi:V KOSS. 
 
 secretly interfear in this bisiness in some underhanded way to prevent the 
 mony from findin its way to us — we are going to deal with yu alone an 
 yu only, an if yu call in any others to give you a counter advice from ours 
 then yu mistake wil be yu own misfortune. let yu friends advise yu 
 and not the detectives they study their own iitterest an the interest of 
 society, yu have a duty to perform to yusclf that stands paramount to all 
 else in the world an if yu ever expect to regain yu child a live, yu alone 
 with the advice of yu fripnds must perform it. we wil give you this much 
 incite into our bisiness — that if any arest is made it wil be an inocent 
 person who wil be ignorant of the part he is actin. but it is imaterial with 
 us wether it be an inocent person or one of our own party the moment 
 any arest is made or any clandestine movements in transmiting this 
 mony to us it will be conclusive evidence with us that yu have broken yu 
 faith with us an that our we pledge our selves befor all the gods in the 
 universe if there be an god exist that yu child shal die an we wil give yu 
 an oculd prof of it an then all further business with us ceases, (yu have 
 answered al that is necesary at present, we have yu word for it.) we 
 want yu to nail this mony up in a smal strong ruf box an have it were 
 yu can git it at a minutes notice, mark on it (Drugs for H H H. 
 
 This letter intimates that Charley is not with the 
 writer, and that he and his confederates have taken a 
 trip to see him. It says that Charley wants to come 
 home to Walter, and that he is afraid that he will not 
 get home in time to go to Atlantic City to be with his 
 mother when Saly (should be Sophy) comes back. It 
 guards against any private marks being put on the 
 money, and extends the time from five to ten hours 
 before returning the child after they receive the money. 
 By blasphemies it endeavors to confirm their promises, 
 and to impress me with the great danger of attempting 
 to deceive them. It fixes the day for the exchange, and 
 endeavors to induce me to have nothing to do with the 
 detectives ; saying that the business will be closed with 
 me alone, and threatens to kill the child should any 
 attempt be made to arrest the person who may come 
 
PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE CASE. 9/ 
 
 for the money. It also states how the money should 
 be put up, that it may be ready at a moment's notice 
 when called for. 
 
 Matters now seemed to be drawing to a close. Ever>' 
 advantage that the circumstances gave to the abductors 
 seemed to have been considered, and was brought out 
 prominently in the letters, to intimidate me and prevent 
 deception upon my part, and to protect themselves 
 against detection. 
 
 The time appointed for the exchange was the follow- 
 ing Saturday. The correspondence was closed, no an- 
 swer being required to this letter. 
 
 The three intervening days were spent in nervous 
 anxiety. This feeling was participated in by every one 
 who knew the contents of the letter; and every precau- 
 tion was devised by the authorities and their counselors 
 to frustrate the plans of the abductors, and to follow the 
 person who should call for the box, and arrest the par- 
 ties with whom he should afterwards communicate. 
 
 I felt that it was a fearful risk, involving the life of 
 the child, and in painful agony the hours were passed. 
 The terrible threats, enforced by the dreadful blasphe- 
 mies, caused me to feel that the life of our little boy 
 was hanging by a single hair. 
 
 Savages before despatching their enemies frequently 
 torture them by tearing the flesh piece-meal from the 
 quivering limbs of their victims; but these men remorse- 
 lessly, in the hope of gain, increased by every stroke of 
 the pen the torture which they had already inflicted; 
 not upon enemies, but upon those who had never injured 
 them, and were not even known to them. 
 
 My friends endeavored to convince me that the terri- 
 5 
 
98 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 ble crime of murder would not be added to that already 
 committed, for the reason that it was to the interest of 
 the abductors to protect the child, as on his life was 
 based their only hope of getting the ransom. 
 
 Saturday came and passed away without any demand 
 being made for the box ; but the following letter was 
 received : 
 
 [No. 8.] 
 
 Philadelphia, July 18. — Ros : we be at a los to understand yua week 
 ago yu sed yu had the amont an was wilin to pay it the editorials seme 
 to speak as if the mony wus yet to be contributed befor yu could pay 
 it. this wold be a tcrable mistake for yu to have it caled for an yu had 
 it not to hand out for it wold never be solicited the second time, if yu 
 mean square bsiness with us we wil do al we promis yu. if yu mean 
 stratigem it is imaterial wether yu hav the mony or not yu can try the game 
 as wel without the mony as with it. if yu trap any one it wil be some one 
 we care nothin abot only we lose the mony (yu lose the child) we be 
 redy to test it soon as you say mony is redy. we se the pealers has coped 
 a lad an grate prase is given them for their efficiency hut we care nothin 
 for him but if it was one of our chums they had, yu child wold have dide 
 within aa our after it, an al further negotiations wold cease at once, yu 
 wil find in the end that the cops can do nothn for yu in this case, thay 
 are as far of the track now as the day they started in persuit of the game, 
 we cautioned yu against setin the pealers or cops as som here cal them 
 lookin for the chilld. don't yu believe us when we tel yu that they only 
 search for the child's life. The blasted editorials have got the city in 
 such a feve bout the child that we can hardly do anything, i tel yu they 
 endanger the child's life at every stroke of the pen. one editor wants to 
 kno why we dont give yu some prof tlLit we ever had the child by sendin 
 some of his close or a lock of hair we have our reason for not sending 
 them, to satisfy yu we have him yu remember his striped stockins are 
 darned in two or three places were they had holes in. ask Walter if we 
 tlid not put the blanket up in front of him an Charley in behind to hide 
 them, ask Walter if we did not say we wold go down to aunt Susans 
 befor we went out on the mane street to buy torpedos. Ros — if yu ever 
 want yu child restored to yu a live yu have got to act with us alone yu 
 and yu friends only, we tel yu positivly if yu love yu child the detectives 
 are yu worst enemies, if yu have ihem in yu service they will \ye the 
 
PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE CASE. 99 
 
 means of yu losin yu child forever, if they interfea in our bisines we 
 can never efect the change an death inevitably will be the result, we 
 can not keep the child forever, we don't want to keep him any longer 
 than to give yu time to procur the mony we thought yu were better 
 fixt for money or we would never took yu child but since we have him 
 we shal cary out our plan with him. this corosponence with us must 
 stop short we wil not keep it up longer, befor yu git this we shal join 
 our friends at a distance but we wil notice al yu have to say either in 
 ledger star or herald or Sunday dispatch anything you wish to communi- 
 cate to us head it C R R instead of Ros. dont let yu wife be foolishly 
 led by the Spiritualist to think they can tel her anything bout Charley, 
 there is but one thing on earth outside of us that has the power to tel yu 
 an that is the money, yu wil find in the end that we speak truth for 
 once, This man Woster is innocent he has nothin to do with us, do as yu 
 please with him an make the most out of him yu can. our advice to yu 
 is an we hope yu will take it for once that is dont yu state in personals 
 that yu have the mony until yu have it naled up in the box we described 
 to you an redy to give wen caled for. the brokers we se have had a metin 
 an think they can restor yu child an bring us to justice — they mean wel 
 to yu but they be actin under a great delusion — if they be friends to yu 
 let them make the mony up which is the only thing can restor the 
 child — if they will not do that yu drop them unless yu want to cut yu 
 child's throat — if they want revenge let them git it after yu get yu child, 
 this is a friendly advice do as yu think best — yu hear no more from us ti) 
 we no yu mind — we have told yu that yu will se yu child again but it 
 depends with yu an yu only in what condition you se him. We thought 
 we would be ready to setle this bisines to-day but it must be delayed. 
 
 In this letter reference is made to articles which ap- 
 peared in the newspapers, proposing that citizens should 
 offer a reward. They say it would be a fatal mistake 
 if the person should call for the money and I not be 
 prepared to pay it, as it never would be called for a 
 second time. They refer to the arrest made of a per- 
 son, who they declare does not belong to their party, 
 and reiterate the caution about having nothing to do 
 with the detectives, and speak of the excitement in the 
 city as being so great that it was almost impossible for 
 
100 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 them to do anything. They speak of the demand made 
 by some of the newspapers for the return of some arti- 
 cles that would determine with certainty that they really 
 have Charley, which they decline doing; but give 
 some less hazardous evidences of his being in their 
 possession. They speak of not wanting to keep the 
 child any longer than to give me time to get the 
 money, and acknowledge that they are disapp>ointed in 
 my pecuniary circumstances. They say they are about 
 going from the city, and indicate the newspapers 
 through which I can communicate with them, with the 
 heading changed from Ross to C. R. R. They advise 
 Mrs. Ross not to listen to Spiritualists, and refer to a 
 meeting of brokers, who were at that time consulting 
 about offering a reward for the arrest of the abductors 
 and the restoration of the child, and close the letter by 
 saying I will see my child again, but it depends upon my 
 action if he will be dead or alive ; lastly, that they are 
 not ready to settle the business on this day, as they 
 had agreed. 
 
 This letter indicates extreme caution on the part of 
 the abductors. The intense excitement that prevailed 
 in the city and throughout the country, they evidently 
 felt to be no common outburst of passion, but a real, 
 deep-felt purpose, indicating that no quarter would be 
 given to the miscreants should they be discovered. This 
 fear is also manifested by them, by their frequently 
 warning me against taking advice of the detectives ; and 
 although an air of security is assumed, they plainly 
 felt that they were treading on the brink of a danger- 
 ous precipice, and so failed to keep the appointmcrtt 
 in not sending for the box. 
 
PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE CASE. lOI 
 
 It became very clear, after a few letters had been re- 
 ceived, that no ordinary person devised the plot, and 
 that it was being skillfully and cautiously worked up 
 by a thoughtful and cool villain, apparently without a 
 weak link or mistake of any kind. 
 
 Although the letters generally are of great length, 
 often covering four sides of foolscap paper, written in a 
 disguised hand, the only peculiarity discovered in the 
 writing is in the formation of some of the letters, which 
 are uniformly made wherever they occur, and indi- 
 cate the usual way the writer formed them. 
 
 Mrs. Ross had been told that ;^20,000 was demanded, 
 and ten hours was required after the money was paid be- 
 fore Charley would be restored; also that the time had 
 been appointed for the person to come for the money, 
 and that the officers were detailed to remain in the 
 house for our protection. This intensely increased her 
 already great excitement, so that upon being suddenly 
 aroused at n-ight, not an unusual circumstance, she was 
 much alarmed. 
 
 Arrangements were made by which the officers could 
 secrete themselves, and yet be able to hear any conver- 
 sation with persons at the door or inside the house, and 
 at a signal they were at once to appear and arrest the 
 person who should ask for the box. 
 
 About twelve o'clock one night we were awakened 
 by a violent ringing of the bell, and supposed the mes- 
 senger had come to get the box. The officers took 
 their positions; Mrs. Ross stood on the landing at the 
 head of the stairs agitated with fear, while I went to the 
 door to invite whoever was there to come in. On open- 
 ing the door, two strangers asked if this was my resi- 
 
102 CHARLEY ROSS 
 
 dence. I invited them to come in. One of them handed 
 me his card, and stated that they both Hved a distance 
 off, and that the person who had accompanied him had 
 some information which he thought might be of value, 
 and he desired to tell me without any delay. He com- 
 municated what he had heard and seen, and they left, 
 having caused much needless excitement 
 
 My house, as well as my place of business, u.i^ visited 
 by acquaintances and strangers who had suggestions to 
 offer, information to give, or who came to extend their 
 kind sympathies; and it seemed to me that every per- 
 son, both in the city and from other |5laces, whose mind 
 was not well balanced, or who was a monomaniac upon 
 any particular subject, found us out, and proposed his 
 way of discovering Charley, or of restoring him to us. 
 Of course they all meant kindly, and their motives were 
 accepted in the proper spirit 
 
 Sunday seemed to be generally selected by these 
 persons to call. During one afternoon three came to 
 my home about the same time ; one a German, who 
 spoke very broken English. He said, " You lost your 
 boy. If you show me the exact place the boy got into 
 the wagon, I will surely bring him back to you within 
 three days, either dead or alive." I thought the easiest 
 way to dispose of him was to take him out on the lane, 
 and show him as nearly as I could the place where the 
 children had been taken into the wagon. "Here ?" he 
 said; "well, I bring him back to you in three days." 
 How he intended doing it I did not inquire, nor have I 
 heard from him since. Having got clear of him, I 
 asked the second friend what he desired to say. He 
 replied, " You cut off your hair and beard and your 
 
PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE CASE. IO3 
 
 child's hair. It's wrong. The Bible says you must not 
 cut off the hair ;" and in confirmation turning to a verse 
 in the Bible in which the Nazarite is required to let his 
 hair grow^ he added, " God has punished you for cut- 
 ting off your hair. He punished me, and two of my 
 children died because I cut off my hair. You must not 
 use razor or scissors, but let your hair grow, and all 
 will be right. Your child will come back when your 
 hair grows." "Well, my friend," I said, "if that is all 
 you have to say, there is a lady waiting to see me : you 
 will please excuse me." 
 
 The lady said she^ came from New York expressly to 
 see me, felt deeply for my loss, and thought she could 
 be of service to me ; to which I replied I should like to 
 know what information she had, or what she proposed 
 doing. She began a history of her own and her hus- 
 band's life ; told me who she was, and where she lived 
 in the city of New York, nothing of which was interesting 
 to me ; and expecting she might keep me the remainder 
 of the day, I told her there was another person waiting 
 to see me, and asked her to tell me as quickly as possi- 
 ble what she knew relating to the recovery of my little 
 boy. After much hesitation, she said before her mar- 
 riage she practised clairvoyance, and was considered an 
 excellent medium; but having married a minister, on 
 account of persons' prejudices, she did not think it 
 proper to exercise her powers ; but my loss being so 
 peculiar, she would be glad to do what she could to 
 fathom the mystery. "Well, madam," I replied, " I have 
 no objection to a trial of your skill in whatever capac- 
 ity you please ; and certainly if you find the child, there 
 will be some grounds for faith in your theory." She 
 
104 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 left me, after exacting a promise that if she discovered 
 where Charley was and sent for me, I would go 
 immediately where she directed; but I have not heard 
 from her yet. 
 
 At another time two strangers, early in the morning, 
 called at my place of business, and not finding me in, 
 after a little hesitation told my brother that they knew 
 where my little boy was secreted. Upon questioning 
 them, he found they had no definite information ; and 
 suspecting they were fanatics, told them to bring the 
 child home, and he would give them one thousand dol- 
 lars. On leaving him they said they would go to Nor- 
 ristown and bring Charley home that day. During 
 the afternoon of the same day I received a telegram 
 from Mrs. Ross as follows: "Come home quickly; 
 good news." Without delay I hastened home and 
 eagerly inquired for the good news. She said three 
 men came to the house about two o'clock, and went 
 directly to the stable and ordered the boy to harness 
 the horse, telling him they were going for Charley. 
 The boy, supposing it was all right, commenced putting 
 the horse to the wagon, when Mrs. Ross inquired who 
 those men were? One of them whom she had seen in 
 Germantown stepped forward and told her their object; 
 at the same time, brandishing his pistols and knife, said: 
 " We are well armed, and expect to have a hard fight for 
 him." He said the other two men were friends of his 
 from the city, and they were going to Norristown. 
 
 Suspecting that the two men were the persons who 
 had been at my place of business in the morning, I asked 
 her if they had taken the horse and wagon, to which 
 she replied " Yes ; but the boy went with them." I 
 
PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE CASE. I05 
 
 then told her they were Spiritualists, if not worse. Her 
 countenance at once indicated the great disappointment 
 she felt ; for she confidently believed they would surely 
 come back with Charley, and had telegraphed me 
 that I might be at home when they returned. 
 
 They did not get back until after twelve o'clock at 
 night, and the boy said he had driven them he did not 
 know where. He only knew that they had called at a 
 number of houses near Norristown, and under pretense of 
 selling sewing machines had succeeded in getting into 
 them, and at last they came to a house which they were 
 told was occupied by Creegar, the counterfeiter. Then 
 they were positive they would find the object of their 
 search ; and preparing themselves for a desperate fight, 
 they aroused the old man and ransacked the house 
 from the cellar to the garret. Finding no child in the 
 house, they concluded to return, saying they must cer- 
 tainly have mistaken the direction that the spirits had 
 indicated. Thus ended the exploit of these worthy 
 knights of the knives and pistols. 
 
 Another instance of this class of persons was that of 
 a man calling at the house, and asking permission of 
 Mrs. Ross to try to bring Charley back. She told 
 him if he did no harm, he might do as he liked. 
 
 He went to the stable, followed by the children, and 
 getting a carriage from the barn, took off a wheel, then 
 went to get a small piece of wood from one of the 
 posts at the entrance of the place; but finding they 
 were of stone, he selected three spears of grass, which 
 he said would answer his purpose. He then put these 
 on the axle and replaced the wheel, and began turning 
 it, at the same time reading from a book some prayers 
 
I06 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 or incantations. He told the children that at every 
 revolution of the wheel, Charley was being brought 
 one mile nearer home. 
 
 For a time the novelty of the proceeding amused 
 the children, but soon Walter wanted to examine more 
 closely into the matter ; gradually he approached the 
 carriage, seeming much interested, until finally he at- 
 tempted to climb into it, when suddenly the man 
 exclaimed, " Now you have broken the spell : I cannot 
 bring your brother home," and indignantly left. 
 
 The following morning he came again and com- 
 menced the same process, telling the children that he 
 would have to take off each wheel, and afterwards drive 
 off a short distance to get Charley. He remained all 
 the morning. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon, a 
 friend drove into the yard, and finding the shed occu- 
 pied as he thought by some person repairing tlie car- 
 riage, fastened his horse to a tree. Soon a very heavy 
 shower came up, and my brother-in-law, seeing the 
 horse and wagon standing in the rain, went to put them 
 under shelter, and on opening the door of the stable, 
 struck the carriage upon which the man was operating, 
 at the same time accosting him with " What are you 
 doing here ?" The operator at once ceased, and said, 
 "It is of no use for me to try any longer. The spell which 
 I attempt to pyt on the persons who have the child is 
 always broken." This was the last visit he paid us. 
 
 Knowing the interest taken in our calamity by per- 
 sons wherever it had been heard of, we endeavored to 
 give a respectful hearing to every one, although at 
 times being subjected to great annoyances, as in the 
 cases just mentioned. 
 
PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE CASE. 10/ 
 
 A number of letters too were received from persons 
 in different places, suggesting the kind of notes that 
 should be obtained and given to the abductors, such as 
 counterfeit money to be procured from the United States 
 Treasury department, notes of large denominations of 
 from ^100 to ^i,ooo each, the numbers and letters of 
 which should be registered, and private marks put on 
 each note, and the banks and bankers in all cities to be 
 furnished with memoranda of them, and to be requested 
 to examine every note of like denomination that should 
 be offered to them either for exchange or on deposit. 
 
 [The abductors in their letters carefully guarded 
 against any strategems in transmitting the money, and 
 did not propose to deliver up the child simultaneously 
 with the receipt of the money ; but required the advan- 
 tage of five hours, afterwards extended to ten, for the 
 purpose of giving them an opportunity of examining 
 the money, in order to find out if it was good, and to 
 see that there were no private marks on the notes, 
 which were to be in denominations not exceeding tens, 
 as well as to allow them time to return the child. In 
 the event of any fraud being discovered, the life of the 
 child was to be forfeited. See letters No. 6 & 7.] 
 
 Although the personal of July 14th was precisely as 
 dictated in the previous letter, the kidnappers questioned 
 whether it had been published in good faith ; as they 
 refer to editorials, which they interpreted as conveying 
 the impression that the money was still to be collected ; 
 which, however, was not the case. The newspapers 
 merely referred to the efforts then being made to offer 
 a reward. The abductors dictated no answer to the 
 last letter (No. 8) ; but closed the negotiation for the 
 
I08 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 time being by saying I should not hear from them 
 again, until they knew my conclusions. 
 
 In the Public Ledger o{ July 2ist, the following per- 
 sonal appeared : 
 
 C R R. Money is ready. How shall I know your agent? 
 
 On the following day an answer was received, dated 
 Burlington, July 2ist, postmarked Camden, N. J., July 
 22d, and reads as follows : 
 
 [No. 9. Burlington, July 21, 1874. Postmarked Camden, July 22, 1874.] 
 Burlington, July 21. — Ros. yu statement in Monday Star is so con- 
 flictin with yu statement in this momin personals that we are yet unable 
 to comprehend yu nevertheless we wil act upon yu promise as if it was 
 made by an angle, in monday Star yu say yu can have no faith in us 
 neither do we have any faith in yu from the nature of this bisines it is to 
 be presumed neither can have implicit confidence, the way this bisiness 
 stands is this yu pay us the money yu are left without anything to bind 
 us to our promis but our own word which yu say yu do not believe, then 
 on what ground can we efect the change, we have seen yu own state- 
 ment that yu would not comply with our terms an yet yu say (the money 
 is rcdy how shal I no yu agent) the fact of us having yu child and you 
 having paid us every dollar we demanded what further use could we have 
 for him ? He has answered the end for which M-e took him ; this is one 
 reason why we should give him up. The next reason is, if we should 
 ever play the same game in any other part of the country, who would 
 have any confidence in getin their child after they had paid the ransom 
 if you should lose yu child we don't say we shal ever play this trick in 
 this country again, for the popular outcry is a most to great. It has been 
 stated that since the great outcry of the jjeople that we would gladly sur- 
 render the child without a ransom. Do not deceive yuself on that, for 
 we could set the child at liberty at any moment, but we never wil alive 
 without the money, no never, never, never! Ros, in order to ever get 
 yu child alive there is but one way left yu an that is the way we point 
 out to yu. Yu must comply with our terms in every particular, and met 
 our agent step by step as we instruct yu. If yu mean to act in faith to 
 us yu can have no objection to this course. The fair an the faulce part is 
 left with yu to chose, for it is with yu alone we shal presume to act an 
 the life of Chailey shal bind yu to yu word, do not deceive yuself an 
 
PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE CASE. IO9 
 
 think this is only to frighten yu. we appeal to the highest power exist 
 on high to bear us witnes. (we solomly swear befor the twelve houses 
 of heaven so sure as the sun rises in the east an sets in the west, so sure 
 shall Charly die if yu brake yu promis with us an may the same curse 
 fal upon us if we do not keep our promis with yu. Ros we want to 
 caution yu stil more for this is a question involves the life or death of 
 yu child, do yu desire to make a change of yu money for the child if 
 yu are sincere take advice from us who yu think are yu worst enemies 
 but in the end yu wil find we were yu best advisers the advice is that if yu 
 want to regain yu child drop the police entirely have nothing to do with 
 them while yu are transacting this bisines with us or the whole thing wil 
 prove a failure an yu child must die if yu mean to ensare us then our 
 advice is enlist al the power yu can invoke but be sure yu prove succes- 
 ful for one false step seals the fate of yu child. We have told yu it is 
 impossible to ensnare one of our friends. Do yu not believe us, or are 
 yu wilin tu put the life of yu child at issue an test it with us. In all of 
 our letters we have told yu the life of yu child shal be the bond that bind 
 yu tu yu promise ; any stratagem or false promise on yu part must an 
 shall seal the fate of your child and you have none to blame for yu be his 
 murderer an not us — for one false promise from yu we shal stop at 
 nothing until we haveing given yu a prof that we can keep our word 
 even unto blood, i repeat if yu want yu child yu comply with our terms 
 in every particular. One false step on yu part will make yu and yu 
 family weep tears of blood but if yu act in faith with us al wil go wel 
 with yu. What have the authorities done towards findin yu child. They 
 have done nothin yet and they are as far from his hidin place to-day as 
 they were on the 6th day of July (yu money alone can find him) if these 
 terms suit yu answer the followin in the Ledger personals. 
 
 C R R. i will agree to the terms in every particular. 
 
 P. S. — have tlie money ready as we described we wil send prof with 
 him so yu can no him when he comes. 
 
 They call attention in this letter to statements in 
 a newspaper, which they assume to be from me, 
 and which conflict with the last personal ; but that 
 they will nevertheless act upon my promise. Allusion 
 is made to the fact, that if they receive the money be- 
 fore the child is given up, I will have nothing but 
 
no CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 their word to rely upon for the fulfillment of their 
 promise. They reason that they would have no further 
 use for the child after the money is paid, and it would 
 be to their interest to return him; for by so doing, they 
 would inspire confidence in other parents, should they 
 steal another child. They fear, however, that the excite- 
 ment which has been produced by this, their first 
 attempt, will prevent their trying it again in this country. 
 They assert very emphatically, that they never will set 
 free the child without the money, and caution me 
 again against permitting any interference by the police; 
 and declare that if any treacherous step is made by me, 
 the child shall be put to death, and that I will be his 
 murderer. It seemed to me that in the previous letters 
 everything had been said that could be expressed to 
 terrify and alarm ; yet in this letter it is declared that I 
 will be the murderer of my own little son unless the- 
 demands of these cruel wretches be fully complied 
 with. Every successive letter bears evidence of an 
 effort to add some new pang, to intensify the anguish 
 already inflicted, and to render me so desperate that I 
 would willingly accede to anything they should de- 
 mand. 
 
 The authorities realized that the whole country was 
 looking to them to unravel the mystery, and night and 
 day were in consultation with Mr. Bullitt, Mr. McKean 
 and others, making almost superhuman efforts to 
 detect somethmg that would lead to the discovery 
 of the abductors, and the place in which the child was 
 concealed ; yet not a thing was found out that gave the 
 least possible clue to the parties. 
 
 The mayor of the citj^ was called upon by a number 
 
PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE CASE. Ill 
 
 of citizens, and petitions were signed by many others, 
 requesting him as chief magistrate of the city to offer 
 rewards for the arrest of the perpetrators of the crime, 
 and the recovery of the child, which he could not do 
 without the authority of the city councils, and those 
 bodies had not acted on the matter, and would not 
 meet again until September. 
 
 A number of citizens then pledged themselves to the 
 Mayor for the payment of the ;^20,ooo, and over his 
 official signature the following advertisement was pre- 
 pared July 22d, and published in the newspapers the 
 following day. It was also printed on large bills, and 
 posted in every conspicuous place in the city and sur- 
 rounding country. 
 
 $20,000 REWARD FOR THE KIDNAPPERS. 
 
 Mayor's Office, ) 
 City of Philadelphia, July 22^ 1874. J 
 
 At the instance of the citizens of Philadelphia, I hereby offer a reward 
 of Twenty thousand dollars for the arrest and conviction of the abductors 
 of Charles Brewster Ross, son of Christian K. Ross, of Philadelphia, 
 and the restoration of that child to his parents. [ Here follows a de- 
 scription of the child, horse and wagon, and the men, as already given.] 
 Signed, William S. Stokley, 
 
 Afayor of Philadelphia. 
 
 While many persons in the cause of humanity were 
 doing all in their power, it was believed that with the 
 stimulus of this large reward thousands more would be 
 induced to use all their powers of mind and body to 
 work on the case, and that it would now be impossible 
 for the criminals long to elude pursuit. 
 
 The chief of police also published a card, stating that 
 neither the police nor the detective force would claim 
 any part of the reward; but that it should all be paid to 
 
112 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 whomsoever would give information that would lead to 
 the discovery of the criminals and the child. 
 
 My fears, as expressed at the time, were that offering 
 the reward for the abductors and the child would cause 
 the kidnappers to become fugitives, and that they would 
 take the child further away, when it would be more dif- 
 ficult to find either. We knew that the writer of the 
 letters was in the city or very near to it, from the fact 
 that the same day on which personals were published, 
 answers were received. This supposition proved cor- 
 rect ; for very soon they left our city, and removed the 
 child further away, and required an increased time 
 between the receipt of the money and the return of 
 Charley. 
 
 Aroused as the public had been, yet, when the 
 Mayor's reward was published, the excitement became 
 much greater ; statements and rumors (many of tliem 
 false) were caught up and magnified by newspaper re- 
 porters, and extra editions of papers were issued and 
 sold by thousands. Letters containing information, 
 suggestions, and reporting suspicious people and 
 children that were supposed to resemble Charley, 
 began now to pour in — many of which are interesting, 
 but will be reserved for subsequent chapters; and still 
 we were no nearer the accomplishment of our daily and, 
 nightly wishes and prayers — 
 
 " Lord, how long wilt thou look on ? 
 Rescue my soul from their destructions. 
 My darling from the lions." 
 
 The words of the despairing Psalmist seemed literally 
 to express the feelings of our hearts. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 LETTERS FROM ABDUCTORS CONTINUED. MEMORABLE 
 TRIP TO ALBANY, N. Y. 
 
 HE following was dictated as the answer to the 
 last letter : 
 
 C. R. R. " I will agree to the terms in every particular." 
 
 It appeared in the personal column of the Ledger of 
 July 2 2d, and to it the following reply was received on 
 
 the 24th : 
 
 [ No. 10.] 
 Philadelphia, July 24 — Ros. we have seen yu reply in personal 
 (yu agree to the terms in every particular) we accept yu offer for we 
 consider yu fuly understand the great an momentus obligation yu place 
 youself under when you assented tu this agreement, we be sory that 
 we cannot effect the chang to-day. our creed is such that it forbids us 
 to any bisines of this kind only at a certain quarter of the moon an the 
 phace of the moon has just passed over so we have got tu wate one week 
 befor we can transact any bisines between us. this delay may be a great 
 sorce of torture tu yu but it cannot be avoided, we pledge ourselves in 
 the mean time yu child shal not suffer for any thing only the close con- 
 finement which is necesary for his safe keepin. we have him so that 
 we feel at ease against all the detective force in the country ever feritin 
 him out. the authorities have offered ^20,000 for the recovery of the 
 child an detection of us if they had yu interest at hart this would be the 
 worst thing they could do. this is only oferin a reward for the sacrifice 
 of yu child, We told yu at the beginin that yu child could never be takin 
 from us a live that he was so situated that we could destroy him in one 
 instant, an forever out of al prof against us but yu seam to have no 
 faith in our word, nevertheless yu have nothin to fear on that point 
 for he can never be found by any detective force, neither can any re- 
 ward no matter how large be any temptation to us to peach one on the 
 
 ( "3 ) 
 
114 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 other foi we are sworn an blood bound unto death lu never give each 
 other away. Ros, one week must intervene befor we can negotiote for 
 the restoration of Charley by that time there will be an ^100,000 reward 
 yu will se by that time the detectives can avail yu nothin or yu wil se 
 that we spak trought from the beginin. that there was no earthly hope 
 left yu only in payiu the ransom in good faith an then yu get yu child, 
 what we mean in good faith is tu set no trap. We no it is not posible 
 for yu to trap us. but by any stratigem on yu part or connivance it 
 wil thwart our perposes an the money wil never come to us. if this 
 result takes place through any act or connivance of yuse then yu lose yu 
 (child forever.) If yu do as we instruct yu an this money gits lost (it 
 shal be our los and not yuse) an yu shall git yu child just as if we got 
 the mony. no matter what our instruction is for yu to do with the mony 
 yu do it an yu child shal be restored to yu. if we tcl yu to bum it up 
 do so, if we tel yu to throw it off the dock do so, if we tel yu to give it to 
 any one do so, an yu child wil be restored yu wether the mony gits 
 lost or not through any act of ours. Ros. the whole contract is sumed 
 up in these words, yu pay us the mony in good faith in denominations 
 from IS to los in U. S. notes an no private marks fixed on them, then we 
 consider yu have fulfilled yu part and yu shal have yu child restored 
 safe to yu. if we do not fulfil our part in good faith to yu, we invoke the 
 vengeance of hell, if there be an hell, to be our eternal portion, we have 
 told yu that we wil transact this bisines with yu and yu friends only, we 
 know a true friend wil not advise yu rong if he has the interest of yu 
 child at heart we shall no nothing about detectives in the bisines if yu cal 
 them in for advice or asistance it wil be at the peral of yu child's life for 
 in their eigemess to arrest us, which they never can do, t^ey will surely 
 be the means of sacrificing yu child, we shal never cal on yu but once 
 for the mony so it is yu part to have it at a minute's notice, but yu have 
 plenty of time yet. due notice wil be given yu when to have it at hand 
 (we request no answer tu this) till yu hear from us a^ain which perhaps 
 wil be one week, in the meantime yu and yu family console youself that 
 yu child is wel an safe tu yu. an to us against al detective power, 
 nothin surprised us more after we had told yu the imposibility of findin 
 the child an the risk it wold be tu the child's life tu find his hidin place 
 yet yu in disregard of this advise persisted in havin the detectives search 
 for him. time wil tel yu that we do not lie in every word we write, the 
 reward signifies nothin, with us wether it be $20,oc» or $20,000,000 it 
 wil accomplish nothin with us an the authorities wil fail on that point tu 
 
LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. I 15 
 
 bribe one of us as yu wil se in the end of this bisines. Ros our word for 
 it no harm shal befal yu child intentionaly til yu hear from us again 7 
 days by that time yu must be prepared for his ransom if yu ever expect 
 him alive. Ros mark the selfishness of Mr. Stokley an his committe 
 of brokers what do they say. not one cent for ransom but millions for 
 conviction, do they have yu interest at heart, no it is a selfish motive, 
 lliey are wilin to sacrifice yu child that theirs be safe, why do they not 
 pay their mony to have yours restored first, an then offer a reward for 
 our conviction. 
 
 In this letter the writer cautiously professes to rely 
 on the statement made in the last personal, and post- 
 pones the exchange for one week, stating by way of 
 excuse that the moon is not at a phase for the propitious 
 transaction of such business. This delay he knows will 
 torture me, but is unavoidable. In the meantime they 
 pledge themselves that Charley shall not suffer, except 
 from the confinement necessary for his safe keeping. 
 
 Of the reward of twenty thousand dollars offered for 
 the recovery of the child and the arrest of the abduc- 
 tors, he says that it will avail nothing in the accom- 
 plishment of either object, and that they are sworn and 
 blood-bound not to inform on each other. The ransom 
 alone will cause them to restore Charley; ten times 
 twenty thousand dollars offered as a reward will not 
 influence them to change their plan ; yet they intimate 
 that the reward should have been divided, part of it for 
 the child and the remainder for their arrest, and say 
 that the reward as offered is intended for the protection 
 of others, and not for the object of recovering my son. 
 They affirm that if by any stratagem on my part the 
 money should fail to reach them, the child will be 
 killed; but if by any fault of theirs it should be lost, 
 Charley will surely be restored. They invoke the ven- 
 
Il6 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 geance of hell if they should not fulfil their contract 
 They again specify that the money is to be in United 
 States notes of denominations of ones to tens, without 
 private marks of any kind, and reiterate their former 
 warnings against permitting the detectives to interfere 
 in any way. The cruel threatenings are repeated in 
 case any deception is attempted, or any treacherous 
 movement is made. 
 
 It was supposed that some superstition had influenced 
 them in delaying the exchange on account of the moon 
 having passed a certain quarter; but the reason for the 
 delay was apparent on the night subsequently fixed for 
 obtaining the money. 
 
 It is clearly stated that in pursuance of a prearranged 
 plan the child was to be restored only on receipt of the 
 ransom, and that no reward would induce them to 
 change this plan, their purpose being to pursue the busi- 
 ness of child-stealing; hence they employed this cruel 
 threatening, to force a compliance with their demands, 
 which would not have been necessary had they been 
 willing to accept a reward. 
 
 There is, however, in this letter one solace — they say 
 that the child is well, and that he shall not suffer for 
 anything. My recollection goes back to the night after 
 receiving this letter, when on arriving home I was asked 
 by my wife whether I had heard anything of Charley 
 during the day. With an attempt at cheerfulness, yet 
 with a heart full of solicitude for the future, I replied, 
 yes, he is alive and well, and not suffering for anything. 
 Her countenance lighted up with an expression that 
 indicated the happiness she felt on hearing of her dear 
 
LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 1 1/ 
 
 boy, and gratitude to God for having thus far spared his 
 Hfe. But the feeling of anxiety that was, and is still ever 
 present with her, lest Charley should be maltreated, 
 or become sick, none but a mother can comprehend, 
 a mother whose child has been torn from her by crea- 
 tures devoid of mercy. 
 
 No answer was required to the last letter, but I was 
 instructed to be ready at a minute's warning to obey 
 whatever the writer might enjoin. 
 
 On July 28th the next letter was received, and is as 
 follows : 
 
 [No. II. Collected at Second and Arch streets.] 
 Philada., July 28. — Ros are yu not convinced by this time that the 
 detectives can render yu no service whatever, are yu agoing let them 
 keep yu under the delusion that they can yet recover yu child an bring 
 us to justice, we tel yu the thing is imposible we fear them not — 
 neither do we fear they wil ever find Charley until we find him for yu. 
 We se in the personals that Mr. Percll a milionaire of New York offers 
 to pay the required amount to redeem yu child an ask no questions, but 
 we have no confidence in him neither would we treat with him if he of- 
 fered one milion in hand an no questions asked, in the transaction of this 
 bisines we are determined to no no one but yu, an if yu suffer these letters 
 to go out of yu hands so that they can personate yu in effectin this change 
 we shal hold the child subject to the fulfillment of yu promise an one 
 fals step by yu or by any one acting for yu, yu may consider the bisenes 
 is at an end, an the trap has sprung that render further negotiation useles 
 to yu. At the end of this week must end this biseness ; it must place him 
 in yu hands safe an sound or must place him in the grave ; it is left 
 entirely with yu. if yu have not the mony to redeem him an ask for an 
 extension of time we wil keep him for yu but under no other circum- 
 stances we wil not. We are not afraid to keep him for we set the whole 
 force at defiance to find his hidin place. No matter how grate the reward 
 is, it signifies nothin with us — they are goin to search every house in 
 the city, we wil give yu the satisfaction to tel you he is not in the city 
 nor ever has been since the day he left home, nor he never wil be again 
 unles we return him to yu for the ransom, we wil give you the satisfaction 
 
Il8 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 of knowin that he is within ICX) miles of this city an yet we defy al the 
 devels out of hell to find him. we tel yu sincerely we have prepared 
 this place for every emergency an it is death for yu to find him 
 while he is in our custody, we teld yu in our last letter we could not 
 transact any business for one week, we are now prepared to effect the 
 change as soon as yu be redy, but under no circumstances say yu be redy 
 when yu be not able to put yu hand on it, an hand it out. rest assured if 
 our agent cals for it an he does not get it without wailing, he will never 
 come again an the our of redemjilion is forever gone by with you. from 
 you former promises we take it as granted that yu be agoin to redeem 
 yu child in good faith, it is unnecessar)' therefore to repeat (he consequences 
 of any perfidey or fals step on yu part, we teld yu to put the mony in 
 a box, but we now tel yu to put the mony in a strong, white, leather 
 valise, locked an double straped an be prepared to give it or take it 
 wherever we direct yu. if yu are directed to cary it yuself yu may take 
 al the friends yu pleas with yu — but donl let the cops know yu bisines 
 nor go with yu unles yu want the bisines to turnout a failure, if yu want 
 to trap take the whole force with yu an then be sure yu know what yu be 
 doin — for we know what we l)e doin. this is al the caution necesary 
 for yu to save yu child alive, if you can have all things ready as we have 
 directed yu by thursday the 30th insert the folowin in tJu /ra^^r personal 
 (John — it shall be as you desire on the 30th.) Ros you may fix any other 
 date that is convenient for you. Ros yu have sed yu had no confidence 
 in these men an would not do as they requested yu. now we say yu 
 must do as we request yu, or there is no earthly hope left yu to save yu 
 child alive, this is the only alternitive given yu an yu wil find we are pre- 
 pared for every emergency, detection is impossible if yu do not ransom 
 him, he must die. if yu attempt to arrest any of our agents, he must die. 
 If yu fail to comply with the terms after promising — he must die. 
 
 This letter begins with the oft-repeated caution not to 
 depend on the detectives to discover either the child 
 or his captors. It alludes to an advertisement that ap- 
 peared in one of the New York newspapers, in which 
 the confederates place no confidence, and admonish me 
 not to allow their letters to be used by any one for the 
 purpose of effecting an exchange, as they will recognize 
 no other person than myself, and reiterate their purpose 
 
LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 1 19 
 
 that the life of the child shall be held subject to the 
 faithful fulfillment of the promises. The end of the 
 week is appointed to close the business, but an exten- 
 sion of time is promised if I desire it. 
 
 The abductors notice the general search for the child 
 in the houses of the city, and say he is neither in the 
 city now, nor has he been since the day he was taken 
 from his home, and never will be again unless they re- 
 turn him for the ransom ; they further say that he is 
 within 100 miles of this city, and yet defy men and dev- 
 ils to find him. 
 
 They distinctly declare that the plan was formed for 
 every emergency, and it would be death to the child 
 should he be discovered while in their keeping. They 
 announce their readiness to make th^ exchange, and 
 wait my answer, repeating the consequences of any de- 
 ception on my part, and requiring the money to be put 
 in a valise instead of a box, with another caution as to 
 the detectives. They direct a personal to be inserted in 
 the Ledger of July 30th, with the heading changed from 
 C. R. R. to John, and close the letter by repeating the 
 threats that the child must die unless I ransom him, or 
 if any of their agents be arrested. 
 
 Additional evidence is given in this letter that the 
 plot had been arranged previous to the abduction, and 
 that the place in which the child was to be secreted 
 had been selected, and every precaution taken to pre- 
 vent a surprise. This accounts for the boldness which 
 they assumed in the first letter, and which continued to 
 be expressed in every succeeding letter. It was evident 
 that the abductors read attentively all that was published 
 
120 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 about the matter in the daily papers of this city and in 
 New York, as they frequently make quotations from 
 them, and in a number of their letters they refer to edi- 
 torials that conflict with their plan of working out the 
 case. 
 
 The last letter was received on Tuesday, and the time 
 appointed for the exchange was the end of the week. 
 No intimation was given where or how it would be 
 effected, but the money was to be taken from the box 
 and put in a white leather valise, which was to be locked 
 and doubled strapped, thus indicating tliat a trip to a 
 distant place would be proposed. 
 
 Captain Heins, with the gentlemen who had volun 
 teered to assist in unravelling the mystery, and who had 
 been deeply interested in the case, strained every nerve, 
 sparing no labor, time nor expense, in endeavoring to 
 discover a clue to the abductors and the child. Dis- 
 appointed in one direction they all, as one man, imme- 
 diately turned to look elsewhere. They suffered no 
 suspicious person, nor the most minute circumstance, to 
 pass without being patiently and thoroughly investi- 
 gated. Baffled as they had been, they were yet hopeful 
 that their efforts would meet with ultimate success. 
 
 The enormity of the crime, and the stimulus of so 
 large a reward, made every one vigilant to observe all 
 suspicious people; and persons who were traveling with 
 a child thought to resemble the description of Charley, 
 were closely watched by the employees at the various 
 railroad depots, by conductors of trains, as well as by 
 travelers occupying the cars. A number of instances 
 of this kind occurred, and were reported by passengers 
 
LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 121 
 
 on trains on different roads, but generally too late to 
 trace them up. Yet, in some cases, persons were de- 
 tained until it was decided that the child they had with 
 them was not my Charley. 
 
 A lady of this city with a child having long, light 
 curly hair, light complexion, about five years old, and 
 not unlike Charley in appearance, was in the cars at 
 the West Philadelphia depot, en route for Massachu- 
 setts. Before the train started some of the passengers, 
 supposing the child was mine, spoke of it to others 
 waiting in the depot. Very soon a crowd of several 
 hundred persons collected, and insisted that the officer 
 on duty at the depot must exert his authority, and de- 
 tain them until the child could be seen by a member of 
 my family. The officer told the lady he was obliged 
 to take her and the child to the Central Police Office, 
 that the people thought she had Charley Ross with 
 her. She accompanied him, followed by a few persons, 
 who reported to others they met that my little boy had 
 been found, and that they were on their way to the 
 Central Office to have him identified. Soon after their 
 arrival at the office an excited crowd collected, anxious 
 to know the result. Happening to call at the Central 
 Office shortly after their arrival, I at once comprehended 
 the situation, and asked the lady if the child she had 
 with her was supposed to be my Charley? She replied 
 in the affirmative. I answered immediately, he is not 
 my son, but he bears a very striking resemblance to 
 him; he is too large, and is certainly older than Char- 
 ley. The lady then said, before leaving home she had 
 taken the precaution to change the child's clothing from 
 
122 CHAKLr.V KOSS. 
 
 a linen suit to a dark one, as she feared difficulty on 
 the way to her destination, having been informed that 
 her child had a very striking resemblance to the picture 
 of my little son, but was glad that they had been stopped 
 where she had friends who knew both herself and the 
 child. In order to avoid any further trouble, she asked 
 that a paper should be given her certifying that the 
 child was not Charley Ross, which the Chief of Police 
 cheerfully gave her, signed by him and myself, and to 
 which the seal of the city was attached. She left the 
 office in charge of an escort, followed by a curious 
 crowd, and apparently pleased that she could feel safe 
 from further annoyance on her journey. 
 
 Another instance occurred in Allentown, Pennsylva- 
 nia. I received a letter from a person who, from infor- 
 mation obtained from a depot-master, wrote that a man 
 having a little boy with long curly hair and light com- 
 plexion had arrived by rail at that place ; that he had 
 tlie child's hair cut off and had ordered a suit of new 
 clothes for him ; that the man seemed reserved and pre- 
 vented the child from talking with any one, and that he 
 had gone away the same night, but in about a week 
 afterwards had returned. He was a stranger, and his 
 whole manner was suspicious. A letter was also re- 
 ceived by the Chief of Police from a different person, 
 giving similar information, adding further that the peo- 
 ple believed the child to be Charley Ross. 
 
 The Chief sent Lieut. Crout of the Reserve Police 
 Force to investigate the matter. When the Lieutenant 
 arrived in Allentown, he learned that this man with the 
 child had been permitted to go away; but getting a 
 trace of him, he followed in pursuit, telegraphing from 
 
LETTI£RS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 123 
 
 Station to station and making inquiry for the party. 
 For two days he was unsuccessful in obtaining any in- 
 formation, and then having learned that the man and 
 child had crossed the mountains, he obtained a convey- 
 ance, determined to overtake them. He stopped at 
 every village to inquire if they had been seen, and soon 
 found persons who had seen the man and child, and 
 who in describing the child said he was not more than 
 two years old, and had blue eyes. The same report 
 being confirmed by different persons, some even putting 
 the age of the child at less than two years, the Lieuten- 
 ant, satisfied that he could not be Charley, abandoned 
 the pursuit. The same man and child were afterwards 
 detained at Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. He now took 
 up the trail of another party of whom he accidentally 
 heard at a small village in Luzerne county. Pa. He 
 was informed of a gipsy party that had been encamped 
 near the town, and who had with them a child of a fair 
 complexion, that they kept closely concealed in a cov- 
 ered wagon ; he also learned that they had gone in the 
 direction of Danville. Immediately securing the aid 
 of a person familiar with the country, he went in pursuit 
 of the gipsies, who, on arriving at Danville, he found 
 had gone towards Pottsville two days before. The 
 lieutenant telegraphed a description of the party to the 
 authorities of all the towns between Danville and Potts- 
 ville, and to those of Pottsville, asking them to detain 
 the gipsies until he could reach them. 
 
 The Chief of Police in Pottsville discovered that they 
 were in Hamburg, a village near Reading, and at once 
 telegraphed to the authorities of that place to hold them, 
 a-« it was suspected that they had Charley Ross with 
 
124 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 them. They were arrested, and before Lieut. Crout 
 reached Hamburg, a telegram was sent to Philadelphia, 
 saying "A party having Charley Ross is detained 
 here." The news spread rapidly through the city. 
 People became almost wild with a new excitement. 
 Bulletin boards were surrounded ; Chestnut and Mar- 
 ket streets were thronged ; crowds of people surrounded 
 the Central Police Office, and my place of business was 
 besieged by an excited multitude; men hurried from 
 their places of business inquiring the latest news, and 
 the countenances of all were animated with joyful ex- 
 pectation. " Extras" were issued, and newsboys ran 
 through the streets crying out "Charley Ross is found," 
 and disposed of their papers as rapidly as they could 
 hand them out. 
 
 The report was telegraphed to the different places of 
 summer resort, and telegrams came from all points in- 
 quiring if the rumor was true. 
 
 Mr. Joseph Jones, Vice President of the Reading 
 Railroad, dispatched a special train in which Kennard 
 H. Jones, Chief of Police, and my wife's brother, Joseph 
 W. Lewis, were rapidly conveyed to Hamburg. 
 
 Having been disappointed so often, I was not sanguine 
 that the child was Charley, and endeavored to main- 
 tain as much calmness as possible ; yet it was impossi- 
 ble not to partake of the feeling of hope so universally 
 manifested. 
 
 Hamburg is about two hours from Philadelphia, and 
 the time seemed long for the train to reach its destina- 
 tion. While there was everywhere expressed hope that 
 Charley was found, low mutterings were uttered indi- 
 cating that the wretches who had committed the act 
 
 .^^ 
 
LETTEl^ FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 1 25 
 
 would not and should not be protected by the officers; 
 and a crowd gathered around the railroad depot who 
 were not slow to express their determination as to what 
 they purposed doing on the arrival of the train. 
 
 About 2 o'clock a message was received — " Wrong. 
 Not Charley." The disappointment to the sympathiz- 
 ing public really seemed greater than it was to those 
 most deeply interested ; for the people had not suffered 
 the disappointments already common to us, nor did 
 they appreciate how easily mistakes are made in identity. 
 
 At Hamburg, Chief Jones and Mr. Lewis found an 
 excited crowd in and near the railroad depot waiting 
 their arrival ; they were at once conducted to the room 
 in which were the so-called gipsies, and Mr. Lewis at 
 once announced that the child " is not Charley," and 
 that he did not bear the slightest resemblance to him. 
 Shortly after their departure from Hamburg, Lieuten- 
 ant Crout arrived from Pottsville, and was surprised to 
 learn that the party he had been following for days had 
 been the cause of so great an excitement. He was 
 somewhat chagrined that a message had been sent to 
 Philadelphia before his arrival, as he believed he could 
 have decided the matter, so as to have avoided the 
 furor that had so greatly disturbed the city. 
 
 The excitement of the day had not passed away ere 
 I received the following letter in reply to a personal in 
 the Ledger of July 30th : 
 
 [ PERSONAL.] 
 
 " John, It shall be as you desire on the 30th." 
 [ No. 12.] 
 Philadelphia, July 30. — Ros : from yu answer this day you signify 
 everything is redy. everything is redy v^rith us. we now give yu a 
 wide margin for preparation to make an arest if yu be pleased to do 
 
126 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 your actioas this day desides Charley's fate it is left with yu alone 
 wether he shall live or die. we caution once, an the last time do not 
 think we are trifling. Ros. you are to take the 12 P. M. train to-night 
 from West Philadelphia for New York, it arrives at New York 5.05 
 A. M. take a cab at Cortland or Disbrossers streets, N. Y., an nde 
 directly to the grand central station at 4 avenue and 42d streets, take 
 the 8 A. M. northern express by way of hudson river (take notice) 
 you are to stand on the rear car and the rear platform from the lime you 
 leave west phila depot until arrive at jersey city — ^you are then to stand 
 on the rear platform of hudson river car from the time yu leave the 
 grand central at New York until yu arrive at Albany, if our agent do 
 not meet yu befor yu arrive in Albany yu wil find a letter in post office 
 at Albany addressed to C. K. Walter directing yu where yu are then to 
 go. Ros — the probability is yu may not go one mile before our agent 
 meets yu and yet yu may go 250 miles before he intercepts you but be it 
 where it may yu must be prepared to throw the valise to him regardless 
 of all risks, the risk of being lost we assume an yu get your child with- 
 out fail, these are the signals : if it be dark the moment the rear car 
 passes him he wil exhibit a bright torch in one hand an a white flag in 
 the other hand but if it be light he wil ring a bell with one hand and a 
 while flag in the other band, the instant yu see either of these signals 
 yu are to drop it on the track an yu may get out at the next station, if the 
 cars continue on their course we consider yu have kept your word, and 
 yu child shal be returned yu safe but if they stop to arrest our agent then 
 your child's fate is sealed, this letter ends all things in regard to the 
 restoration of yu child. 
 
 In this letter the announcement is made that every- 
 thing is ready for the exchange, and a fair opportunity 
 will be afforded for an arrest They assert that to-day 
 will decide Charley's fate, and I must not think that 
 they are trifling. A journey is marked out ; the hour 
 of starting is fixed. The detail of the plan by which 
 they expected to get the money is revealed, and the 
 letter is closed by a caution, saying that if by any op- 
 position on my part the plan should be defeated, the 
 consequences must rest with me. 
 
 It will be observed, that in this letter the effort to 
 
Uv>^^ tvv>^ 1\W- W/P" i"W-w>- Aai 'VV^ '%a/v-V AV^ f"^^^^ 
 
 Reduced Fac-Simile of Letter Number Twelve. 
 
. j^ *vlV W tW^ W- A»Mp^^ WVj^ tAV^ t/W^ 
 U ^^4,1^^, SfciV-fe (yNJvMft.owi ^y>^n^ ' 
 
 Reduced Fac-Simile of Letter Number Twelve. 
 
LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. I3I 
 
 spell the words wrong is not adhered to, and with the 
 exception of words of from two to three letters, the 
 spelling is generally correct. It will also be noticed 
 how specifically the directions are given, and yet how 
 concisely ; nothing being omitted, nothing superfluous. 
 July 30th, 1874, came on Thursday; the letter was re- 
 ceived about four o'clock in the afternoon, and arrange- 
 ments were to be made during the afternoon and evening 
 as to what action should be taken on the letter. Greatly 
 agitated, as my reader may r.eadily imagine, I took 
 the letter to Mr. McKean, and following his advice, a 
 meeting of the following persons, Mr. W. V. McKean, 
 John C. Bullitt, Captain Wm. R. Heins, Detective 
 Wood, F. D. Lewis, and myself, was held in the evening 
 at Mr. Bullitt's office, to consult together regarding the 
 letter. 
 
 At the meeting every one felt that a crisis had 
 arrived, and that a point had been reached where posi- 
 tive action was demanded. The time for consultation 
 was short ; it was difficult to determine what course to 
 pursue; but after an interchange of opinions, it was 
 unanimously agreed that I must go as directed in the 
 letter, and that advantage must be taken of this oppor- 
 tunity to reach the abductors with a letter containing a 
 clear statement of my position, and demanding a more 
 direct mode of communicating with them than was 
 possible through the personals of a newspaper. It was 
 thought best that my nephew, F. D. Lewis, and an 
 officer in citizen's dress, should go with me on this fear- 
 ful trip, which appeared to be fraught with such momen- 
 tous consequences. 
 
 A letter having been prepared was put in the valise, 
 
132 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 and a copy fastened to the outside of it The letter is 
 as follows : 
 
 Philadelphia, July ^o^ '^74' 
 Sir : — Your letter of this date is received. I am anxious to end the 
 suffering and suspense of the terrible four weeks that 1 have just passed 
 through, but I am compelled to tell you that I cannot throw away twenty 
 thousand dollars on the wild plan you suggest. It is a plan where all 
 the chances are on your side, and I have not the smallest assurance that 
 I will ever get my dear child into my possession again. It is impossible 
 for me to give you twenty thousand dollars (j20,ooo), and trust to you 
 to bring me my child at some subsequent time. I desire to act with you 
 in good faith, but as your whole correspondence leads me strongly to 
 suspect deception, I must insist upon having some positive, tangible 
 proof that you have the child, and that after receiving this I must in 
 some way and at some place suggested by you, meet either you or yours 
 and see that you have my child in my presence, so that I may take him 
 simultaneously with your receiving the money, I shall look for a letter 
 from you in Philadelphia in answer to this. 
 
 I have come here in response to your call with a friend (not an officer) 
 as suggested by you in your letter of 28lh instant, and in so doing have 
 complied so far as a reasonable man can with your plan. I cannot give 
 you one cent until I see my child before me. It is my purpose, as I have 
 said, to act in good faith ; but I must, before going further, receive every 
 assurance which can possibly be given me, first, that you have the child, 
 and second, that his delivery to me will be simultaneous with the delivery 
 of the money to you. 
 
 I will add that the public mode I have used in compliance with your 
 suggestions of answering your letters is not satisfactory to me, as it informs 
 the police and everybody else of what we are doing. We must have 
 some better mode of communication. C. K. Ross. 
 
 Arrangements for the trip having been completed, my 
 nephew and myself left Mr. Bullitt's office at 1 1:30 for 
 the New York depot, where we were joined by the officer, 
 and by the courtesy of the superintendent of trains on 
 the Pennsylvania railroad, permission was granted me 
 to occupy the platform of the last car of the train. 
 
 At 12 o'clock, midnight, the train moved off. The 
 
LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. I33 
 
 moon was full, not a cloud was to be seen; objects could 
 be discerned almost as clearly as in the full light of the 
 sun, and we now understood the reason why the moon 
 was not in the right quarter '* to transact the business," 
 as stated in the letter of July 24th. A night was selected 
 when the moon would be full, to enable their confeder- 
 ate to see if they were being watched, as well as to see 
 the valise when it would be dropped from the car. In 
 the letter of July 30th, it was expressly mentioned that 
 the probability was that I should not have to go one 
 mile before I might see the signal, and yet I might have 
 to go the 250 miles. These instructions necessarily 
 kept me on the look-out from the moment I left the 
 depot in West Philadelphia until I arrived in Albany, 
 New York. 
 
 As the train dashed rapidly along, my attention was 
 attracted by every pile of wood, and bank of earth, and 
 bush, and post, and building, along the road, in the ex- 
 pectation of seeing someone jumping out from his hid- 
 ing place displaying the torch and flag, the signal for 
 the valise to be thrown from the car. This of course 
 kept up a painful flutter of anxiety over the whole route 
 — for five mortal hours my brain and eyes were in a 
 fixed agony. 
 
 To guard against any attempt being made to take the 
 valise from me at any of the stations along the road, 
 the officer, before the train came to a full stop, came out 
 of the car on the platform, and as the train moved on 
 again resumed his seat, leaving me alone until the next 
 station was approached. The singularity of my posi- 
 tion was commented on by those who saw me, and the 
 servant who had charge of the car (a sleeping car) said: 
 
134 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 " That man must have a pile of money in that valise : he 
 has been standing there ever since we left the depot in 
 Philadelphia, and he has two men with him to guard 
 him." We arrived in New York about five o'clock in 
 the morning, without having seen any signal whatsoever. 
 There was not time, after it was determined that I must 
 make the trip, to change my clothing, or to even pro- 
 cure an overcoat, so that the dense mist which arose 
 from the swamps of New Jersey saturated my light flan- 
 nel suit, and I had become thoroughly wet and chilled, 
 and being greatly fatigued by holding fast to the railing, 
 lest I should be thrown from the car, and being worn 
 out from standing so long a time, I was truly thankful 
 when we reached Jersey City. 
 
 Crossing the river, we took a carriage at Desbrosses 
 street and were driven at once to the Grand Central de- 
 pot, as instructed in the last letter. At eight o'clock 
 the same morning, we took the train via Hudson River 
 railroad for Albany. Again I took my position on the 
 rear platform of the last car, and being somewhat re- 
 freshed by a rest of about two hours, the first fifty miles 
 was traveled without any feeling of fatigue. But about 
 eleven o'clock the heat of the sun became oppressive ; 
 the wind whirled the dense smoke from the engine 
 backwards into my face, and tlie dust made by the train 
 thundering along enveloped me in a continuous cloud, 
 and yet my object was to look, watch, see, and act on 
 the insta7it. The railroad following the tortuous course 
 of the Hudson River, as every one who has traveled on 
 it knows, is very crooked, with many short curves at 
 close intervals, so that with the valise in one hand, and 
 witli the other hand firmly grasping the railing of the 
 
LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. I35 
 
 car, it was more and more difficult as I became more 
 and more exhausted, to maintain my hold on the plat- 
 form of the car. The valise had now become as heavy 
 as lead, although it contained nothing but the letter that 
 was designed to reach the abductors : and I became so 
 wearied out that, after standing on one foot and then on 
 the other, after changing the valise from one hand to the 
 other and then back again, after taking every possible 
 position consistent with an approach to comfort, I felt 
 that I must give up, and sit down in the car; but the 
 constant thought was present with me, " If you do, you 
 will miss the signal." And yet a greater strain was on 
 my brain than on my body, to say nothing of the dead 
 weight upon my heart. 
 
 As the train wound along around hill, bank and tree, 
 each instant that a railroad flagman appeared waving 
 his white or red flag, as a signal to the passing train, I 
 involuntarily braced myself to throw off the valise. So 
 swiftly sped the train that there was but an instant to 
 decide whether the man had a bell or not, and momen- 
 tarily I was on the point of dropping the valise. Not- 
 withstanding the necessity of keeping a constant look- 
 out, and in spite of the fact that a few moments* inat- 
 tention might render the whole expedition void, I was 
 more than once on the point of giving up, from utter 
 inability to keep my feet. And when Albany came in 
 sight, I was so glad and thankful that, for the moment, 
 I lost a sense of the disappointment, which soon afl:er 
 returned to me with aggravated intensity. Begrimed 
 with smoke and dust, I arrived in Albany about one 
 o'clock, without seeing the man waving a white flag in 
 one hand and ringing a bell with the other — the signal 
 
136 CHARLEY ROSS. ' 
 
 which the writer of the letter stated I should see on this 
 memorable trip. As soon as we had dinner we inquired 
 at the post-office for a letter addressed to C. K. Walter, 
 according to the instructions in the letter, in case the 
 signal was not seen before reaching Albany. Not get- 
 ting a letter during that day, we remained there until 
 the following morning. I was so thoroughly fatigued by 
 the trip and exhausted by the continuous strain on my 
 nervous system, that when in the afternoon I attempted 
 to rest, it was impossible for me to remain quiet, and 
 to change the current of my thoughts I walked over the 
 city the remainder of the day. 
 
 We left Albany for home the following morning 
 (Saturday) at ten o'clock, A. M., after having called at 
 the Albany post-office a number of times and failed to 
 get a letter, and arrived in Germantown about seven 
 o'clock the same evening. 
 
 During our^absence the following letter was received 
 at my place of business : 
 
 [No. 13.] 
 
 Phiia 31 July. — Ros : Yu seem to have no faith in us whatever, we 
 told yu to be at yu store on thursday and this bisines would be all settled 
 up but yu seem to pay no attention to it. at the time we supposed yu wer 
 gitin redy to effect the change yu were as the Evening Star stated on you 
 way to potsvill to see some child there, if yu ever expect to git yu child yu 
 must look to us and no one else for there is no other existin powers that 
 can restore him we have told yu to let the detectives take their own way 
 an do as they pleas for they wil do yu no good and we don't think they 
 can do much harm if yu had done as the last letter instructed you and let 
 the potsvill affair alone yu would now have the plasure of seeing yu child 
 safe at home after we had seen that yu had gone to potsvill we did not 
 instruct our agent to meet yu from the fact we thought it was no use. 
 if yu are trifling with us yu wil find we are not the right party to be trifled 
 with but if yu mean squar bisines with us although we are perhaps the 
 worst men in the world we wil act honorably with yu in this affair, we 
 
LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 1 3/ 
 
 told yu the last letter was the only one yu should ever reseive from us an 
 we would keep our word but we are inclined to think yu did not get it 
 befor yu started for potsvill. to save yu al further trouble an vexation in 
 runing around to false reports that yu child is found here, and found there, 
 we tel yu candidly that yu child is not in the possession of any woman or 
 family or that his hair is cut off short, to save yu further troble pay no 
 attention to any telegrams of that description for it is only trouble in vain 
 for yu. your childs hair is the same length that it ever was an there is 
 no disfigurement whatever in him but he is kept where no human eye 
 can behold him yu have expressed the opinion that we would git tired of 
 keeping him an turn him over to some charitable institution. dont 
 flatter yurself with such an idea we have told yu what his end is, if yu do 
 not redeem him we shal never digress from that, he wil never be taken 
 from the place he is now concealed unless he is brought out to be restored 
 to yu. Ros. if yu want to redeem yu child yu must come to us. you can 
 reach us through the personals of the Ledger or Evening Star, our 
 address is John, a change can be easily accomplished if yu desire it. 
 remember yu have our word in lo ours the whole thing shall be con- 
 summated yu git yu child an we git the money 
 
 In this letter they accuse me of a lack of faith in 
 them, because they saw it stated in a newspaper that 
 I had gone to Pottsville to see a child on the day they 
 had fixed to get the money, and in consequence did 
 not instruct their agent to meet me; and say that 
 although they did not intend writing to me again, yet 
 they think I may not have received the last letter 
 before starting for Pottsville. 
 
 They say (to prevent further trouble to me in look- 
 ing after children) that Charley is not in possession, of 
 a woman or of any family, that his hair has not been 
 cut off, and that he has not been disfigured, but is kept 
 where no human eye can behold him, and that he will 
 not be handed over to any charitable institution ; also 
 that he will never be taken from the place in which he 
 is now concealed, unless he is brought out to be 
 restored to me ; and they close by indicating the papers 
 
138 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 through which I can address them, and pledge them- 
 selves that in ten hours the whole matter can be ended 
 — that is, they can have the money and I the child. 
 
 It was stated in one of the early editions of an after- 
 noon paper that I had gone to Hamburg to see the 
 child that was detained in that place; but this was a 
 mistake, and was corrected in the later papers. 
 
 The route as marked out by the abductors was rig- 
 idly and faithfully followed, and it was with no little 
 disappointment that I received the above letter, which 
 continued the suspense in which I had been kept, and 
 which, by again repeating the cruel threatenings, with 
 the addition that Charley was so closely confined as 
 not to be seen by any one, aggravated the suffering 
 which I was already enduring. 
 
 The next day, Sunday, after my return from Albany, 
 my nephew and I went to the city to learn if anything 
 had been found out while we were absent The letter 
 from the abductors had been received on Saturday and 
 was given to us to read ; and the following personal 
 was prepared at the residence of Mr. John C. Bullitt, 
 who, with Mr. W. V. McKean and Captain Heins, had 
 met my nephew and myself, to hear our report of the 
 trip to Albany, and to confer together as to what fur- 
 ther should be done. The following personal was pre- 
 pared, and appeared in the ledger on Monday morn- 
 ing, August 3d: 
 
 "John, your directions were followed, you did not keep faith. Point 
 out some sure and less public way of communicating either by letter or 
 person." 
 
 The abductors in their last letter indicated the way 
 they proposed to get the money, and their instructions 
 
LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 1 39 
 
 were followed out ; but as they failed to perform their 
 part of the agreement, they did not get the letter in the 
 valise, and therefore it was deemed best to re-open the 
 correspondence immediately. 
 
 The personal was prepared to inspire them with 
 confidence that I had acted in good faith by obeying 
 their instructions, and at the same time reflecting on 
 the failure to carry out their part of the contract. 
 
 It also embodied the main object of our letter, which 
 was to get into more direct and closer communication 
 with them. 
 
 On the 4th of August an answer came to hand, 
 which is as follows: 
 
 [No. 14. Received August 4, 1874, in the morning.] 
 
 Phila. Aug, 3. — Ros — in not keepin our apointment with yu was 
 entirely a mistake from the fact of havin seen a statement in evening 
 star that yu had gone to potsvill on the day you was to setle this bisines 
 with us. we saw the mistake but not in time to communicate with our 
 agent or to notify yu not to go as we directed yu. Yu say yu want us to 
 point out some sure way by which this money can be transmited to us — 
 of course we can not call on yu personaly neither can we receive it by 
 letter. Ros — We will make the followin proposition to yu and if yu 
 comply with the terms propounded we wil settle this bisines in very 
 quick time satisfactory to both parties concerned so far as the restoration 
 of your child is concerned. We assure yu that yu child is now well and 
 in as good health as when he left yu home — do yu consent to the fol- 
 lowin proposition and stake the life of Charley on the faith of yu 
 promise. 
 
 Proposition 1st. Yu wil hand the box with the amount in to our 
 agent when he calls to yu store. 
 
 Proposition 2d. Yu wil hand him the box, ask him no questions — 
 not folow him — not put any one to folow him — ^not tel him what the box 
 contains — not notify the detectives so they can folow him — not do any- 
 thing that wil interupt its transit to us. 
 
 Do yu agree to the first and second proposition while we hold the life 
 of Qiarley to bind yu to yur promise. Remember when yu promise 
 
140 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 your word is life or death to yu child. If yu consent to these terms 
 answer the folowing in Ledger or Evening Star to save time. (John i 
 agree to the 1st and 2d propositions.) The reason we have warned yu 
 in al our letters about the detectives to keep them ignorant of this com- 
 promise bisines is not that we fear detection but we now they wil in- 
 terfear and baffle us from receiving the money and yu from giting yu 
 child, we told yu in our last this corrospondonce must end but it was a 
 mistak on our part therefor we be wilin to give yu a fair opportunity to 
 redeem yu son if you wil. when our agent call on yu he will give yu a 
 symbol of which yu wil previously receive a facsimilar so there wil be 
 no posibly mistake in him, if there be it shal be our loss and not yours 
 providing yu do as instructed, if we lose the money through our agent 
 yu get yu child just as if we got every dollar. 
 
 Here the abductors say they were misled by the 
 statement in the newspaper that I had gone to Potts- 
 ville, and did not discover it in time to notify me or to 
 communicate with their agent. They misconstrued 
 part of the last personal, and declare that Charley is 
 in as good health as he was when he was taken from 
 his home. They make two propositions to which they 
 ask my assent, and present another way to obtain the 
 money, again warning me against permitting the detect- 
 ives interfering to prevent the money reaching them, 
 and say that the life of the child is suspended on the 
 faith of my word. The person whom they will send 
 for the box will be furnished with a symbol of which 
 they will send me a fac-simile, to prevent any mistake 
 being made in recognizing the proper messenger; and 
 say that if I follow their instructions and any loss 
 occurs through their agent, the child will nevertheless 
 be restored to me. As before stated, it was a matter of 
 much speculation as to how the abductors could get 
 the money and restore the child without detection; but 
 having the advantage of being unknown to us, and the 
 
LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. I4I 
 
 life of the child being held for the faithful performance 
 of all their demands, and requiring ten hours after the 
 money was received by them before the child would 
 be restored, there seemed to be no difficulty in adopt- 
 ing ways to accomplish their object, if they could only 
 be assured that I would act in good faith: — this they 
 doubted, as is evident from the many cautions in their 
 letters. 
 
 The propositions they make in the last letter are 
 based entirely on their word, and so guarded is the 
 second one, that no point is left uncovered that might 
 lead to their detection. They profess to understand 
 the expression in the personal. " Point out some sure 
 and less public way of communicating, either by letter 
 or otherwise," to mean that some sure way of trans- 
 mitting the money to them should be suggested; while 
 the object, as clearly stated, was to get into a more 
 sure and less public way of addressing them than 
 through the limited medium of the daily papers, to 
 which I had been confined. 
 
 It was now resolved that any answers subsequently 
 to be made through the personal columns of the papers, 
 should be such as might be suggested by the circum- 
 stances as they should arise, and not to be circumscribed 
 by such words as the abductors chose to dictate. This 
 policy being settled, the answer published to this letter 
 is a departure from all the others, by entirely disagree- 
 ing to their terms, and states boldly that we would not 
 be restricted by their propositions. It appeared in the 
 Ledger of August 4th, and is as follows ; 
 
 John. Propositions are impossible. Action must be simultaneous. 
 
142 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 On the 5th of August the following reply was re- 
 ceived : 
 
 [No. 15. Received August 5, 1874.] 
 Philadelphia, August 4. — Hos : we saw yu ansur. yu say it is 
 imposible to agree to the terms, then we say emphaticaly yu can never 
 redeem yu child from us. yu requested a more siu-e way of paying yu 
 money for yu child we agreed to give yu a satisfactory way which would 
 have made the change sure and safe for yu and safe for us, the way we 
 propounded was the sure test of your sincerity and yu answer implies 
 distinctly that yu son is not worth that amount to save him, yu may be 
 entertaining the idea that if the money is not paid we will turn him loose, 
 yu wil find when it b to late that this was a grate mistake, we tel yu 
 plainly and positively that the chjjnces of yu ever geting yu child again is 
 ninety-nine out of an hundred against yu. if yu do not redeem him he 
 is just as good as the money to us for we have him for reference though 
 we may never work this thing in this country again, be where it may 
 we have the Ros child to show that we do about what we say when we 
 told yu your child should stand responsible for our word to us we ment 
 just what we said and any perfidy on yu part would have brought 
 instant death on his head, now we are convinced that you would not 
 keep faith with us, if yu could violate it with impunity to yu child and 
 yet we do not blame yu for that, and yet do yu supose that we would 
 produce the child and hand him over to you the instant yu paid the 
 money to us. the thing is absurd to think of such a change, we are not 
 redy yet to have chains put on us for life, we did think once that we 
 might effect the change in canidy in that way, but we find that cannot be, 
 for yu could hold us there on robbery and extortion until yu could get 
 us here and then yu would have us on the whole. Mr. Ros the way 
 the case stands now, it looks as if yu dont want tc redeem yu child, or 
 at least yu must redeem him on yu own terms. That is impossible ; 
 we repeat it, that is absolutely impossible. If yu ever get him from 
 us, and we are sure yu never will get him from any other than us, 
 yu have got to come to us on our own terms and our terms wil be more 
 stringent than ever. One has suggested to redeem yu child with coun- 
 terfeit money ; another to mark all the money, and then we could be 
 traped after with the money. We say if yu had redeemed yu child 
 with counterfit money, or with money privately marked, we would not 
 restored yu child till yu had replace the marked money double-fold. 
 A woman has proposed to Tagget to produce Charley and his abductors 
 
LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. I43 
 
 for j^5,ooo. This will be by far the cheapest way for yu to git yu child, 
 for we wil never restor him for one dollar less than the amount we first 
 named, when we found out yu circumstances was not good, we were 
 goin to throw ofiF one-half the amount an accept ^10,000 but the public 
 have raised hell so, and sympathised for yu in offring such large rewards 
 that we shall have the whole or none, but they took good care in offer- 
 ing it in such away that they would never have to pay one dollar of it. 
 if they ment bisines why did they not offer so much for the child and so 
 much for the abductors, the reason is they thought one or the other re- 
 wards might have to be paid, but we dont think they would ever have 
 to pay a dollar for either child or us. yu wil find the truth of this in the 
 end (if i no myself). Mr. Ross we leave the city to-night, we shal not 
 communicate with yu any more unless yu can satisfy us yu want to re- 
 deem yu child on our terms which wil be ^20,000 and not one dollar 
 less and it must be paid to us as we prescribe, when yu receive this we 
 shall be at least 200 miles from here we leave the detectives of phila and 
 Mr tagget to work out their clues, we think we have left no clues 
 behind us. Charley wil remain where he was taken the second night 
 after he left home, if Mr tagget can find a clue to that place he wil no 
 doubt get the reward we have no feminines into that place, charley will 
 never come out of there, it shal be his everlasting tomb — unless the 
 ransom brings him out. we are not destitute of a few dollars yet, charley 
 shal never starve to death if death it must be, it shal come upon him as 
 instant as the lightning strock itself. Mr. Ros, if you have anything to say 
 to us it must be through the personals of New York Herald, we can see 
 that, where ever we are and no doubt every day, we shal notice nothing 
 only from you. no matter what propositions others may make they wil re- 
 ceive no attention, yu say the action must be symultanious from the nature 
 of this bisines that can never be, so that ends the bisines we told yu in 10 
 ours after the receipt of mony if we found it genuine, and not secretly 
 marked al up, yu would then get yu child in our way of passing him over 
 to yu. this does not suit yu so we wil leave yu to yu own way of giting 
 and the detectives to work out their clues. 
 
 In this letter, the abductors say that unless the terms 
 they proposed are complied with, the chances are 
 ninety- nine out of a hundred against me ever getting 
 the child, and that it is too absurd to think that they 
 would consent to a simultaneous exchange, as they will 
 not run the risk of being imprisoned for life. 
 
144 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 They re-affirm that if the child is not redeemed by 
 me, they will kill him, and refer to his fate, tliat others 
 may know that they will execute their threats should 
 they steal another child ; but on account of the public 
 feeling that has been aroused, they intimate that they 
 will not attempt it again in this country. 
 
 They say they once thought that they might be able 
 to effect the exchange in Canada, but find that they 
 could be held there for robbery and extortion, and be 
 brought back to the United States. 
 
 They notice that it had been suggested to give them 
 counterfeit and marked money, and add that if I at- 
 tempted to do so, the child would be held until two- 
 fold the amount had been paid to them. 
 
 They mention having discovered that my circum- 
 stances are not what they supposed them to be, and 
 that they had thought of abating one-half of the 
 amount of the ransom ; but since the public had be- 
 come so much interested, and offered so large a reward, 
 they will adhere to their original demand. 
 
 They again say that the reward as offered, both for 
 their arrest and the recovery of the child, was so ar- 
 ranged that the persons offering it never expected to 
 be called upon to pay it, as it would be impossible either 
 to find them or the child. 
 
 They announce their intention of leaving the city the 
 same night, and that they will be at least 200 miles 
 distant by the time their letter reaches me ; and that 
 they will not write to me again unless I signify that I 
 will agree to their terms. They sneeringly advise the 
 detectives to run out their clues, claiming that they 
 have left no clues behind them by which they can be 
 
LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. I45 
 
 traced ; and declare that Charley will remain where he 
 was put on the second night after he was stolen, and 
 that he shall not starve to death, but if killed, his 
 death will be as sudden as a flash of lightning ; and 
 close the letter by informing me that hereafter any 
 communication that I may wish to make to them, shall 
 be through the medium of the New York Herald. 
 
 Notwithstanding the great length of this letter, the 
 careful reader will observe how cautiously every step 
 is guarded, and how tenaciously the kidnappers hold to 
 every advantage already secured. There was no way 
 in this country by which the child could be restored at 
 the same moment that the money was paid, without 
 exposing themselves to detection and the consequent 
 risks. And as there is no clause in the extradition 
 treaty with England, covering this specific offense, they 
 sought to find out whether it was not possible to offer 
 terms that would be more likely to be accepted in 
 Canada. But they found out that if they should be 
 arrested there, they could be demanded on the charge 
 of robbery and extortion, and brought to the United 
 States for trial. 
 
 When I discovered that the abductors had thought 
 of effecting the change in the British Provinces, and 
 that the crime of kidnapping was not included in the 
 extradition treaty with any country, I wrote to Gen- 
 eral Simon Cameron, chairman of the Committee on 
 Foreign Relations, (who has known me from my boy- 
 hood,) suggesting that for the protection of the people 
 of our country in case of any future attempts at 
 stealing children for the purpose of extortion, this 
 crime should be included in any further additions to 
 the extradition treaty, and received the following reply: 
 7 
 
146 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 Harrisburg, August J, 1874. 
 
 Dear Sir: I have your letter of the 31st, and will remember your 
 suggestion, if any treaty is made. 
 
 We have all heard of your great aiHiction, and I assure you of the 
 deep sympathy of my family and myself. Your good father was my 
 friend for very many years. Ko purer man ever lived, &c., &c. 
 
 I trust you will make no compromise with the bad people who have 
 stolen your child. Refuse to give them money, and they will have no 
 motive for retaining the boy. God will protect him. If you pay now, 
 you will have to pay again. Canada will be no hiding-place for persons 
 guilty of so great a crime. Only see that the police of your city do their 
 whole duty, and they will bring the boy home. 
 
 Your Friend, Simon Cameron. 
 
 C. K. Ross, Esq. 
 
 The public were clamorous for the arrest and punish- 
 ment of the kidnappers at any cost, yet were ignorant 
 of the risk to the life of my child and consequent 
 terror to which I was subjected. It is comparatively 
 easy to sacrifice another man's child for the public 
 good, and my anxious suspense is easier conceived 
 than borne. 
 
 Nearly a month had elapsed without getting any 
 trace of the kidnappers or having any intelligence of 
 the child, except that which was revealed in the letters, 
 yet everything that indicated any probability of shed- 
 ding light on the mystery was thoroughly investigated. 
 
 It was now determined that no answer should be 
 made to the last , letter, but patiently to wait further 
 developments. This patient waiting was endured for 
 three weeks before another letter reached us, and in 
 tlie mean time some vague suspicion pointing to the 
 abductors gradually took shape in the eyes of the 
 authorities, which, as time passed, became more and 
 more definite, the details of which will be reserved for 
 another chapter. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 LETTERS OF SYMPATHY AND TRACING OF CHILDREN. 
 
 HILE this cloud of sorrow and suffering hung so 
 dark over our household, many friends visited 
 Mrs. Ross, endeavoring to cheer and comfort 
 her, and by kindness and affectionate sympathy to help 
 her bear the heavy burden which in the inscrutable 
 providence of God had been laid on her. 
 
 Time does much to assuage affliction caused by death; 
 but a living sorrow, whose burden increases day by day, 
 who can bear? 
 
 Many strangers from the city and various parts of 
 the Country, moved by kindly feelings, called on us with 
 words of sympathy and many proffers of aid. The 
 memory of these expressions of sympathy will ever be 
 cherished by us. With all our bitter experience of the 
 evil in human nature, we have been continually reminded 
 that the good far outweighs it. Many letters were also 
 received from all parts of the United States, and from 
 other countries, expressing similar feelings; selections 
 from a few of which may be of interest : 
 
 Philips County, Arkansas, 1874. 
 
 Christian K. Ross — Dear Sir: — I have just received some letters 
 from a detective agency, stating that you have lost one of your little 
 boys. I am doing all I possibly can to get some clue to the whereabouL" 
 of the child. It is hardly probable that he is in this state; but it is sure 
 he is somewhere, and if every one will do his duty, he will be found, 
 
 (147) 
 
148 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 and the kidnappers also. I know how to sympathize with you in the 
 loss. It would be better to know he is dead than as it is. 
 
 I hope you will remember my address, and just as soon as he is 
 recovered (if you shall be so fortunate as to find him) let me know the 
 fact. Yours Respectfully. 
 
 Hudson, "Wisconsin. 
 
 Christian K. Ross, Esq. — My Dear Sir: — I am pained to know 
 that no tidings of your little boy have yet been received. This whole 
 community is touched with sympathy for you. No theme is introduced 
 that touches so sensitive a chord in the hearts of all the people. God 
 grant that he may soon be restored to your embrace, is the prayer of 
 Yours most sincerely, I. S. Moffat. 
 
 The same gentleman writes again, as follows: 
 
 My Dear Sir : — I have, from sympathy in your bereavement, come to 
 regard you as a near friend. Myself and family watch with deep inter- 
 est everything that transpires leading to the recovery of the child. "We 
 were thrilled with the notice a few days since of a child that would 
 probably lead to his recovery, but fear it has turned out as all others 
 have, etc. 
 
 A gentleman of this city writes as follows : 
 
 August zgtht i8T4. 
 
 C. K. Ross — My Dear Sir: — Your note of the 26th insl., containing 
 a likeness of your lost boy, reached me only last evening, owing to a mis- 
 direction. I take the earliest opportunity of thanking you for the atten- 
 tion, and assure you I shall treasure the picture as that of an adopted 
 child. 
 
 You and yours may rest assured that your cause is the cause of the 
 whole land, and that every heart will be open and every hand raised to 
 serve in it, until success is accomplished. Very sincerely yours, etc, 
 
 A gentleman writes thus from Boston, Mass. : 
 
 Mr. C. K. Ross — Dear Sir: — I believe years ago I did business with 
 you. Since then I have retired from active business life, and you have 
 my heartfelt sympathy in your deep affliction. I think your case the 
 hardest I ever heard of, and if I can be of any help to you, I will be 
 glad to aid in any way in my power. If you should issue an appeal 
 to the press of the United States, I think there would hardly be a news- 
 paper that would refuse to copy your card, and give it a prominent 
 place, without charge. There are hundreds of families that do not 
 
LETTERS OF SYMPATHY. I49 
 
 know yet, that you have had a boy stolen, and Charley Ross may be 
 living next door to some of them and they not know it. My wife and I 
 take such an interest in the case that I feel that with as much leisure as 
 I have, that I ought in the cause of humanity spend some of it in helping 
 you. If you have anything in the way of guidance, let me know, and 
 you can have my gratuitous services. 
 
 Yours truly, Samuel T. Holmes. 
 
 This letter was the beginning of a correspondence 
 which has been kept up to the present time ; and Mr. 
 Holmes has worked, and is still working, in endeavor- 
 ing to discover the child. He has not only spent his 
 own time and means, but has also employed others; and 
 whenever he hears of anything that would seem to shed 
 light on the mystery, he promptly and energetically 
 follows it up until it is thoroughly investigated. 
 
 Many other letters are in our possession from citizens 
 of our own country, expressing similar feelings; but the 
 above selections will suffice to show how wide-spread 
 the sympathy extended. A few letters from abroad 
 will serve to show that the people in other countries 
 also felt a similar interest. 
 
 A lady writes thus from Scotland: 
 
 Macduff, Scotland, 1874, 
 Mrs. Ross — Madam : — Some time ago my father, who is Postmaster 
 of Macduff, received a notice of the abduction of your son, Charley 
 Brewster Ross. We felt very much interested in him, and wished we 
 could see a notice in any of the papers, but heard nothing more until we 
 saw in the Aberdeen Weekly " Free Press," of Friday last, an advertise- 
 naent of the shooting of the burglars, said to be those who had stolen your 
 son. My father and mother then wished me to write, and see if you 
 would kindly let us know if your boy had been restored to you. I in- 
 close an addressed envelope, and trust you will favor us by sending a reply. 
 I am yours, . 
 
 An English lady writes as follows : 
 
 Diss, Norfolk Co., England. 
 Sir : — We have not been able to obtain any tidings of your darling 
 
150 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 boy, of whose abduction we read in the circular we received some time 
 ago. I have very many times thought of you, and deeply sj-mpathized 
 with you in the loss of such a pet as his photograph represents him, and 
 have thought of writing before to you. May I ask the favor of a line 
 just to tell us if you have found him? God grant that he may have been 
 restored to you ere this, or if not, that this tr)-ing dispensation may be 
 sanctified to you and yours, and that you may have strength given you to 
 bear it, and that you may meet your darling where " Thieves do not 
 break through nor steal." Pardon me for writing to you, a stranger ; 
 but my husband and self were so much affected on receipt of the circular. 
 Accept our united kind and sympathetic regards. 
 
 I am yours respectfully, . 
 
 The same lady writes a second letter, which is so ex- 
 pressive of kindness that I feel constrained to make a 
 few extracts from it 
 
 Post Office, Diss., England. 
 Dear Mr. and Mrs. Ross: — I thank you very much for the letter 
 written by your nephew. I was very much disappointed that you had 
 not heard of your lost darling boy, and I have many times thought of 
 him and you, and earnestly prayed that he might some day be restored 
 to you unhurt. With this letter I post you a Diss paper, with a piece 
 in it about the dear boy. My husband was looking at the paper, and 
 his eye caught the name of Charley Ross. We felt quite as pleased to 
 read it as though we had known him and you personally. I am very 
 anxious to know if you have learned any truthful tidings, or better still, 
 if he is home again. God grant that it may be so. May I ask the favor 
 of a line from you as soon as you can give me the intelh'gence. I thank 
 you very much for his photograph, which I have placed in my album, 
 and pnze it very much, for as soon as I had your first communication, I 
 felt to love the dear child — he does look so lovable, etc., etc. My hus- 
 band unites with me in kind regards to you both, with the earnest prayer 
 that your darling (if not yet home) may be very soon. Please give him 
 a kiss for me, tho* a stranger. 
 
 I am yours very sincerely, 
 
 A gentleman of Filey, England, writes as follows : 
 
 KiNGSHEET, Filey, England. 
 Mr. C. K. 'Ros,s—Dear Sir:—1 have heard of the sad affair that has 
 happened to you, in the abduction of your dear little boy Charley. A 
 
LETTERS OF SYMPATHY. I5I 
 
 poli :eman has presented me with his photograph, which very much re- 
 sembles a darling of ours we called Walter, who was buried last year, 
 aged four years, etc., etc. 
 
 I do hope that by some means you will at least know what has become 
 of the dear little fellow. What a heartless, nay, inhuman thing to entice 
 him away from his home. I trust that a retributive Providence will bring 
 them to justice. I deeply sympathize with you because your name is 
 Ross. Yours truly, . 
 
 One of the most touching incidents that occurred 
 since our dear Httle boy was stolen, is related by a phy- 
 sician in the following letter, which is addressed to a 
 
 brother of Mrs. Ross. 
 
 Baltimore, May 30th ^ ^j^. 
 
 My Dear Friend Henry Lewis — I remember you once told me 
 that many curious incidents connected with the search for CHARLEY Ross 
 constituted a remarkable record, and I judged up to that time a record had 
 been kept. If such is the case, and you desire to add another, which is 
 probably as singular as any, I have pleasure in communicating the 
 following : 
 
 Some time since I visited a hospital for insane in the neighborhood of 
 Baltimore, and in passing a room, I heard the name of Charley Ross, 
 which was several times repeated. Upon asking my attendant to allow 
 me to enter the apartment, I found, on doing so, a vigorous man of say 
 forty years of age, who was so maniacal, that he was secured to his seat; 
 and he reached his hands convulsively towards me, and cried "I am 
 Charley Ross! I am Charley Ross! take me! take me!" He re- 
 peated this almost constantly. 
 
 I don't know whether this will add to your budget any interest; but it 
 affected me in this way. Here is a maniac, (he was from Washington, 
 D. C.,) who raves and moans in the gloomy cell of a lunatic asylum, and 
 the only living thought that seems to possess him, is that of a lost child 
 and bereaved parents. It shows th'e depth of human sympathy not only; 
 out the persistent expression of it to such a degree, that the man con- 
 ceives himself to be the lost one, and implores to be taken home. Do 
 you ever think of having a history prepared of this whole matter when 
 the proper time comes ? It seems to me good might come from it. 
 
 Yours sincerely, Joseph Parrish. 
 
 These few letters have been selected from among a 
 
152 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 large number which are alike in expressions of sympa* 
 thy, and manifest the interest which strangers felt for 
 the recovery of the child, wherever the circumstances 
 of his abduction became known. Other letters proceed 
 from motives wholly different. 
 
 Scarcely had three days passed after Charley was 
 taken, before attempts were made to extort money by 
 false information, and by blackmailing. Many letters 
 have been received from persons professing to know 
 where Charley was, and stating that for a considera- 
 tion, information would be given that would lead to his 
 recovery. These letters are generally anonymous, or 
 signed with fictitious names, and request answers 
 through the newspapers of various cities. All were 
 replied to ; but in only a few cases was the correspond- 
 ence continued, or the writers discovered. 
 
 As early as the 3d of July, a man who had seen my 
 advertisement in the newspapers, called at my place of 
 business, and stated that he had found Charley on the 
 night of the ist of July near the water works, and put 
 him on the street car, paid his fare, and instructed the 
 conductor to let him off at the Germantown depot. He 
 gave the name of the company in whose employ he 
 said he was ; but insisted he should be paid for his loss 
 of time and expense in coming to give the information. 
 This he was refused ; but was told if his report was 
 found to be correct, he would be properly remunerated. 
 Upon inquiry, he was found to b.e a tramp, who had 
 taken this plan to get a petty sum of money. 
 
 A few days afterwards, a young man called and re- 
 ported that he had seen a man, with a child answering 
 the description of Charley, get on one of the street 
 
LETTERS OF SYMPATHY. 153 
 
 cars. This story seemed so plausible, that my brother 
 had the superintendent of the line question every con- 
 ductor, and found that no person answering the de- 
 scription had been on the cars during the day stated. 
 This fellow came back to get the reward, and when 
 accused of making a false report, acknowledged that he 
 had made up the story, in the expectation of being paid 
 for it. He plead hard not to be locked up, saying, 
 "You can do anything you want to me, only let me go." 
 
 The following letters were also received, which were 
 evidently intended to be a scheme of black-mailing, but 
 which was never fully carried out. 
 
 St. Louis, August rj, 1874. 
 
 Mr. C. K. Ross. — Dear Sir : — If you have got five thousand dollars 
 you can get your boy. He is here in my possession, living on a small 
 farm, and has been here for two w^eeks ; he was sent here by a friend of 
 mine for safe keeping ; but to tell you the fact, I am tired of the job, and 
 my friend is afraid to come after him. If you conclude to accept the terms, 
 advertise in the personals of the Missouri Republican, of this city ; let the 
 words be, M. B., Proposition Accepted, and put your name to it, and 
 then I will write to you again in confidence. 
 
 Yours, etc., M. B. 
 
 P. S. — ^Your boy is well and happy, but I am tired of him; don't for- 
 get to advertise, and don't forget that this is confidential. 
 
 The advertisement was published in the personal 
 column of the St. Louis newspaper : 
 
 M. B. — Proposition accepted : send photograph or other proof. 
 
 And the following reply was received : 
 
 C. K. Ross. — I have written to my friend, and cannot at present send 
 you photograph as I intended to do: if no interference by the detectives, 
 you shall have positive proof, (photograph and accurate description,) in 
 ten days, provided my friend agrees to the proposition. He cannot 
 leave your city at present; you can guess the reason. CHARLEY is well, 
 and doing as well as any boy can do. M. B. 
 
 7* 
 
154 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 P. S — Keep quiet about this, and all shall be well. If I had my way 
 about it, he should be sent to you without one cent. I am your friend ; 
 but I am in the power of others. Any way that I can assist you, with- 
 out danger to myself, I will do it. M. B. 
 
 Nothing more was heard from M. B., and the con- 
 clusion arrived at was that he could not send any proof 
 that he had the child, and was, of course, unable to 
 carry out his nefarious scheme. 
 
 Another attempt at swindling is as follows : 
 
 New Y«»rk, July i6, 1874. 
 
 Christian K. Ross, Esq. — Sir: — I will give the address of one of 
 the parties connected with the kidnapping of your boy, if you agree to 
 send me ^^150 (half the reward) and the other half if your son be found 
 through the information which I am sure it is in my power to procure. 
 The party to whom I refer is now in New York city. His hair is of a 
 lightish auburn hue, his figure is rather commanding, and the mustache 
 and full whiskers he used to wear are all cut off to a narrow goatee. He 
 wears a brown straw hat, narrow rim, and ring with a rose cut on a gar- 
 net on his little finger (right hand). He seems to have plenty of money, 
 is at intervals an inveterate gambler — and I have met him four or five 
 different times in New York. If you send me the means, I shall go on 
 to Philadelphia and work out whatever clues I can get, and those I now 
 have. It is puzzling to me that the police have not yet got your boy, for 
 he is in your city, and the principal in the kidnapping is a gambler, and 
 by no means unknown to Kenn.ird H. Jones himself. 
 
 The real name of the party here Ls Frank Rankin, a native of Chicago. 
 
 If you are disposed to accept my proposition, please answer at once, and 
 
 I shall proceed to Philadelphia with as little delay as possible. The 
 
 police will have to acknowledge our man when he is found. I am, sir. 
 
 Very Truly, . 
 
 My nephew, on receipt of the above letter, went to 
 New York, and representing me, called at the house 
 
 named ; but did not find a person named . 
 
 He learned that a man whose real name was James 
 Knox, lived there, but was not at home; and suspecting 
 that he was the writer of the letter, left a note for him, 
 to which the following reply was received : 
 
 1^. 
 
LETTERS OF SYMPATHY. I55 
 
 New York. 
 (Frank?) C. K. Ross — Dear Sir : — I will be at home to-morrow 
 at 2 p. m. The letter you left for me was in mistake sent to Mr. James 
 
 Knox, of street, who used to room with me here. I have net 
 
 seen Rankin since, but shall do all I can to-night. 
 
 Yours, very truly, . 
 
 My nephew, calling at the house the next day, re- 
 ceived the following note : 
 
 Frank Ross, Esq. — I cannot nnd Rankin ; therefore there will be 
 no use in seeing you for the present. . 
 
 This note satisfied him that the fellow avoided an in- 
 terview, and that his design was to get one hundred and 
 fifty dollars, if he could, by the story he had made up. 
 
 In the early period of the case, a number of similar 
 schemes of extortion were attempted, none of which 
 however were successful. Subsequently, several well- 
 concocted plans were laid for various purposes, which 
 involved considerable labor and expense before we were 
 able to determine their designs. These will be given 
 in the order of time. 
 
 A class of notes and letters was received, prompted 
 apparently by no motive other than a desire to add to 
 the anguish already inflicted, and wantonly to torture 
 without any apparent aim. The following selections 
 are given : 
 
 New York, Jtdy 20, 1874. 
 
 Chief of Police — Sir : — You seem in such a hurry to get Charley 
 Ross that you are overworking yourself for nothing. Now, my pal and 
 me will not enter the lion's mouth, as you may well suppose ; but if Mr. 
 Ross don't fork over that ^20,000 mighty quick, he will have a corpse 
 in a coffin instead of Charley Ross. So you just tell him to hurry up, 
 or he will have what I said he would. One of the Abductors. 
 
 Philadelphia, Friday ^ July 24, 1874. 
 
 Chief of Police. — Sir : — I know the party who has the Ross child. 
 They are resolved not to come to terms unless Mr. Ross agrees. (They 
 
156 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 will though.) He (the boy) is uninjured ; but he goes on so about his 
 parents, that I pity him. I cannot tell more ; but I can lead you on his 
 track. Keep this close for a time. One of the men had his picture 
 taken two months ago in a gallery on Ridge Avenue. Dark sandy 
 hair; darkish complexion; dark striped pants; reddish-brown whiskers; 
 slight — I will tell no more. Tell Mr. Ross not to give the money — 
 they are getting tired of keeping the boy. I will do all I can ; don't 
 betray me. Salue. 
 
 P. S. — Your reward has scared them, and they are going to lake him 
 out of town : watch every covered farm wagon leaving town from this 
 date. Tell Mr. Ross he has a friend here ; he don't know me, but I 
 know him; and while I am here the child shall not suffer. S. 
 
 Philadelphia, September j8, 1874. 
 
 Mr. Ross : — Your boy is alive ; he is nearer than you have any idea, 
 1 would cheerfully come forward and testify to some very important 
 p6ints ; but am afraid of the consequences. My object in writing you is 
 a desire on my part to befriend you, to console you, by giving you the 
 above information, based on a partial knowUdge of certain transactions. 
 Have patience and hope. I will see what can be done. W. B. C. 
 
 Philadf.lphia, July sth, iSys- 
 Mr. Mayor — Dear Sir: — Your city papers seem to trouble them- 
 selves a good deal about Charley Ross. He is not in New York as 
 they say, and will not be restored as soon as you think. I have been 
 here two weeks and I hear the talk, but the money must be paid down 
 by one of the city officers, and he must be alone, and meet me (Miss E. 
 or Mr. C.) and the meeting must be m the depth of night. You will 
 know when and where, that is if nothing happens. I can say no more, 
 but I must \fi. off this afternoon to see how the nigger treats him while I 
 am away. Miss E. " 
 
 Mr. Ross. — You need not spend any more money to get Charley, 
 for he is sleeping soundly in his grave ; so the whole matter is over, and 
 you need not think to catch us, for we will go to Eirrope. Had you 
 paid the money you would have had your boy alive; now it is too late. 
 We are satisfied, and hope you are also. If you want to know any- 
 thing further, advertise in the Public Ledger and you will receive an 
 answer from us. We want ten thousand dollars to tell where he is ; but 
 he is dead, and not a very long time. The detectives were near his 
 place, and we killed him. Let no tears drop from your eyes ; why did 
 you not mind us ? No Signature. 
 
LETTERS OF SYMPATHY. 1 5/ 
 
 None of these parties were ever traced or heard from 
 afterwards, and although these letters, as well as many 
 others of a similar kind, were anonymous and disguised, 
 yet the effect of them was to add poignancy to the sor- 
 row that we were already enduring. 
 
 During the first two weeks after the abduction, 
 scarcely a day passed without information from some 
 part of the country, either by telegraph or mail, of chil- 
 dren in the possession of suspicious persons, or who had 
 been brought into villages and cities, and abandoned. 
 Every case presented to us was investigated until we 
 became satisfied that it had no reference to Charley. 
 Many cases reported were very quickly sifted, while 
 others required patience and caution, with a vast 
 amount of labor and expense, before a conclusion could 
 be reached. One of the most difficult and prolonged of 
 these was reported very soon after the abduction. 
 
 Near a village in one of the Western States, there 
 lived a family who were looked upon by their neighbors 
 with suspicion, because their house was known to be 
 frequented by strangers who mysteriously appeared and 
 disappeared. Shortly after Charley was stolen, a man, 
 formerly of this city, with a woman and two children, 
 came to the village, and made their home with this 
 family. The movements of these people gave rise to a 
 belief by many living near that something was wrong. 
 After watching them, and getting all information possi- 
 ble, the conclusion was reached that the persons from 
 Philadelphia were concerned in the abduction of my 
 little boy, and that one of the children with them was 
 Charley himself Their surmises were communicated 
 to us, with the names of the parties who had resided in 
 
158 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 Philadelphia. Our informant was requested to follow 
 the matter up in that place, and write us all the partic- 
 ulars that transpired, and if possible get a picture of 
 the child. At the same time we began to make inquiry 
 here to find out the character and habits of the man 
 from Philadelphia while he lived there, as well as the 
 name of the woman who went away with him, also to 
 whom the children with them belonged. 
 
 Our inquiries resulted in discovering that this man 
 had left the city, with the woman, the night my little son 
 was abducted. Every letter received from our western 
 informant seemed to add new evidence that we were 
 about to reach the object of our search. Frequent night 
 journeys were reported as being made by the parties to 
 and from neighboring towns ; in their conversation they 
 were heard to say that they expected soon to come into 
 possession of a large sum of money. They announced 
 that they were going in a certain direction, but would 
 start off in a directly opposite one. Strangers visited 
 the house at night, and went away early in the morning; 
 and the fact that they had with them a child of about 
 the same age as Charley, and answering in some re- 
 spects to his description, with many other suspicious 
 circumstances, tended to confirm the impression that 
 they were concerned in concealing, if not in taking the 
 child. 
 
 The sheriff and district attorney of the county were 
 made acquainted with these circumstances by our in- 
 formant, and the person from Philadelphia was placed 
 under arrest. The officers telegraphed that the arrest 
 was made, and inquired what further should be done. 
 A picture oftlie child was ordered to be taken, and the 
 
LETTERS OF SYMPATHY. 1 59 
 
 man to be detained until it could be determined whether 
 the suspicions were correct or not. When the photo- 
 graph was received, a telegram was immediately re- 
 turned that the child was not Charley Ross. But the 
 people were still not satisfied; some believing that a 
 wrong picture had been forwarded to us, others that 
 another child had been substituted and that the true 
 one had been secretly conveyed away. The authorities 
 declined to release their prisoner, and held him for trial. 
 When tried, he was discharged for want of evidence 
 against him. Yet those living near were even then 
 skeptical, and a continual watch was kept on the sus- 
 pected house and family. Every little circumstance 
 was closely scanned, and the very plausible theory was 
 suggested that there had been with the suspected per- 
 sons another child, who had been sent to a confederate 
 in St. Louis, Mo., the possible writer of the letters to 
 me from that city, signed M. B. Thus when suspicio,ns 
 are awakened a hundred circumstances will be found to 
 confirm them. While the matter was being investigated 
 by the authorities here, and the people and authorities 
 in the county where these events occurred, the Pinker- 
 ton detective agency was employed to aid in unraveling 
 the mystery of the abduction, and to search for the 
 parties. They heard of this trail, and after thoroughly 
 investigating it reached the conclusion that the parties 
 under surveillance were in no way connected with this 
 crime. This case was very protracted, having required 
 several months to arrive at a definite conclusion; in 
 fact many of the people in the locality still believe that 
 these parties have the child, as several letters recently 
 received indicate. 
 
l6o CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 Not only were we in constant communication by 
 letter with the district attorney, sheriff, and other per 
 sons living there, but by the kindness and generosit) 
 of Mr. James Merrihew, superintendent of the Western 
 Union Telegraph Company, the use of a wire was freely 
 and cheerfully accorded to us, and we were thus put into 
 direct communication with the parties, and enabled to 
 converse fully with them. I feel great pleasure in say- 
 ing that the officers of the Western Union Telegraph 
 Company, from the time of the first public notice of the 
 taking away of Charley, have felt a deep interest in the 
 matter, and have afforded me every facility in running 
 out supposed clues, and in getting information when it 
 was desired to have it speedily. Often by the use of 
 the wires they have ended a suspense which otherwise 
 would have lasted days or weeks, and frequently have 
 given us the control of a wire for a whole day, and even 
 longer when necessary ; sometimes running a circuit of 
 two thousand miles. Night or day, they have always 
 cheerfully telegraphed our questions, and interested the 
 operators at the various stations to help us in getting 
 satisfactory replies. 
 
 I should be ungrateful did I not thus publicly ac- 
 knowledge my indebtedness to Mr. James Merrihew, 
 superintendent of the line in Philadelphia, to Mr. Heber 
 C. Robinson, manager, and to Messrs. Porter and Zcblin, 
 chief operators, who have always so cordially and cheer- 
 fully greeted me upon entering the office, that really it 
 is a pleasure for me to go to them with anything that 
 I desire to have decided quickly. Many children sup- 
 posed to resemble my little son were traced up in 
 a very short time by the facility afforded in the use of 
 
LETTERS OF SYMPATHY. l6l 
 
 the telegraph lines, and the expense of long journeys 
 often avoided. Theso gentlemen have become so famil- 
 iar with the details of the case that they frequently 
 examined matters relating to it,^vhich were brought to 
 their notice through the medium of the Associated Press, 
 before I had the least knowledge of them. 
 
 Perhaps the most interesting instance of a child re- 
 ported to us as being our Charley, occurred in one of 
 the Southern States; interesting because the child was 
 rescued from an irresponsible woman, not his mother, 
 who was neglecting him, and adopted by those who 
 love him, and intend to care for him as one of their own 
 children. It would afford me much pleasure to give a 
 full history of this case; but for prudential reasons I 
 shall be confined to a mere statement of the circum- 
 stances, suppressing the names of the persons interested, 
 and the name of the place in which they live. The 
 child's photograph represents him to be one of the 
 handsomest children among the many whose portraits 
 we have received. He has a bright, cheerful expression, 
 full round face, clear complexion, and large, blue eyes, 
 the very picture of health. 
 
 The first information we had of this child was by 
 telegraph as follows: 
 
 I believe officers here nave Charley Ross ; resemblance to picture 
 very striking, except hair is cut. He said his name was Charley Ross ; 
 but if his mamma knew it she would whip him. 
 
 Upon receipt of this telegram, we put ourselves in 
 direct communication through the telegraph with the 
 child, and asked him many questions, to some of which 
 his answers were correct. To the question asked the 
 child, "What he and his brother Walter played in?" 
 
1 62 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 he answered, " a swing machine." Such a machine is 
 in our yard, in which the children swung. Joseph W. 
 Lewis, Mrs. Ross's brother, determined to go to see 
 him. Before leaving, he requested the Chief of Police 
 of the place to write the full particulars, and to send a 
 photograph of the child. From the letter received, 
 the following information was obtained : That a woman 
 who formerly had resided in the place had recently re- 
 turned, bringing with her a small boy whom she repre- 
 sented to some persons as her own child, and to others 
 as an adopted child. It was asserted that the woman 
 maltreated the child to such a degree that the neigh- 
 bors observed it, and threatened her with punishment 
 if she did not desist. The attention of the police was 
 called to the matter, and suspicions were awakened that 
 the child did not belong to her, and was no other than 
 the lost Charley Ross. She was placed under arrest, 
 and the child taken in charge by one of the citizens of 
 the place. When examined, she told contradictory 
 stories, which confirmed the people in the belief that he 
 was our little boy. As soon as it was noised abroad 
 in the town that Charley Ross was supposed to be 
 there, intense excitement prevailed. And when it be- 
 came known that a relative of the lost child was on his 
 way to the place, the railroad depot was thronged with 
 people anxiously awaiting the arrival of the train. 
 Every one was hopeful that the little fellow would prove 
 to be the real Charley. When Mr. Lewis arrived, he 
 was quickly driven to the house where the child was, 
 and found him bearing no resemblance to the lost one. 
 Disappointed, he returned, first sending the telegram 
 home, " Wrong." Many persons did not think he took 
 
LETTERS OF SYMPATHY. 163 
 
 sufficient time to determine the matter, and I received 
 a number of letters after he left the place, saying that 
 he could not have decided correctly without a longer 
 examination, and that he did not stop long enough to 
 ask the child any questions. It should however be 
 known, that Charley's uncle had seen him almost 
 daily from the time he was born, and that compara- 
 tively a short time had elapsed since the child had been 
 taken from his home. 
 
 As soon as it was decided that the child was not my 
 little boy, efforts were made by the citizens to take him 
 from the woman ; but it was found it could not be 
 done, as she had in the meantime received a certificate, 
 which stated that the child had been transferred to her 
 husband the preceding March by a person living in 
 Richmond. This paper gave them a legal right to the 
 child, and they could not be dispossessed of it unless 
 by their voluntary consent. 
 
 A gentleman residing in the town, who was attracted 
 by the child, and had become interested in him, at once 
 enteVed into negotiations with the woman for a transfer 
 of their rights to him. Before, however, consummat- 
 ing positive arrangements, he obtained a history of the 
 child as far as these people were able to give it, and 
 endeavored to find his parents. Failing to trace him 
 further back than the person who gave him to them, 
 he gave the woman and her husband one thousand 
 dollars, and obtained a legal transfer of the boy to 
 hin^self I have since received several letters from the 
 gentleman, who expresses himself and family as de- 
 lighted with their little Charley, and we are happy in 
 the knowledge that the poor little fellow, who was sup- 
 
164 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 posed to be our Charley, has found such good foster- 
 parents. 
 
 Another case of more than ordinary interest was 
 brought to our knowledge about the same time. The 
 following telegram was received by our Mayor : 
 
 GOSHKN, N. Y. 
 Mayor of Philadelphia. — There is a child here I believe to be 
 Charley Ross; have had his likeness taken and sent to Christian K. 
 Ross by letter yesterday. James W. Hovt, 
 
 Sheriff Orange Co., N. Y, 
 
 The letter of the sheriff with the picture came to 
 hand, and an answer was returned, saying, " Not my 
 son." A few days afterward, a gentleman of this city 
 brought a stranger to see me, and introduced him as 
 the Rev. Mr. Kenny, late of Havana, Cuba. Mr. 
 Kenny stated that while he was in Washington City, 
 he heard that there had been a great excitement in 
 Goshen, N. Y., about a child he had left there in charge 
 of a friend of his. I told him that the people in the 
 village had supposed he was my little boy, and that the 
 sheriff had sent me a picture of the child ; but that I 
 had written to him that he was not my son. Mr. 
 Kenny showed me a photograph like the one sent me 
 from Goshen. He then related the following history 
 of the case : 
 
 He said that he was an American missionary of the 
 Episcopal Church in Cuba. One day while walking 
 through a suburb of Havana his attention was attracted 
 by the cries of a child ; upon entering a tent, whence the 
 sound proceeded, he saw a woman having a heavy leath- 
 er strap, to which was attached a large buckle ; with this 
 she was whipping a child, who was marked with welts, 
 and great drops of blood were running down from the 
 
LETTERS OF SYMPATHY. 1 6$ 
 
 wounds inflicted by the buckle. He remonstrated with 
 the woman, who was rude and defiant ; and noticing the 
 fchild more particularly, he observed that his complex- 
 ion was much more fair than that of the woman (who 
 was a Creole), and thought him of American parentage. 
 Becoming interested he applied to the authorities to 
 investigate the matter, who, after an examination, took 
 the child away from the woman, and handed him over 
 to Mr. Kenny, for the purpose of trying to find his 
 parents or friends. After making all the inquiry he 
 possibly could on the island without discovering any 
 one to claim him, and being obliged to return to the 
 United States, he brought the child with him, and tem- 
 porarily left him with a friend in Goshen, N. Y., while 
 he attended to some business in Washington, D. C. 
 He said also that he had not decided what he would do 
 with the boy ; but intended to act under the advice of 
 Bishop Doane. Mr. Kenny expressed much sympathy 
 and regret that the boy found by him was not mine. 
 
 During the months of December and January follow- 
 ing, I received a number of letters from Cooperstown, 
 N. Y., giving an account of a child in or near that place. 
 To these answers were sent, accompanied by a photo- 
 graph and description of Charley, and questions to 
 ask the child supposed to be he. Replies came which 
 seemed to indicate that the child was indeed my Char- 
 ley. The letters were evidently written by a person 
 unaccustomed to write, and showed possibly a want of 
 tact in putting the questions to the child. They did 
 not impress me sufficiently with the correctness of the 
 writer's conclusions as to identity, and I asked that more 
 definite information should be sent me, by which I could 
 
1 66 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 determine whether the child was mine or not. In reply 
 to this request I received a letter giving the name of a 
 lady who is superintendent of the " School of the Holy 
 Saviour," in Cooperstown, N. Y., and stating that the 
 child was in her charge. I immediately wrote to her 
 that a child had been reported to me as having been 
 placed in her institution who was supposed to be my 
 son, and desired her to send me a picture and descrip- 
 tion of him, and also to telegraph me her impressions 
 about the matter. To which request I had the follow- 
 ing telegram and letter: 
 
 Cooperstown, January 20th^ 1S7J. 
 C K. Ross. — I refer you to Bishop Doane, Albany, N. Y., for infor- 
 mation. I fear you are mistaken. Susan T. Cooper. 
 
 The letter bears the same date. 
 
 Dear Sir. — I fear you have been misled. The person who has been 
 writing you is a respectable woman, but knows absolutely nothing of 
 the facts relating to Charley Kenny. In my answer by telegraph I 
 referred you to Bishop Doane, who knows the facts relating to the boy 
 at our orphanage. Had there been the least probability of his being 
 your dear little boy, in whom the whole country is interested, you may 
 rest assured, we would have written you long before this. The facts 
 relating to the boy now in our house are these. He was found in the 
 hands of a circus company in Havana, Cuba. These people treated him 
 so cruelly that the authorities interfered. It was discovered tliat the 
 child was an American citizen, and an American clergyman passmg 
 the winter in Havana became interested in the child, and finding that he 
 had no near relatives at hand, inquired carefully into the past history of 
 the boy. So far as he could discover the child was an orphan. The 
 circus people had stolen him some time before. The boy did not know 
 his father's name ; but said his good mamma used to call him Charley, 
 while the circus people had given him another name. 
 
 Mr. Kenny, the clergyman, has adopted the boy and given him his 
 own name, and intends to educate him thoroughly. If I remember 
 rightly Mr. Kenny brought this boy to New York last spring. He is a 
 bright, laughing, joyous child — looking six years old — tall and robust; 
 
LETTERS OF SYMPATHY. 1 6/ 
 
 his precise age we do not know, of course ; his hair and eyes are dark 
 brown, his complexion rather dark than fair ; his face is ruddy, not pale. 
 He seems to have no recollection of the name of Ross, which a boy of 
 his intelligence could not possibly have forgotten in so short a time. 
 The circus people were ti aining our boy to be a clown ; this seems to 
 have been their object, and not to make money by restoring him to his 
 friends. Such are the facts as given to me. Of course, when we heard 
 of a stolen boy named Charley coming to the orphanage, the idea imme- 
 diately suggested itself that it might be your dear little boy ; but we 
 found that Bishop Doane and Mr. Kenny did not conceive it possible 
 that this could be Charley Ross. 
 
 No one could rejoice more than I should if this should be your dear 
 lost child ; but I dare not hope it. To-morrow I will have the photo- 
 graph taken and send it to you. I do not see any likeness in your 
 child's picture, which you sent me, to Charley Kenny, except the curly 
 hair. Allow me, my dear sir, to express my heartfelt sympathy with 
 you and your family in this severe affliction. God grant that your dear 
 child may yet be restored to you. Most sincerely yours, 
 
 Susan T. Cooper. 
 
 When the photograph was received it proved to be 
 a picture of the same child which had been in Goshen, 
 ^N. Y. 
 
 In February, 1875, I was in Red Bank, N. J., when 
 a lady living in the place, learning I was there, sent 
 for me to call and see her, as she thought she could 
 give me information that would be of service in tracing 
 Charley. She said that while on a visit to Jersey City, 
 a strange child had been brought to board near the 
 place where she had been staying, by a man who seemed 
 to be a priest. That he had left the child for a short 
 time, and then returned and took him away. No one 
 seemed to know the man or where he had gone. She 
 described the child and the man. I at once recognized 
 the Rev. Mr. Kenny and the Cuba child ; after a little 
 explanation, she concluded it was he. Thus three times 
 was this little waif reported to be my Charley, and 
 
l68 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 now that he has found a good home and kind friends, I 
 trust he will prove a blessing to his new father, and to 
 those who have undertaken to train him. Another 
 case of interest is as follows : 
 
 At a time when I was absent from home, a lady, a 
 Sister of Charity of the Catholic Church, who was pass- 
 ing through the city, by a note, asked me to call on 
 her as she had been requested by the Lady Superior 
 of a school to see me. She informed my brother, who 
 called on her, that there had been sent to the institu- 
 tion a child who had some points of resemblance to our 
 Charley. She gave the name of the place in which 
 the school is located, and the lady's name who had 
 charge of it, saying that by writing to her we could get 
 all the information we desired. My brother wrote and 
 requested her to send a photograph and description of 
 the child. To this the following reply, with the picture, 
 was received : 
 
 House of Providence, Syracuse, N. Y. 
 
 Mr. Ross. — Dear Sir : — Your letter of July 29th, in reference to the 
 interview with a sister from this institution, went astray, but reached me 
 after a time. Just then the little boy had the mumps or some enlarge- 
 ment of the glands of the throat or neck, and we decided to await the 
 abatement of the swelling before having the photograph taken. We now 
 enclose it. The likeness is perfect, save a sternness not natural to the 
 child. I think him not overlarge for a child five years old. He has 
 brown eyes, his hair is neither light nor very dark, might perhaps be 
 called a light brown ; I think he has dimples in his cheek and chin. He is 
 a dear little child, and we are anxious that he may be restored to his par- 
 ents if they can be found — for we feel what deep, deep sorrow such a loss 
 must be to them. We would only be too happy did he prove to be your 
 missing son, that we might be the instruments of restoring joy and happi- 
 ness to his sorrow-stricken parents, and almost feared to address you, lest 
 we might add one to the many false hopes raised in the breasts of the 
 father and mother, hopes destined to perish in a still more anxious search. 
 T am respectfully yours, Sister Beata E. McFarel. 
 
Charley Kenny, brought from Cuba. 
 
f 
 
LETTERS OF SYMPATHY. 1 69 
 
 The picture, although that of a fine-looking child, did 
 not in the least resemble our Charley. Shortly after 
 receiving the above letter, another lady living in Syra- 
 cuse wrote to me of a child, describing him, etc., etc., 
 to whom I sent one of Charley's pictures, and gave 
 her some questions to ask the child, and at the same 
 time asked her if she referred to the child in the House 
 of Providence. She replied that the child she had writ- 
 ten to me about was in a school, and that he could not 
 give satisfactory answers to any of the questions put to 
 him. This letter confirmed us that the child in the 
 House of Providence was not Charley. 
 
 During the few first months immediately following 
 the abduction we were almost daily advised of some 
 child supposed to be our stolen boy. Many of these 
 cases were so very encouraging in their circumstances 
 that our highest hopes were often excited, and the dis- 
 appointment that followed in not realizing the fulfilment 
 of them, rwas proportionately great. In time we learned, 
 by sad experience, not to rely too hopefully upon any 
 story, however probable, or trust too confidingly to any^ 
 theory, however plausible. Giving slow credence to 
 every case, we allowed none to be passed by without 
 clearly and definitely satisfying ourselves that they were 
 not correct. 
 
 Very soon after the publishing of the reward of 
 ^20,000, which was offered by certain citizens over the 
 signature of the Mayor of the city, for the arrest and 
 conviction of the abductors, and for the recovery of the 
 child, a reward of ^2,500 was offered for informa- 
 tion that would lead to the detection of the kid- 
 nappers of Charles Brewster Ross, and the name of 
 8 
 
I/O CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 the person giving the information to be kept secret, 
 if so desired, signed by Joshua Taggart, E. D. G. Car- 
 lin, R. A. Lukens, of the Pennsylvania Detective Bu- 
 reau. The amount of this reward was subsequently 
 increased to $5,000. What resulted from these adver- 
 tisements I do not know. As this is a private detect- 
 ive agency, I am not conversant with their operations ; 
 but I am aware that for a time they were actively 
 endeavoring to trace the parties. 
 
 As time passed away the mystery became more and 
 more unfathomable. The regular detective force, to- 
 gether with special officers of the police department, 
 were working with unusual and constant zeal. Ama- 
 teur detectives, who had theories of their own about 
 the matter, were pursuing them with unwearying ardor ; 
 but no approach whatever had been made towards a 
 solution of the enigma, and every one was in entire 
 ignorance, as to the hiding-place of the kidnappers 
 or of any clue to it. It may be asked why this great 
 difficulty existed in discovering the villains who had so 
 outraged the sense of the security of the community at 
 •large ? In the fact that the community felt and showed 
 that they had been so greatly outraged lies the answer 
 to the question. As was very properly stated in an 
 editorial of one of our daily newspapers, *' an essential 
 difference exists between the abduction of a child for 
 money, and all other crimes in which the main object 
 is money. In the case of bank or bond robberies, 
 where the plunder is recovered, it is generally through 
 the medium of third parties : there is no discovery or 
 detection about this, except that which is made by the 
 robbers themselves. The kidnappers, in this instance, 
 
 ^m 
 
LETTERS OF SYMPATHY. I/I 
 
 dared not use the usual machinery. The aroused an- 
 ger and absolute purpose of the people deterred them 
 against attempting to obtain the money. The villains 
 knew that they had perils to run, besides the risks of a 
 common trial by law. They were therefore obliged 
 to keep themselves and the child in unusual seclusion. 
 They were compelled to be in the highest degree wary 
 and secret, and to be doubly guarded against exposure 
 which so frequently comes to light by accident, and 
 which puts the police on the trail of malefactors." 
 
 Every theory propounded with regard to the abduc- 
 tion, however wild and extravagant, was fully tested ; 
 none were passed by. Some of these required but a 
 moment's examination to be disposed of conclusively. 
 Others that had some elements of probability in them, 
 demanded closer scrutiny, and longer time to sift suffi- 
 ciently to satisfy us of their worthlessness. 
 
 One theory was founded upon alleged inconsisten- 
 cies and inaccuracies in the statements of my son Walter, 
 and my refusal to submit the anonymous letters for 
 public perusal. The insinuations thrown out, that 
 Walter knew more about the disappearance of his 
 brother than he had told, were based upon variations 
 in his statements at different times and to different per- 
 sons, and on his failing to say anything about his 
 brother when he was found in Richmond, and from 
 my prohibiting him from communicating with reporters 
 and others. The inference drawn from these alleged 
 circumstances was that the child had been trained to 
 tell his story, and that myself or some member of my 
 family were the guilty ones. 
 
 It should be remembered that Walter was a child 
 
\J2 CHARLEY ROSS. ^ 
 
 t 
 
 not yet six years old, and that during the first few 
 weeks after the abduction, scarcely a day passed with- 
 out many persons interviewing and talking to him on 
 the subject, and newspaper reporters from our own as 
 well as other cities visited my office or my house dur- 
 ing my absence, who, anxious to get an item, and with 
 very little judgment or discretion, put leading questions 
 to the child, and caused him to say things not men- 
 tioned by him immediately after the abduction. He 
 was thus kept continually in an excited, nervous condi- 
 tion, and at last it became absolutely necessary that I 
 should prohibit any one from talking to him about the 
 matter, except those interested in getting information 
 for the purpose of unraveling the mystery. However, 
 subsequent events conclusively proved that the child's 
 statements were remarkably correct. With regard to 
 his not saying anything when he was found in Rich- 
 mond, about his brother Charley, the little fellow 
 showed such evidences of alarm, even when I met him 
 near his home, that when I inquired where he had been 
 he was not able to give me any answer, and in his ex- 
 citement and alarm, evidently forgot to say anything 
 about his brother. 
 
 This theory, although conveying an unnatural and 
 monstrous suspicion, like all others was fully examined 
 and criticised by those capable of judging, and may be 
 classed, with many other similar ones, as one of the ab- 
 surdities of the sad case. This would not now be refer- 
 red to, only that it continued to be repeated for several 
 months after the slander had been thoroughly exploded. 
 
 We have now arrived at a period where the first ray 
 of light was shed on this dark and wicked secret, which 
 shall be reserved for the succeeding chapter. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE REAL ABDUCTORS SUSPECTED EMPLOYMENT OF THE 
 
 fINKERTON DETECTIVE AGENCY IN THE SEARCH. 
 
 OUR weeks had passed away, and notwithstand- 
 ing the almost superhuman efforts in this city 
 by the poHce, and by those who were interested 
 with them, to trace the abductors and to find Charley, 
 not the shghtest clue to either had been discovered. Sp 
 effectually did the kidnappers cover their tracks when 
 they left our city, that it was truly said by them in their 
 last letter, " We think we have left no clues behind us." 
 Still the search was prosecuted without cessation ; pro- 
 fessional pride and duty, combined with personal feeling 
 and sympathy, stimulating the police to every possible 
 exertion. All felt the highest interest in finding the 
 stolen child, and in bringing the miscreants to justice. A 
 great amount of difficult work was skilfully performed 
 by practised men, whose time and energies had been 
 engrossed for a whole month on this single object; yet 
 they never wearied in the pursuit for an hour, believing 
 they would finally be successful. 
 
 To us who were most deeply interested, it was a 
 month of the most intense anxiety and distress, caused 
 not only by the protracted absence of the child, but by 
 many bitter disappointments from false clues. These 
 disappointments in some cases almost led us to despond, 
 and the darkness that still enshrouded the sad affair 
 
 {^73) 
 
174 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 well-nigh crushed all hope of ever finding either the 
 abductors or the child. 
 
 The first information received in this city that there 
 were any suspicious circumstances known in New York 
 was by a telegram received on the evening of August 
 2d, as follows: 
 
 Chief of Police of Philadelphia: — Send detective here with 
 original letters of kidnappers of Ross' child ; think I have information. 
 [Signed,] Geo. \V. Walling, 
 
 Superintendent N. Y. Police. 
 
 The next morning Captain Heins and my brother 
 Joseph went to New York, taking with them the letters 
 received from the abductors. At police head-quarters 
 they met Superintendent Walling, who told them that 
 through Capt. Henry Hedden, of the 13th Police district, 
 he had heard of a man professing to know the persons 
 who had stolen Charley Ross. Mr. Walling then sent 
 a messenger for the officer and his informant. The 
 man's story in substance was as follows : He said, that 
 a few months before Charley Ross was taken away a 
 plan had been arranged to abduct a child belonging to 
 a member of the Vanderbilt family residing at Throgs- 
 neck, Long Island ; he was informed of the plot, and 
 asked to join in it The child was to be taken while 
 playing on its father's lawn, and secreted. Fifty thou- 
 sand dollars was to be fixed as the ransom. He was 
 asked to receive the child on a small vessel, run out on 
 Long Island Sound, and keep it until the money was ob- 
 tained, when he would be notified to come back with it, 
 and the child would then be returned to its parents. For 
 this service he was to get a certain portion of the money. 
 He declined to join in this conspiracy. The circum- 
 
 ,J^.. 
 
THE REAL ABDUCTORS SUSPECTED. 1/5 
 
 stances connected with the steaHng of Charley Ross 
 being similar, he beheved that the same persons who 
 had arranged the plot to take the Vanderbilt child had 
 stolen Charley. He gave the names by which the 
 persons had been known who proposed to him to en- 
 gage in the Vanderbilt abduction as Johnson and Clark, 
 and also their true names, William Mosher and Joseph 
 Douglas, and said that he believed they resided in 
 Baltimore, Md. His description of the men was more 
 minute than we had already obtained, but corresponded 
 in all essential points. He also said, that if his suspi- 
 cions were correct, Mosher was the leader of the party ; 
 that he had arranged the plan, and was the writer of 
 the letters I had received. He said he was familiar 
 with Mosher's writing, and could tell if he saw the let- 
 ters whether he had written them or not. Before being 
 shown the letters, he described Mosher's manner of 
 writing as rapid and careless : that he rarely completed a 
 page without a blot. He said that he folded a letter in an 
 awkward way peculiar to himself, and would often write 
 either above or below the lines. When the letters were 
 shown to him he affirmed without any hesitation that 
 they were written by Mosher. He professed to recog- 
 nize the handwriting, and called the attention of those 
 present to the style of folding the letters as described 
 by him, to the blots of ink which appear on almost 
 every page, and other characteristics spoken of by him. 
 Captain Hedden stated that very soon after the ab- 
 duction of Charley was known in New York, this man 
 had called at his office and told him that he believed he 
 knew the persons who had stolen him ; but declined to 
 give any reasons for his suspicions. The captain placed 
 
lyC CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 little reliance in his statement, yet he repeated it to 
 Mr. Matsell, who was, at the time. Superintendent of 
 Police in New York. The Superintendent advised him 
 to follow the matter up. This he did, and after seeing 
 him frequently, he gathered, little by little, a similar 
 statement to that which had been made to Captain Heins 
 and my brother. 
 
 On the 23d of July Mr. Matsell was made President 
 of the Police Commissioners, and Geo. W. Walling Su- 
 perintendent of Police. 
 
 Captain Hedden then reported the information he 
 obtained to Superintendent Walling, who immediately 
 sent for the man and heard the story himself 
 
 At that time the trail was a mere suspicion. Yet the 
 superintendent deemed it of sufficient importance to 
 telegraph for a Philadelphia officer, to inform him of 
 the circumstances, and to verify the assertion that the 
 handwriting of the letters could be identified. At this 
 interview it was arranged that the informant should en- 
 deavor to locate Mosher, alias Johnson, and to this end 
 he wrote a letter addressed to Johnson in Baltimore. 
 Superintendent Walling and Captain Hedden endeav- 
 ored to find other persons who were likely to know 
 Mosher and Douglas, from whom they hoped to get 
 additional evidence that they were really the guilty 
 parties. These men were both known as criminals in 
 New York, and had been convicted of several offenses 
 a few years ago. Mosher at that very time was a fugi- 
 tive from justice, he having been arrested for burglary 
 in New Jersey, and having made his escape from prison 
 before he had a trial. 
 
 It should be here noticed that on the 3d of August 
 
THE REAL ABDUCTORS SUSPECTED. I// 
 
 % 
 
 Captain Heins and my brother were in New York, and 
 were made acquainted with the supposed clue to the 
 abductors, which had been brought to the notice of the 
 authorities of that city: that on the 5th of August I re- 
 ceived a letter from the abductors, dated Philadelphia, 
 August 4th, which states : " When you receive this we 
 shall be at least two hundred miles from here;" and 
 that the remainder of the letters, excepting the last two, 
 were written and mailed in distant places. The inference 
 is that by some means the abductors at that time had 
 learned that they were suspected of the crime, and had 
 fled from our city. 
 
 It was arranged with the New York detectives that 
 the authorities in this city should be informed of every 
 important fact connected with the case which might 
 be developed in New York, and that whatever assist- 
 ance could be rendered here should be afforded them. 
 In accordance with this understanding Captain Heins 
 received the following letter: 
 
 New York, Aug. 5th, 1874. 
 
 Capt. Wm. R. Heins. — Dear Sir : — We are doing everything possible 
 to locate those parties, and with good prospect of success. I will write 
 you again to-morrow, or will telegraph if anything importajit is developed. 
 Yours, Henry Hedden, Captain. 
 
 And on the 8th of August Captain Hedden writes 
 as follows: 
 
 Capt. Wm, R. Heins. — Dear Sir : — We are busy, and hope to find 
 something very soon. Please send me a few newspapers published in 
 your city during two or three weeks past. I want those that contain 
 small advertisements. Papers of the style of the "N. Y. Sun" or 
 " Evening News" are what I want. 
 
 Captain Hedden had learned that Mosher and Doug- 
 las manufactured a moth preventive, which they called 
 
 *'Mothee," and that they travelled about the coufitry 
 
 8* 
 
178 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 with a horse and wagon, selling this with other small 
 articles, and he thought that possibly the moth powder 
 might be advertised. He was also informed that 
 Mosher had a brother-in-law, Wm. Westervelt, in New 
 York, a discharged police officer of that city, and sus- 
 pected that he might be in some way implicated. 
 
 On the night of the 9th of August a message was 
 sent to me to bring my son Walter to New York and 
 report to Superintendent Walling. On the following 
 morning I notified him of our arrival in compliance 
 with his request. He called at the hotel at which we 
 were, introduced himself, and asked me to remain in 
 my room until he saw me again. The same afternoon, 
 accompanied by Captain Hedden, he came and told me 
 to follow the Captain's instructions. By arrangement 
 with the Captain, early the following morning, August 
 I ith, Walter and I went with him and saw Westervelt 
 without his knowing we were observing him, Walter 
 being asked if he ever saw the man before, replied, " No, 
 sir ; never ;" and made the same answer to a question 
 whether Westervelt was one of the men in the buggy 
 on Washington Lane. After leaving the place where 
 we saw him, Captain Hedden said, *' I did not think he 
 was one of the persons who took the children, but I 
 wanted to be certain he was not; yet I believe he is con- 
 nected with the matter, and is in communication with 
 the abductors." We then went to Police Headquarters, 
 where Superintendent Walling related to me the story 
 he had heard, and said, regarding it in the most favor- 
 able light, it seemed to him probable that these persons 
 accused of the crime were the real abductors ; but that 
 his opinion was based entirely on the suspicions of his 
 
-THE REAL ABDUCTORS SUSPECTED. 1 79 
 
 informer, and that he had not found anything to con- 
 firm him that they were correct ; but would do every- 
 thing in his power to gain further information, as well 
 as to find the men. 
 
 This was the first knowledge I had of this clue; 
 Intimations had been given me that there was some- 
 thing going on in New York, without, however, stating 
 what it was. 
 
 After hearing Superintendent Walling, my impres- 
 sions were that this was the most likely clue we ever 
 had to the abductors, and I felt hopeful that we would 
 soon have the suspicions confirmed, or reach the parties. 
 
 It was stated before, that the informer had written a 
 letter to Johnson at Baltimore ; but, receiving no reply, 
 he, with an officer from New York, was sent to Balti- 
 more to try to find these men. On their way to that 
 city they stopped in Philadelphia, as the following tele- 
 gram announced : 
 
 r New York, August 11th, 1874. 
 
 Capt. Wm. R. Heins. — One of my men and another man will be at 
 your office to-morrow A.M., at 9 o'clock. Henry Hedden, 
 
 Captain 13th Precinct. 
 
 The officer brought with him a letter of introduction 
 from the Superintendent, in which he also states the 
 object of their visit to Baltimore as follows : 
 
 New York, August nth, 1814. 
 Captain Heins. — Dear Sir: — The bearer, Officer Doyle, and another 
 man go to your city, and intend going on to Baltimore, where the family 
 of Johnson lived a few weeks since. Johnson, we think, is the prime 
 movei in the Ross abduction. Mr. Doyle and the man who is with him 
 both know Johnson and his family well. This Johnson has a wife and 
 four children. Some time since he escaped from jail at Freehold, New 
 Jersey, while awaiting trial for burglary. His correct name is Mosher. 
 
l8o CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 It may be that we are on the wrong scent ; but I think not. If they can 
 locate Johnson's family, we can certainly find his whereabouts. 
 
 Yours respectfully, Geo. W. Walling, 
 
 Superintendent. 
 
 Officer Doyle and his companion failed to find any 
 trace of Mosher's (alias Johnson's) family in Baltimore, 
 and believing, from information which they had re- 
 ceived, that the family lived in Philadelphia, they re- 
 turned to this city, and spent several days here in an 
 unsuccessful search for them. 
 
 On the 13th of August Superintendent Walling wrote 
 as follows : 
 
 Captain Heins. — Dear Sir : — If we are right in our suspicions, and 
 the parties that Detective Doyle and his companion are searching for in 
 Baltimore are guilty of abducting the Ross child, in all probability the 
 child is kept on board of a small boat, and may be in your vicinity. 
 Yours in haste, G. W. Walling. 
 
 Superintendent. 
 
 Mr. Walling knew that Mosher was a boat-builder by 
 trade, and that he frequented the waters around New 
 York in a boat on marauding expeditions, and supposed 
 that a small vessel would be the most likely place in 
 which Mosher would conceal the child. On receipt of 
 the above letter, all the boats, vessels and barges lying 
 in the Delaware and Schuykill rivers were searched, as 
 already related. Up to this time no more definite in- 
 formation had been obtained, except that Mosher, after 
 his escape from jail in Freehold, N. J., about three years 
 prior to these events, had been lost sight of by the 
 police, and had been absent from his former haunts in 
 New York. 
 
 This clue, as before stated, rested entirely on the 
 statement of a person who had been solicited to be a 
 participant in a similar abduction; and while the author- 
 
THE REAL ABDUCTORS SUSPECTED. l8l 
 
 ities of New York and Philadelphia did not feel at all 
 sanguine that the information was correct, yet they 
 deemed it best to pursue the trail without communi- 
 cating their action to any person except those actually 
 engaged in working it up. This secrecy seemed neces- 
 sary, because several times before the police had been 
 defeated in accomplishing their purposes by the injudi- 
 cious publicity which had been given to their move- 
 ments. 
 
 All that I knew of the matter I learned on my first 
 interview with Mr. Walling. I read none of the letters 
 or telegrams that passed between the two cities, and 
 felt that if the end could be reached better without my 
 being kept posted in the means used, I should be con- 
 tented by asking 'general questions. The correspond- 
 ence and telegrams relating to this clue already given, 
 and those to follow, came into my possession very re- 
 cently, and were then read by me for the first time. 
 
 The press, looking only at results, found fault with 
 the police and charged them with inefficiency; and so 
 long a time had now passed without apparently getting 
 any nearer to a solution of the mystery, that the public 
 became impatient: a desire began everywhere to be 
 manifested that every means should be employed to 
 ferret out the abductors and to recover the child. A 
 few citizens deeply interested believed that the time had 
 arrived when a new power should be called in to attempt 
 to unravel the mystery, and concluded to employ the 
 Pinkerton detective agency in the case. While these 
 negotiations for this object were pending, and arrange- 
 ments were being made, a letter from the abductors 
 reached me from New York City. 
 
l82 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 The last letter received from the abductors was dated 
 August 4th, and no reply made to it My advisers deemed 
 it best not to answer it, believing that when it was found 
 that no notice was taken of their letter they would write 
 again. This they did after a delay of nearly three weeks. 
 The suspense was long; but when the letter did come, 
 there was a feeling that a point had been gained, and 
 that the villains were becoming anxious to close the 
 negotiations. The letter was dated and mailed in New 
 York, August 2 1st, and was received about nine o'clock 
 the same night in Philadelphia, and is as follows; 
 
 [No. i6.] 
 
 New York, August 21. — Mr. Ros : we have heard nothing from yu 
 since we wrote yu about 3 weeks ago. we then told yu if yu had any- 
 thing to comunicate to us to do it through the New York Herald person- 
 als, we have seen nothing but these words (Christian K. Ross, 304 
 Market street), we know not what to make of that, we have therefor 
 come to the conclusion that yu don't mean to redeem yu child on the 
 conditions which we proposed, yu must bear in mind we would never 
 agree to any other terms, the fact of yu saying the action must be sym- 
 ultainous is absolutely imposible. we would require at least a few ours 
 to examine the mony and see if it were spurious or all marked up and 
 then but a few ours more would be necessary to place yu child in yu 
 possession for he is not so far off as yu may imagin. the folowing is the 
 way we had intended to return him to yu. we was going to put a labill 
 on his back and take him to a respectable house at night rouse them up. 
 tell them to take this child as directed pay them for their trouble, this 
 arrangement does not me with yu concent so there is no other altemitive 
 left yu. now we demand yu anser yes or now as we are going to urope 
 the 24 Sept ai>d he has got to be disposed of one way or the other by 
 that time, if you «a.y redeem him it has got to be on our terms alone if 
 yu do not answer we 'hall take it as granted that yu dont mean to pay 
 yu money, we shall act accordingly, address (John New Herald per- 
 sonals.) you are listing ^o old womans visions and dreams which wil 
 never find yu child, we x)uld have told yu it was useless to go to iUi- 
 noise to look for charly but -»*! would not have believed us. 
 
THE REAL ABDUCTORS SUSPECTED. I83 
 
 In this letter the abductors call my attention to the 
 fact that no reply was made to their letter of August 
 4th, and to having seen my name in the personal col 
 umn of the New York Herald, which they do not under- 
 stand. They speak again of the impossibility of making 
 the exchange simultaneously, and say they will not 
 agree to any other than the terms already proposed by 
 them ; that they will require a few hours to examine the 
 money, and then a few more hours would be required 
 in which to return the child, but that he is not so far 
 away as I might suppose. They also state the way in 
 which they propose to return the child to me, and 
 demand an answer to the letter, threatening to go to 
 Europe the following month, and saying that this mat- 
 ter must be disposed of before that time. They advise 
 me not to travel around to look for Charley, as no 
 persons but they have him. 
 
 It will be observed that the tone of this letter is much 
 milder than any of its predecessors. It is wanting in the 
 cruel threats in which they had indulged so freely in 
 the other letters. 
 
 The abductors had now become fugitives from our 
 city, where they were not known to the police authori- 
 ties as criminals, and had fled to New York, where they 
 were not only liable to be arrested for this crime, but 
 also for another offense. Yet they felt safe there, so 
 long as they had one interested, one who by giving 
 them information of the doings of the authorities, aided 
 them in secreting themselves. 
 
 My name appeared in the personal columns of the 
 Herald in answer to an anonymous letter, which had no 
 relation to these men; yet the fact of their observinjg: it 
 
184 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 shows how impatient they were for an answer to their 
 last letter. In all the former letters their whole aim 
 was to get the money, without laying themselves open 
 to discovery. In this they, for the first time, indicate 
 the way in which they propose to get Charley to his 
 home. They evidently knew they were suspected of 
 having committed the crime, as they desire to hasten 
 the negotiations by stating that on the 24th of Septem- 
 ber they would go to Europe. They seem to have 
 taken it for granted that I was following out the many 
 suggestions made to me by clairvoyants and spiritual- 
 ists of every species, and that I had gone or sent to 
 Illinois, to look at a child. This they were induced to 
 believe by the newspapers, which they evidently read 
 closely. 
 
 After the arrangements between the Pinkerton agency 
 and the citizens who employed them were completed, 
 and a committee of citizens had been appointed to carry 
 out their plans, I was informed that they were engaged 
 to work in the case. So anxious was I to end the tor- 
 tures which my family and myself were enduring, that 
 without inquiring into the conditions upon which the 
 agency had been employed, I was glad that their assist- 
 ance had been procured. 
 
 On the 26th of August, the following personal was 
 published in the New York Herald, in reply to the let- 
 ter of August 2ist : 
 
 John. Did not answer, because your proposition led my friends to 
 doubt whether you ever had it. Write, giving better proof, and nanie an 
 attorney, or other person, through whom arrangements can be made. 
 
 To which the following answer was received post- 
 marked Rondout, New York, 27th of August : 
 
THE REAL ABDUCTORS SUSPECTED. 1 85 
 
 [No. 17. Postmarked Rondout, 27th of August.] 
 Albany, August 26. — Mr. Ros — Your timely answer saved yu child. 
 "We had determined if yu did not care to save him we would not swerve 
 one jot or tittle from the fate we had designed for him — not that we 
 delight in blood but it was inevitable with our selves in order to carry 
 out our plan of action yu ask for no more prof that we had him or that 
 we have him — that is right — yu should have prof that we are the iden- 
 tical ones who kidnaped Charley — we thought that yu were well satisfied 
 that we were the kidnapers — we wil first prove to yu we took Charley 
 — ask Walter if one erf the men did not hold him between his legs an 
 partly on his knee with the cloth in front of him while Charley set 
 behind us both entirely out of sight — ask him if he did not want to go up 
 on main road to git fireworks an we told him we would first go to ant 
 Susy's that she kep a shop where we could get them cheaper, ask him 
 if we did not keep givin him pieces of candy as we rode along, ask 
 him if we did not go from your house west to Morton street and then 
 south instead of going towards the depot on Washington lane as it has 
 been stated in the papers these remarks we think are suficient to prove 
 to yu that we are the men who took him if yu have received any other 
 letters headed other than Ros or Mr. Ros they are forgeries, we have 
 sent you 8 or 10 letters in all, if you had accepted the proposition we 
 made yu some four weeks ago yu would now without doubt have yu 
 child safe in yu own house but yu rejected the offer and left us without 
 the means to negotiate with yu. Mr, Ros if you ever expect to recove yu 
 child yu have got to in a measm-e rely on our faith, in dealing with us 
 yu must be satisfied that yu child was taken for a ransom. We have set 
 the price and asked the ransom of yu, do yu think if you paid the ran- 
 som once that we would ever ask it the second time, no man would be 
 foolish enough to pay ransom the second time for a thing he had paid 
 for once and did not get, if we wanted more money from you we would 
 ask it now, instead of asking more we would rather throw off some, but 
 the public have interfered so much in this bisiness that we are deter- 
 mined every dollar shall be paid or not one cent You have asked that 
 the action between us should be symultainous You must know from the 
 nature of this busines that is impossible — first we would have to give 
 yu Charley when we receive the mony yu git yu child, We might git a 
 bundle of brown paper and a chain around our necks No sir Mr. Ros 
 We must have at least 4 or 5 hours to examine the money to see if yu 
 have delt faithfully with us what we mean is yu must give the mony in 
 good condition unscarified or not at all, then yu have performed yu part 
 
1 86 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 in good faith When that is done we have no further use for Charley he 
 has answered the whole end for which we got him and we as vile as we 
 are would be working against our own interests if we did not return him 
 to you as we promised we only wish it was posible to effect the change 
 symultaniously but as that cant be done yu must accept the best we can 
 offer yu, do yu open this correspondence with the intention to pay yu 
 money on our terms and git yu child or is it tlie foolish advice of some 
 of yu friends again with the idea of entraping us. do you want to daly 
 along and keep your child month after month living in a place where the 
 strongest could not live over one year, we would not let him unnecessarily 
 sufer but this exteriordary search has made it necessary to keep him where 
 the light of the sun has never shown upon him since the 2d day of July. 
 we have seen Charley about 4 days ago his whole cry is he wants Walter 
 to come see him and he is afraid he wil not go to Atlantic City with his 
 mother, don't think this is only an appeal to your affection as a farther 
 it is symply the words that he used when we saw him last. Mr. Ros. 
 One word more — do you want to redeem Charley or not on our terms, 
 if yu do yu must make up you mind that the money must be paid in good 
 faith, don't deceive yu self that if the ransom is not paid that we will 
 set yu child at liberty, we can never do that our whole plan would be 
 frustrated at one blow and our work would come to naught, as yu deal 
 with us so shal we deal with you in return, we saw yu personal in 
 Herald of 26. whatever answer yu have to make to this let it be in 
 Albany Argus no put it in New York htrald personals as we wil leave 
 here to-day and drop this somewhere on our way to New York, we 
 can see the New York herald any part of the United States. 
 (Address as be for John.) 
 P. S. — yu acted wisely in refusing these letters until yu got yu child 
 — if yu had published them, no doubt it wotdd have been the means 
 of sacrificing you child. 
 
 The abductors begin this letter by saying that my 
 answer to their last letter had saved the child. They 
 profess not to delight in blood, but are determined to 
 carry out their plans, even though they should involve 
 the taking of his life. Admitting that it is proper for 
 me to have proof that they kidnapped Charley, they 
 profess to have additional evidence, and present ques- 
 
THE REAL ABDUCTORS SUSPECTED. 1 8/ 
 
 tions to be asked of Walter to prove that they really 
 did take the children away. A statement is given of 
 the manner in which they addressed me previously in 
 their letters, with the number of letters sent to me by 
 them. They state that if their offer to make the ex- 
 change had been accepted, I should have had the child 
 four weeks ago, and say that I must rely on their word 
 for the fulfillment of their part of the proposition. This 
 is supported by the argument, that it would be foolish 
 for them to expect another ransom after the first had 
 been paid. They say that had not the public interfered 
 in the business, they would have lessened the sum of 
 money fixed as the ransom ; but will not now. They 
 argue that it will be impossible to make a simultaneous 
 exchange, and say that I would get Charley, and they 
 might receive a bundle of paper and a chain around 
 their necks. For these reasons, they require time to 
 make themselves secure. If they do not restore the 
 child after finding that the money is all right, they 
 would be working against their own interests, but are 
 still doubtful about my dealing with them in good 
 faith. They endeavor to work upon my feelings as a 
 father, by saying that Charley is necessarily kept 
 closely confined, where no one could live over a year, 
 and where the light of the sun has never shone on him 
 since the 2d day of July, and by telling me that the 
 continual cry of Charley is to see Walter, and to go 
 to Atlantic City to be with his mother. They claim 
 that their whole plan would be frustrated, if the child 
 should be set at liberty without the ransom being paid, 
 •and re-affirm that as I deal with them, so will they deal 
 with me ; and finally they require an answer in the 
 New York Herald, with the same address of "John." 
 
1 88 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 Rondout, as most of my readers know, is built on 
 the west bank of the Hudson river, at the mouth of a 
 stream to which the name of the town has been given, 
 and is about ninety miles north of New York City; 
 here is the terminus of the Hudson and Delaware canal. 
 This place was visited at a later date by Mosher, Doug- 
 las and Westervelt, and will be noticed again in the 
 order of time. 
 
 It is hard to believe that in our country a man could 
 be so devoid of feeling as to threaten deliberately to 
 take the life of a little child, in order that his sad case 
 might be referred to as an example to terrify other 
 parents into redeeming their children stolen from them. 
 Yet we find this threat repeated again and again by the 
 writer of these letters. When Walter was asked the 
 questions which the kidnappers gave us in the letter 
 hist received, his answers to all were as indicated by the 
 writer, except that in reply to that relating to the direc- 
 tion first taken after getting into the buggy, he said 
 that there was a dirty lap-cover drawn up which nearly 
 covered them, and that he had asked the men to take 
 them to the main street to get the fire crackers; but 
 that they said, "We will go to Aunt Susy's, where you 
 can get a pocket full for five cents." He said that they 
 had given them candy all along the road, and when he 
 got home he had still a considerable quantity in his 
 pocket. But he stated very positively they did not go 
 to Morton street, but turned the horse before getting 
 there, and went out Washington Lane, passing by the 
 railroad station. My name in all the letters is spelled 
 " Ros." They were wrong, however, in saying they had 
 sent me eight or ten letters; I had received sixteen 
 
THE REAL ABDUCTORS SUSPECTED. 1 89 
 
 written by the same person and addressed in the same 
 way. 
 
 Before committing the crime, the kidnappers did not 
 suppose that pubhc feehng would be so intense, or popu- 
 lar indignation so fiercely aroused. This is again re- 
 ferred to, and is given as an additional reason why they 
 will not change their original dernands, evidently fear- 
 ing summary vengeance frdm the people. 
 
 It is impossible for me to describe my feelings when 
 I read the closing part of this letter, which speaks of 
 Charley being left in close confinement. Imagination 
 suggested every conceivable dark and loathsome place 
 as his prison — a cave, the hold of a vessel, or an aban- 
 doned mine — these and other like places were conjec- 
 tured as one of his hiding-places where the light of the 
 sun might be shut out. It seemed to me that it could 
 not be possible that he should be treated so cruelly ; 
 though the statement was before me, I felt that it could 
 not — must not be so — that he must soon be discovered. 
 I fancied that I could hear his plaintive appeals to see 
 his brother Walter, and that he might go to Atlantic 
 City to be with his mother. Who so callous as not to 
 be touched by the piteous cry of a child? and yet these 
 miscreants, more cruel than brutes, tamely listened to 
 the wailings of this distressed and innocent child, whom 
 they had stolen from his home, without any emotions 
 of pity ; and then, with worse than fiendish calculation, 
 could write to his parents, already broken down by long- 
 continued torture and suspense, " His whole cry is, he 
 wants Walter to come to see him," and " he is afraid 
 he will not go to Atlantic City to be with his mother ;" 
 and all this for the purpose of making money. 
 
190 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 Mr. Bangs, Superintendent in New York, and Mr. 
 B. Franklin, Superintendent in Philadelphia of the Pink- 
 erton detective agency, after obtaining all the informa- 
 tion possible by personal inquiries and examinations, 
 besides having been made acquainted with all that the 
 public authorities had investigated, entered vigorously 
 upon their work, by preparing circulars with photo- 
 graphs of Charley ; large and small posters describing 
 the child, men, horse and wagon, headed with the 
 ^20,000 reward offered by the Mayor ; bills with wood 
 cuts and lithographs of the child ; photographs with 
 descriptions on postal cards, and photographs mounted 
 on cards and bills, offering a reward of one thousand 
 dollars for any information to the person who would 
 give positive information as to the owner of the horse 
 and buggy used by the kidnappers, and for informa- 
 tion of the house the kidnappers stopped at prior to said 
 abduction. 
 
 The different circulars and descriptions were dis- 
 tributed in immense numbers; being sent to the 
 sheriff of every county in the United States, to every 
 postmaster in the United States and Canada. Photo- 
 graphs and descriptions were forwarded to every rail- 
 road office, with a request that each conductor be 
 furnished with a copy ; to every steamboat and steam- 
 ship that came to any of the ports of the United 
 States and the Canadas. They had them put perma- 
 nently on all the ferry boats and street railroad cars, 
 in the various railroad depots j in fact, wherever any 
 one could be reached by means of printed posters or 
 circulars, there could be seen printed descriptions of 
 Charley, with his picture, or hand-bills describing the 
 
THE REAL ABDUCTORS SUSPECTED. IQI 
 
 abductors and their horse and wagon. This detective 
 agency did not confine itself to our own country, but 
 sent large quantities of the printed matter to England 
 and other parts of Europe. Thus the widest pub- 
 licity was given to the abduction, and the picture of 
 Charley Ross was scattered by this means, so that 
 there was scarcely an English-speaking town or village 
 where it could not be found, either posted up in a pub- 
 lic place, or in the possession of some of the citizens. 
 
 The details of their work I never knew. They were 
 employed by gentlemen of this city who were deeply 
 interested in restoring the child, and in the detection of 
 the criminals, and who believed that this agency had 
 greater facilities than any other organization for accom- 
 plishing the work. A daily report was made to a com- 
 mittee selected from among the contributors to the fund 
 raised to pay the expenses of the work. It was there- 
 fore not necessary, and perhaps not proper, that I should 
 know what means were being employed. It was enough 
 for me to hope that, with their aid, results would be 
 reached that should restore to me my child. 
 
 The funds raised for the object of meeting the ex- 
 penses incident to their employment, have been long 
 since exhausted, and the committee disbanded. 
 
 My nephew, in the latter part of September, went to 
 Scotland to investigate a case, and see a child discov- 
 ered by the agency, supposed to be Charley ; but 
 returned, after an absence of six weeks, with the oft- 
 repeated word " Wrong." Mr. Joseph W. Lewis went 
 to Montreal, Canada, about the same time, and came 
 back, after several weeks, with the same answer — 
 " Wrong." One of the detectives was sent to Colorado 
 
192 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 to look after a child, who had been reported in that 
 distant territory as being my little son. He also re- 
 turned disappointed. 
 
 For months the Pinkerton men performed an immense 
 amount of work. All means required were at their 
 command, to use at their discretion, and every assis- 
 tance that could be, was afforded by the counsels of the 
 committee, gentlemen of the highest standing in our 
 community and of the clearest judgment that could be 
 selected; yet they failed to discover anything that 
 shed a ray of light on the mystery. The failure is, of 
 course, to be attributed to the peculiarities of the case, 
 which compelled the abductors to use the utmost cau- 
 tion in all their movements, and to cover all their tracks 
 so effectually as to leave behind them no traces which 
 might lead to their discovery. 
 
 The constant failures to find out the perpetrators of 
 the crime show the impotence of all the appliances 
 of police and detectives when confronted by cunning 
 and audacious criminals, who, using the advantage of 
 their position, even defy pursuit. 
 
 Efforts continued to be made in New York to get 
 additional evidence as to whether Mosher alias Johnson 
 and Clark were the real abductors, and on August 24th, 
 1874, Superintendent Walling wrote as follows: 
 
 W. R. Heins, Captain Detectives. — Dear Sir : — Yours of 22d 
 received. I am more confident than ever that the parties Clark and 
 Mosher alias Johnson are the parties we want. I knew before receiving 
 your letter that they were somewhere in this vicinity, etc., etc. 
 
 Some one has let them know that they are being looked after, and that 
 is the reason for their change of tone. They are frightened, and would, 
 I believe, make terms very moderate, provided they could be a-ssured of 
 safety. There is no danger of their going to Europe; they have no 
 
THE REAL ABDUCTORS SUSPECTED. 1 93 
 
 money, and Mosher's wife and children would keep him here. Of this 
 you can assure Mr. Ross, providing I am right as to the parties, and I 
 have no doubt of it. I think it would be well for Mr. Ross to keep in 
 communication (if possible) with them. 
 
 You can assure Mr. Ross that I think there is no danger of their in- 
 juring the child, or of their taking him to Europe, always providing we 
 are on the right track. 
 
 Yours, in haste, 
 
 Geo. W. Walling, SupU of Police, 
 
 While the clue that pointed to Mosher and Douglas 
 as being the criminals was regarded as the best which 
 had been brought to the notice of the police authori- 
 ties, still, whenever information was received of other 
 suspicious persons or circumstances, they were fully 
 inquired into. 
 
 Mosher and Douglas were fugitives from our city, 
 and out of the jurisdiction of our police; and all our 
 officers could do was to assist the New York authori- 
 ties, by sending to them what information they could 
 obtain here to confirm anything they learned there. 
 Officer Doyle and his companion returned to New 
 York without being able to locate Mosher's family, and 
 Supt. Walling sent for Westervelt on the i8th of 
 August, and endeavored to engage him to assist in 
 finding the men and recovering the child. After con- 
 sidering the matter for a few days, he concluded to 
 help him. The manner and results of this assistance 
 will appear hereafter. 
 
 On the I ith of September, Supt. Walling wrote to 
 Capt. Heins: 
 
 Dear Sir. — Since writing you this A. M., I have seen Westervelt ; 
 
 he says he knows nothing of the whereabouts of Mosher. He says 
 
 Mosher lived in your city, about four months ago, on Monroe street, near 
 
 3d street, and that he had a stable between 3d and 4th streets, in some 
 
 9 
 
194 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 street name not known, but the third or fourth street from Monroe to- 
 wards Washington avenue. The st:)ble was an old wooden building 
 with very large doors, and near 3d street ; that a wagon answering to 
 the description you gave me was in said stable at that time, and may be 
 there yet, but probably not ; that they kept in said stable a dark bay 
 horse ; but he is confident the horse has been sold, but does not know to 
 whom. I showed him the drawing of the wagon you gave to me, and 
 he says he could not make a better one had he it before him, except that 
 he thinks his would not be quite so much rounded at the top. 
 Yours, etc.. 
 Signed, Geo. W. Walling, Supt. 
 
 This was the first information that was obtained of 
 the locality in which Mosher's family had lived while 
 in this city, and where he had kept his horse and 
 wagon. By inquiries made by Capt. Heins, it was 
 found that a family named Henderson had resided at 
 235 Monroe street. This proved to be the name 
 Mosher had assumed when he came to Philadelphia. 
 It was also learned that Joseph Douglas, alias Clark, 
 had lived with them, and that Mosher's wife and child- 
 ren had moved to New York on the 19th of August. 
 On making inquiry for the stable, it was found that 
 there had been an old stable on Marriott's Lane, now 
 torn down, and part of which Mosher, alias Henderson, 
 had rented, and there kept his horse and wagon. 
 
 An explanation seems to be necessary here, why the 
 searches in July, among the stables of the city, failed 
 to discover this stable or shed in Marriott's Lane. 
 The facts are these, as they were learned after the in- 
 formation had been received where to look for the 
 stable. It had been rented by a person who sublet 
 stall room to others, and on the ist of July the stable 
 was leased by another man, who did not know the for- 
 mer occupants : so that when the officers inquired of 
 
THE REAL ABDUCTORS SUSPECTED. 1 95 
 
 him about the horse and wagon, he knew nothing 
 about it, and only knew those persons who were using 
 the stable at that time ; very soon afterwards the stable 
 was torn down. 
 
 It was deemed important to find some of Mosher's 
 writing, that it might be compared with the letters 
 received from the abductors. Capt. Heins succeeded 
 in finding his assumed name signed to a number of t 
 receipts ; but that was not sufficient to identify the 
 writing. Westervelt was asked to procure a letter or 
 any paper that he knew Mosher had written; but de- 
 clared he did not know where to get any. Efforts 
 were made by and through other persons to the same 
 end, but without success. 
 
 On the 6th of September, the following personal ap- 
 peared in the New York Herald^ in reply to the letter 
 of August 26th : 
 
 John. He denies the direction you give. I require conclusive proof. 
 Send clothing to any point that you please, and advise. 
 
 On the 6th of September, an answer was received as 
 follows : 
 
 [No. 18. Postmarked New York, September 6.] 
 Mr. Ros we cannot see how yu can resist the proof that we have got 
 him notwithstanding Walter's contradictory story, yu must admit he was 
 taken by some one yu must admit he was taken for a ransom now if we 
 have not got him who has got him — has any one else asked yu for a 
 ransom we think not. mr. percell that benevlent man who offered to 
 pay the ransom now says yu have never lost yu child — we know percell 
 lies because we have positive that we have him and yu have positive 
 proof that yu lost him. Mr. Ros in order to convince yu that we have 
 him yu require some of his cloths sent yu. it was hinted some six weeks 
 ago in one of the editorials to send yu some of Charly cloths in answer 
 to that we said we would never do anything of the kind because we 
 could give an irrestible proof without it — if we sent you any cloths we 
 have got to cxpres ihcm which wo wil never do we don't know for cer- 
 
196 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 tain welher his cloths have been saved up to the time wc dont go near 
 him often for we have nothing to do with guarding him though we have 
 seen him three or four times since 2d of July we told you in one of our 
 letters that Charley had never been in any way whatever disguised nor at 
 that time he had not been but since then he has had his hair cut short 
 and girls clothes put on him now wether they have kept his cloths or 
 not we cannot say and we cannot send them if they have them the 
 probibility is they have destroyed them for every possible precautionary 
 measure has been taken since we have seen what great efforts have been 
 made to find his place of concealment we were surprised to think yu 
 would make such efforts to find him when we told yu that to search for 
 him yu was only searching for his life and any approach by a detective to 
 his hiding place would be a certain sign for his destruction yu either 
 don't believe this or yu don't regard the life of yu child where he is 
 now confined wil be his tomb unles yu bring him out with the ransom 
 yu detectives can never do it your friends who advise yu that we wil 
 set him free should you not ransom him wil be the worst advise yu ever 
 had. your friends yu say ask for more proof that wc ever had him they 
 are as foolish as percell for he says you never lost him. your detectives 
 have never had the slightest clue or trace of him since the our he was 
 taken but in order to convince these sceptical friends that we had him 
 and have him we will now give the detectives a small clue to work upon 
 but it will serve no other end only to convince these sceptical friends or 
 yours that we have him. on the night of 2d July at 1 1 o'clock we passed 
 through Trenton, N. J. Charley lay in my arms asleep, after we had 
 passed about 2 squares up bridge st Charley's hat drop off and we did 
 not notice it until he woke up and asked for his hat we would not go 
 back for it. you can get this hat by advertising for it there if it is not 
 worn out. if it should be worn out you can find out who found one that 
 night or the next morning, now ask one of your domestics or Mrs. Ros 
 if Charley did not have on the afternoon of the first of July a narrow faded 
 pink ribbin tied around his head to keep the hear out of his eyes, if yu 
 find this a fact which we have no doubt yu wil and as it was never de- 
 scribed in the advertisement, we think no human being could mention it 
 but the party who took him. if this does not saLsfy yu and yu friends 
 tha' we have him then yu must go unsatisfied, this clue of the hat will 
 end there when you find it and it wil avail yu nothing more, let the de- 
 tectives work it up much as they please, the clue will end there we know 
 or we would not told of it. Mr. Ros we dont know welher yu ever mean 
 to ransom yu child yu certainly dont act much like it. but we do know 
 
THE REAL ABDUCTORS SUSPECTED. IQ/ 
 
 yu will never get him without it unless you are fortunate enough to ketch 
 us knapping and take him by stratagem, there is not one chance in 
 10,000 of ever getting him that way. yu must not delude yuself with the 
 idea that if we go to europe this month that we wil set yu child free or 
 take him with us and then will be the time to find him. that wil never 
 be Mr. Ros we have told yu befor if yu ever expect to get yu child yu 
 wil have to ransom him and to the full amount we named, if you deal 
 fair with us we wil deal fair with yu if yu play any tricks with us we 
 shall do likewise with yu. whatever you do with us we shall do like- * 
 wise with yu. whatever yu do with us yu must do it in good faith or 
 not at all then yu get yu child safe and sound, we shall not keep up this 
 correspondence much longer, whatever yu mean to do must be soon, we 
 see the New York herald every day whatever yu have to say we wil no- 
 tice it. we are now in lansingburg above Troy New York we dont know 
 where we shall post this letter yet we leave here to-day. 
 
 This letter begins with an argument to show that the 
 proofs already given ought to be satisfactory that the 
 writer of the letters had taken Charley, notwithstand- 
 ing Walter's statement of the direction in which they 
 went was contrary to that which the abductors 
 mentioned in their last letter. They refer again to 
 an advertisement, which was continued a long time in 
 the New York Herald, over the name of Purcell, who 
 was not known to us, and say they can give irresistible 
 proof that they have Charley without sending any 
 clothing. They assert that they had seen him only 
 three or four times since the 2d of July, and that his 
 hair had been cut off, and girl's clothes put on him 
 to disguise him. They are surprised, that so great 
 efforts have been made to find his place of conceal- 
 ment, because if any approach had been made to it by a 
 detective, that would have been a signal for the child's 
 instant destruction. They claim, however, that no 
 detective ever had the slightest clue or trace of him 
 since he was stolen, and defiantly give two more proofs 
 
198 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 that they took and still have him. They say that 
 the chances are one against ten thousand of my 
 ever getting him, except by paying the ransom, and 
 that if tlicy go to Europe, he neither will be taken with 
 them nor set at liberty, and again warn me against 
 dealing falsely with them. They state that they were 
 then in Lansingburg, above Troy, New York ; but do 
 not know where they will post this letter, as they will 
 leave that place on this day. 
 
 The main points in this letter that have not been pre- 
 viously stated are the desire to satisfy us tliat they 
 were the real abductors, without incurring any risk of 
 being discovered. Their guard on this point had been 
 perfect from tlie beginning, and continued so, notwith- 
 standing their many and long letters. This fear of de- 
 tection deterred them from sending to us part of 
 Charley's clothing, which could not be forwarded 
 without great risk of affording a clue to their hiding- 
 place. 
 
 Very careful and long-continued search was made in 
 Trenton for the hat which Charley wore, and which 
 they say was lost there on the night of July 2d. Mayor 
 Breist, of that city, not only advertised for it, but in- 
 structed his police officers to inquire for it at every 
 house on Bridge street; at all tlie schools, and of 
 persons from the country who come to the city to 
 attend market; but it was not found. The ribbon 
 described as having been tied around Charley's head 
 to keep the hair out of his eyes, had not been thought 
 of by the nurse who had dressed him on the afternoon 
 when he was taken away, and was therefore not men- 
 tioned in any description that had been given of his 
 
THE REAL ABDUCTORS SUSPECTED. 1 99 
 
 clothing. When our attention was called to it in this 
 letter, we found that his nurse had used a narrow pale 
 pink ribbon edged with purple, a part of which was in 
 the house, and corresponded to the description in the 
 letter. 
 
 In all the previous letters, when the kidnappers spoke 
 of having seen Charley, they said he had not been 
 disguised ; in this one, however, it is stated that it was 
 necessary, for the sake of precaution, to dress him in 
 girl's clothing, and to cut off his hair ; thus showing 
 that with all their professed feeling of confidence that 
 he could not be found, they adopted every means to 
 prevent his being recognized. The letter of August 
 26th was dated at Albany, and postmarked Rondout, 
 N. Y. This one is not dated, and although they say 
 they were in Lansingburg, above Troy, at the time of 
 writing it, it bears the postmark of New York city. 
 
 Bad and torturing as are the letters of the abductors 
 in this chapter, yet they are so much more mild in tone 
 than any that had preceded them, that I felt a degree 
 of relief from the terrible anxiety which had been occa- 
 sioned by the others ; and having some confidence that 
 the real kidnappers were known, and that it could not 
 be long before they would be taken, I was buoyed with 
 the hope, that soon our dear little boy would be found 
 and restored to his home. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 SUGGESTIONS FROM SPIRITUALISTS AND CONVICTS — 
 SEARCH IN TRENTON, NEW JERSEY. 
 
 N addition to the ordinary means employed to 
 discover the kidnappers and find Charley, 
 ^ almost every conceivable mysterious agency 
 has been suggested by f)ersons who were interested in 
 testing diftcrent theories, or who believed the desired 
 result could be reached by invoking the aid of more 
 subtle influences, and were desirous to try their skill in 
 unraveling the mystery. 
 
 Many persons have come to me with information 
 said to be obtained through the medium of spirits, sug- 
 gesting that the matter should be investigated. But 
 their information was generally so vague and indefinite 
 that it was impossible to examine it, even had there 
 been a disposition to do so. Besides, no two persons 
 who had consulted different mediums gave the same 
 direction in which to look for the child. 
 
 In consequence of the wide-spread interest taken in 
 the recovery of Charley, there never has been a better 
 opportunity to give to the world practical evidences of 
 the usefulness of either clairvoyance or spiritualism 
 than this case affords; and could the place in which the 
 child is concealed be discovered through information 
 derived from cither of these sources, there would be 
 
 (200) 
 
THE SEARCH CONTINUED. 201 
 
 something substantial for the faith of the skeptical to 
 rest upon. 
 
 The letters received on these subjects I can count by 
 hundreds, many of them from persons who have not 
 full confidence in being able to accomplish everything; 
 yet, in order to experiment, some ask for a small piece 
 of any garment worn by Charley, and not since washed. 
 
 A single instance will be given to show how persons 
 who entertain the belief that the spirits of the departed 
 communicate matters connected with the present life to 
 professed mediums, and how they have utterly failed in 
 this case to reveal anything that has been of any prac- 
 tical benefit, and how willing the votaries of said belief 
 are to adopt any theory rather than acknowledge that 
 they have been misled or deluded. 
 
 A gentleman from New York City called on me, and 
 stated he had a great desire to assist me in finding my 
 little boy ; that he was well acquainted with a lady of 
 intelligence and good Christian character, who was 
 possessed of extraordinary powers as a spiritual medi- 
 um, and that she had told him some remarkable things 
 in which he was personally interested. He also stated 
 that he would like to give her an opportunity of testing 
 her powers, in tracing my little son, and that to do it, 
 he would require some article of clothing which the 
 child had worn. At first I declined letting him have 
 anything; but he was so earnest, and expressed his 
 confidence so strongly, that he would very soon be able 
 to inform me where the child was secreted, or what had 
 become of him, that I finally gave him what he desired. 
 Before leaving he said he would let me know from time 
 to time of the progress made. 
 9* 
 
202 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 The first letter I received from him says that the 
 medium was greatly affected in the examination, as the 
 magnetism or influence surrounding the child was ex- 
 ceedingly bad ; but the decision is, that the controlling 
 spirit or influence will find the child whether it is dead 
 or alive. The second letter says, " The spirit who has 
 undertaken this search has been very diligent ever since 
 the examination of the little dress you gave me. He 
 commenced the search by looking through the city of 
 New York, and reported that he looked in every house 
 and hunted in and about the city, and has continued 
 the search night and day. He requested me to say to 
 you, not to go to any further expense in looking for 
 your boy, as he is now looking for his remains. He 
 says he shall find them, it is only a matter of time, and 
 we are likely to receive the information in regard to the 
 fate of Charley any day. I suppose all that I have 
 written to you appears like the ravings of a fevered 
 brain, and I certainly can appreciate your views and 
 feelings, as you are not conversant with the philosophy 
 of modern spiritualism, or the laws governing spiritual 
 communion ; nevertheless, what I have written are facts, 
 and I hope in a few days to present you with posi- 
 tive proof." About two months after receiving this 
 letter, of which the above is an extract, I received the 
 following, as the result of this interview with the 
 spirits : 
 
 Christian K. Ross. — Dear Sir : — Agreeably to my promise, made 
 to you last fall, I will now give the result of the search for your little son 
 
 by Menomonee, an Indian spirit, through the medium of Mrs. , 
 
 Jate of Chicago. Menomonee reports that he has found your little boy ; 
 he has seen and talked with him and his attendant several times ; but he 
 is in the spirit home, cheerful aud happy. His attendant is a German 
 
THE SEARCH CONTINUED. 203 
 
 woman, and a relative of tlie family, is about forty-five years of age, and 
 while in earth-life was a cripple. He said her name was Josephine. 
 
 I would Like to know whether you recognize the woman by the 
 description given. I have tested him many times, and have invariably 
 found him correct. I would be pleased to hear from you, and if you 
 have any questions to ask, I will submit them and get the information 
 you desire, if possible. I remain yours with respect. 
 
 As I now heard for the first time that there was a 
 relative of the family who was a German woman and a 
 cripple while living, the conclusion was that the only- 
 point of the revelation that could be tested having 
 proved false, the other parts were equally unworthy of 
 belief Besides, if the child was deceased, they failed 
 to say where his remains were to be found. 
 
 The field for the search has been so wide that mys- 
 tics of all kinds have offered their services, or volun- 
 tarily sent the results of their mysterious processes. 
 Astrologers, fortune-tellers, dreamers, somnambulists — 
 in fact there can scarcely be named a secret profession, 
 from some of whose believers I have not received com- 
 munications, asking me to test its powers. In a few 
 instances letters have been received so carefully written 
 that it was impossible to determine whether the persons 
 writing them did or did not have reliable information. 
 A case of this kind occurred that caused considerable 
 trouble and expense. A letter from one of the Western 
 States was sent to the Mayor of the city, which is as 
 follows : 
 
 Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. 
 
 Sir : — If Mr. Christian K. Ross will consult me, he can hear some- 
 thing to his advantage in regard to his lost son. No money asked. 
 Apply immediately by letter. ■ . 
 
 To which I replied, asking the person to write to me 
 
204 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 what information she had, and received the following 
 answer : 
 
 Mr. Christian K. Ross.— Dfar Sir:— Yonr letter is at hand. 
 Your child is alive and in good health now. He is in Middlesex county. 
 New Jersey. He is with a person who lives on or near Raritan Bay. 
 You can find your child by going to New Brunswick. Be cautious in 
 your search. He is near the mountains, and within seven miles of New 
 Brunswick, in a northeasterly direction from the town. The child has 
 been in various places ; but most of the time near to Staten Island, and 
 Sandy Point, and Amboy. He is among a nest of smugglers, whose line 
 of business lies along the Raritan and Delaware rivers. The fear of 
 l>eing punished for the crime has caused them to detain the child. Start 
 to look for him on the 7th or 13th of April, and you will find out, and 
 your boy will be found. Have you ever searched in that part of the 
 country ? From one who wishes to befriend you. 
 
 Signed, 
 
 In my answer to the above letter I inquired how the 
 writer acquired the information she professed to have, 
 and asked for more specific directions to make the 
 search for the child. To which she replied as follows : 
 
 Mr. C. K. Ross. — D^ar Sir: — ^Your letter is at hand. As to how I 
 obtained the information I cannot tell you ; as much depends on this 
 mystery ; but I will explain all when you have your child with you safe 
 at home. I do not mean for you to search all over the country. Do 
 
 not take out a search warrant. Sec a man by the name of living 
 
 northwest of the Raritan Bay. The child will be found out on the high- 
 way, about seven miles northwest of Raritan Bay, in a mountainous 
 country, and not far from a cave or mine. This portion of the country 
 is not often frequented by strangers, and the child is allowed outdoor 
 privileges. In regard to this affair, go on the 13th of May. May God 
 crown your journey with success. 
 
 Yours with respect, . 
 
 The only thing that excited any suspicion that the 
 letters were written by a person who was practicing 
 some kind of fortune-telling, was that a certain day was 
 fixed on which to start on the search. The locality 
 named has always been regarded as one to which tlie 
 
THE SEARCH CONTINUED. 20$ 
 
 child might have been taken, and two of the letters 
 from the abductors were dated New Brunswick. Its 
 geography was correctly described, and many points in 
 her letters gave reason for a belief that her information 
 might have been obtained from some one residing in 
 northern New Jersey. Nevertheless I wrote, asking 
 her in good faith to give me the source of her informa- 
 tion, whether obtained through a spiritualistic or any 
 other mysterious agency. At the same time I wrote 
 to the sheriff of the county, making inquiry of him 
 about the writer. From the woman I received the fol- 
 lowing reply: 
 
 Mr. C. K. Ross. — Dear Sir : — Your letter is at hand. With regard 
 to a medium, I know, nothing of the nature of such ; had I not known 
 what I was talking about, I should not have written to you. Not having 
 asked a fee for my information, I was actuated solely by sympathy with 
 a mother in such a sad event. Had you placed confidence in what I 
 wrote you, there would have been no cause for regret ; and not thinking 
 it necessary to write to you any more, I will close by expressing kindest 
 sympathy. Yours truly, . 
 
 On receiving this letter I went to New Brunswick, 
 and with the chief of police of that city and a detective, 
 started on a tour to find if possible the person named in 
 her letter. After several days' travel along the Raritan 
 river and the mountains above New Brunswick, we re- 
 turned without finding the person; but continued the 
 search through the mining region of New Jersey, until 
 we became satisfied that no strange child had been 
 brought there. About a month after writing to the 
 sheriff, I received an answer from him, saying that the 
 woman who had written to me had some reputation as 
 a fortune-teller, and in some cases had divined very 
 successfully. He said she had not traveled much, and 
 
206 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 knew little of localities except what she had learned 
 from history and geography, but that her memory was 
 very good. Thus by the cunning of this woman in 
 declining to give the way by which she had received 
 her professed information, it became necessary to exam- 
 ine into her reports, as nothing presenting the smallest 
 appearance of the most remote probability has been per- 
 mitted to pass by without thorough investigation. 
 
 My first and only visit to a professional fortune-teller 
 was in connection with this search, and was brought 
 about in the following way. I received a letter from 
 New York City written in German, and in very good 
 
 handwriting. Translated, it reads as follows: 
 
 New York. 
 Mr. C. K. Ross. — Since the first announcement of the abduction of 
 your son, I have daily perused the reports in the papers bearing on the 
 case with great interest, and among other matters I noticed that different 
 persons professed, either by letter or personally, to render assistance for 
 the recovery of the child. But, probably for fear of humbug, or perhaps 
 at the suggestion of the police, or for other causes, you have refused to 
 accept any of their services, thinking, no doubt, that these persons had 
 nothing but their own pecuniary interest in view. In consequence of 
 these suppositions, on my part I concluded to wait until quietness had 
 been restored in your family, prior to making the following propositions 
 for the recovery of your child. I do this to dispel any idea of humbug 
 that you may entertain. I have, for years, devoted myself to the study 
 of Mesmerism, and have found that the thoughts of mankind are brought 
 into unison by it ; on the one hand soothing and hopeful, and on the 
 other just the reverse, providing you formally believe in the same. 
 Should you decide to accept, it will be necessary to see you personally 
 and have a consultation. Awaiting your answer, 
 
 I am yours very respectfully, . 
 
 The neighborhood in New York from which the let- 
 ter came has always been regarded as suspicious, and 
 it was thought that possibly an effort might be made 
 through some such means as this letter indicated to 
 
THE SEARCH CONTINUED. 20/ 
 
 negotiate for the return of the child. For these rea- 
 sons, I replied to to it as follows : 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 Madam. — I have no knowledge of the science of Mesmerism, and 
 would like to know more about it before making experiments. You will 
 favor me by giving fuller explanation. 
 
 Respectfully yours, C. K. Ross. 
 
 I received in return a long letter written in English. 
 The substance of it was, that she did not practice mes- 
 merism, there was an error in translating; it should 
 have been sympathy ^ which she described as the firm 
 belief on and in something that we would like to knov/ 
 or find, and if minds can be brought into unison, we 
 may, when everything else fails, get a clue and find the 
 object we desire. An incident is related of aid given to 
 a lady in recovering a son who had been lost for seven 
 years. The letter closes by saying, " Should you wish 
 to try this, you are to come here, as I do not intend to 
 charge you anything until you find some positive traces 
 of your child, when the reward .shall be left entirely 
 with you. Hoping you will not misunderstand me." 
 To this letter I made no reply, as it did not enlighten 
 me in regard either to mesmerism or sympathy. But 
 being in New York with a detective officer, in .passing 
 through the neighborhood where the writer of these 
 letters lived, I proposed to the officer to call on her, and 
 tiy to find out if she knew anything that might be of 
 use to us. I had forgotten her name and the street ; 
 but by inquiry we soon found that a person believed to 
 be a fortune-teller had moved into the neighborhood 
 very recently, and had her name on a small sign. The 
 person giving us the information remarked, " These peo- 
 ple only put up the name, as it is again.st the law to tell 
 
208 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 their business on a sign." Finding the sign, and recog- 
 nizing the name we sought, the officer knocked at the 
 basement front door; there was no response; we entered 
 the hall, and knocked at the first door after entering, 
 and got no reply. The officer went to the next door 
 and knocked, and at the same time opened the door 
 and walked in — I followed ; before I got into the room 
 I heard a voice saying, " Get out of this, go into the 
 next room, I'll soon be there." We at once complied, 
 and in a few minutes the old woman made her appear- 
 ance. I introduced myself, and told her that I desired 
 to know in what way she proposed to aid me in recov- 
 ering my little son. She said that she could not speak 
 very good English; but would explain the way the best 
 she could. She said, '* You must believe that there is a 
 sympathy exists between you and your child. I pro- 
 pose to use that to bring him back." She then de- 
 sired me to give the full name and date of the birth of 
 the child, and after finishing her story said she had 
 written another letter for me, and handing it to me said, 
 "Do you believe I can do what I say?" I replied, "No, 
 but I would like to ask you some questions." I asked 
 her where she had lived before coming to this house, 
 whether she knew several persons whom I named; and 
 finding she knew nothing of practical use, I left her, 
 promising on my return home to read her letter and 
 reply to it, which I did as follows: 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 Madam. — As I promised yesterday to reply to the letter you handed 
 me, after I had it translated, I now fulfil my promise. As I understand, 
 by your conversation as well as by your letteps, you require that I shindd 
 believe in the system or process by which you purpose to restore my 
 child, I confess I have not a particle of faith in charms, astrology, or any 
 
THE SEARCH CONTINUED. 2O9 
 
 system that professes to obtain knowledge of things unknown or con- 
 cealed. I do not believe that God reveals to professionals more than to 
 others, if as much. Thanking you for your expressions of sympathy, 
 I am yours, C. K. Ross. 
 
 There is one letter in my possession which, I sup- 
 pose, relates to that which might properly be called 
 witchcraft. It certainly advises a very curious mode 
 to defeat the abductors in their purposes and to recover 
 Charley. It is written in German and the translation 
 is as follows : 
 
 Dear Friend. — In your present situation I am deeply touched, and, 
 if possible, will render you my assistance to regain your child. I have 
 read in a small book how the robbers wanted to extort money from you. 
 If you follow my advice you shall have your child, without any ransom, 
 in a very short time. But you must have faith in the works of God, 
 which will result in the restoration of your flesh and blood. 
 
 Buy a spring chicken that has not laid an egg (but do not buy it of a 
 Woman) ; kill the chicken at night, without being seen or heard ; cut out 
 the chicken's heart on Friday, but nothing else. Take the heart in the 
 left hand. You must first lay seven skewers (new) on the table. Hold 
 the heart in the left hand and run around the table. Then take one 
 skewer with the right hand, in the name of God, the Father^ Son and 
 Holy Ghost, then pierce the skewer from the top through the middle 
 of the heart, and say " As I am piercing the heart of an innocent hen by 
 this thrust, so shall the thrust pierce the heart of the guilty robber who 
 took my flesh and blood." 
 
 The second skewer you have to pierce through the front part of the 
 heart, and say, " This thrust shall pierce the robber's soul, until there is 
 restored what I have lost." The third skewer you pierce through the 
 heart and say, " You daring robber, if you intend to live you have to give 
 back to me my (here you add the name of the boy). The fourth skewer 
 you pierce from the other side and say, " It stands to you, robber, for life 
 or death ; what is not thine is mine." The fifth skewer from the bottom 
 of the heart, and say, " Five wounds Jesus was carrying, and you robbers 
 shall be stricken by them, in the name of God the Father, Son and Holy 
 Ghost:' 
 
 Sixth skewer pierce from the top of the right side and say, " The inno- 
 cent chicken's blood shall bring your deeds to light." The seventh 
 
2IO CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 skewer from the top of left side and say, " Seven pierces shall have your 
 heart until you restore the little child, which you have taken ; and if you 
 do not do so you shall fall away like Boricates and that tree which 
 God cursed." 
 
 Dear Friend Ross, if you do as I have written to you, they must give 
 you back your own flesh and blood within twenty-one days, for the rob- 
 bers will fall away and find no rest. 
 
 After you have pierced the heart with seven skewers, you must bum it 
 the same night, just when the clock strikes twelve — throw it in the fire in 
 the name of the Father^ Son and Holy Ghost. Amen. 
 
 But nobody must know anything about it but God alone. If it is God's 
 will, you shall have your child within the stated time, and should you 
 not have it within the twenty-one days, do the same as first mentioned, but 
 with the power of the devil, and you will have your child sure. That 
 person who stole your child comes in your store a great deal to find out 
 what you say and do ; therefore be very quiet, so that he cannot work 
 against this undertaking. When you have your child restored, then I 
 will learn about it. I shall make myself known, and let you know who 
 helped you. I have already helped a great many persons. Sending 
 you my best respects, and hoping you will have courage that nothing 
 will happen to you. Your most obt servant, . 
 
 These few incidents and letters have been introduced 
 to show that persons entertaining every kind and shade 
 of opinion, regarding the finding out of hidden things, 
 have been interested in trying, by their own peculiar 
 way, to discover where Charley may be concealed. 
 Moreover, it is proper to mention them, as forming 
 part of my narrative. 
 
 A very large proportion of persons of these classes, 
 who have called upon me to offer their services, or to 
 recommend me to see others supposed to be skilled in 
 their profession, were not professionals themselves, but 
 were actuated by sincere motives to render assistance 
 in the search. So in all the correspondence with these 
 persons, the same expressions of kindness, sympathy, 
 and honesty of purpose are manifested; and answers 
 
THE SEARCH CONTINUED. 211 
 
 have generally been sent, either by forwarding a circular 
 and photograph, or by writing, to let them know their 
 letters were received and their interest in the case ap- 
 preciated. We have felt that respect was due to all 
 who had taken enough interest to write us, whatever 
 their views might be as to the best way to discover the 
 kidnappers, or to find the child. 
 
 Many convicts, confined in jails and penitentiaries, 
 who had learned some of the facts concerning the 
 abduction, and the great interest felt everywhere to 
 discover the perpetrators of the deed, claimed to be 
 able to tell who were the abductors, or where Charley 
 could be found. These men generally withheld the 
 important part of the information which they professed 
 to have, hoping thus to obtain a pardon, or be released 
 from confinement, before giving all the points ; but 
 when their stories were obtained and sifted, they proved, 
 in every instance, to be either wholly false or in no 
 way relating to my case. Several instances of this 
 kind occurred, to which some interest is attached. 
 
 A man confined in Sing Sing prison, writes to the 
 Chief of Police of this city as follows : 
 
 Sing Sing Prison, September '/th, 1874. 
 Mr. Kennard H. Jones. — Dear Sir: — I write this letter to let you 
 know that I am sure that I know the getter-up of the Ross case, and 
 when you read my statement you cannot deny that I have just reasons 
 tor my belief. Some time ago I was in your city, and I was there to 
 help to steal a child. There was another man and myself in the plot. 
 The man to whom I refer was the one who wanted me to go into it. 
 I'll admit that I would have gone into it if everything had been carried 
 on in my way. My plan was to leave the child where some one could 
 pick her up, if we could not get the money out of the parents. The 
 man who was at the head of the job did not wish to let the child go, 
 and gave me the following reasons : "If we place the child on the street 
 
212 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 so that some one can pick her up and return her to her parents, it will 
 kill us in the next job. If the parents of this child don't come down, it's 
 my intention to give the next child's parents warning, that it will be 
 better for them to settle at once, for if they do not, their child will find 
 the same end as the former stolen child." It is needless for me to give 
 you the rest of his plans. It is enough to tell you that his intentions 
 were to put the child out of the way, or, in plain words, to kill it. This 
 was too much for me, for although I am as hard as the general run of 
 cross men, etc. If this party had the least doubt of me going back on 
 the job, I know full well that he never would have told me his inten- 
 tions. He had good reasons for thinking me his man for any kind of a 
 job, for I was just out of prison, and he knew that I was ready to go 
 into almost anything that would bring me a good stake, etc., etc. 
 
 Now I am so sure of this being the same man, that I am willing to get 
 a whipping if my story don't turn out true. I assure you the boys do 
 get their jackets dusted here if they don't behave. I don't want to get 
 mine cleaned, so you can depend on every word I write in this letter, 
 etc. 
 
 There is a reward of $20,ocx> offered by the city of Philadelphia It 
 is a big sum of money, and some men would do almost anything to get 
 it ; as for myself I don't care a straw for it, but my liberty I prize greatly. 
 So if you will guarantee to pay the warden of Sing Sing Prison 15,000, 
 and do your best to procure my pardon for the sixteen months that I 
 have yet to stay here, I will give the name of the man I refer to. I do 
 not ask this until you arrest the party and recover thr child. I would 
 advise you to let no one know anything about this letter, except those 
 you can depend upon. Your humble servant, . 
 
 This letter was sent to Supt. Walling, who instructed 
 Capt. Hedden to investigate the matter. Capt. Hed- 
 den reports as follows : 
 
 New York, Sept. ig, 1874. 
 
 K. N. Jones, Chief of Police, Vnii^K.—Dear 5;>/— Supt. Walling 
 placed your letter, in relation to Brown, in my hands, and I, this day, 
 went to Sing Sing and saw him. The man whom he suspects is WTiite. 
 Brown was in your city summer before last, and was acquainted with 
 "White ; and in October of that year. White put up a job to steal a child 
 belonging to a wealthy family. The child was taken on pleasant days 
 to a park by a servant girl. White made the acquaintance of the girl, 
 and used to treat her while she was out with the child. It was planned 
 
THE SEARCH CONTINUED. 21 3 
 
 for Brown to carry the child ofF, while White diverted the attention of 
 the girl. Brown got frightened, and the job fell through. White told 
 him that he had another similar job on hand ; but that he awaited this 
 one to be done first. White lived three years ago in your city. A De- 
 tective has been to see him, and has written to him that AVhite could not 
 be the man, because he (White) has been in a lunatic asylum for five 
 months. I wish you would let me know, through Supt. Walling, if 
 White is in an asylum or not, and how he came there. If there is any- 
 thing else you wish to find out from Brown, I will see him again. 
 
 Respectfully Yours, Henry Hedden, Capt. 13th Div, 
 
 There is a striking similarity in the plan proposed 
 for the abduction of a child and getting a ransom, in 
 the letter of Brown to the Chief of Police, to that 
 adopted by the real abductors; but the person ac- 
 cused of suggesting the plan had been in an asylum a 
 long time before the abduction. 
 
 I' received a letter from Iowa so badly written that 
 it is difficult to understand what the writer intended to 
 say. The substance of it, however, is that the writer 
 knows where my son is, and wants me to come and 
 see him iinmediately; that my coming to see him 
 will be the only way to find him. 
 
 An answer was sent, asking more definite informa- 
 tion, and a second letter received, acknowledging the 
 receipt of my note, and insisting I should go to Iowa, 
 and he would tell me all about the child, and that un- 
 less I saw him, I should never know any more 
 
 This last letter I enclosed to the sheriff of the county, 
 and asked him if he knew the writer, and if so to find 
 out whether he had any information that would justify 
 me in going to Iowa. The sheriff returned the letter 
 with the following endorsement: "The man who wrote 
 the within letter is confined in jail here on a charge of 
 murder, and has been sentenced to be hung for the 
 
214 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 crime. He is regarded in the community as a notori- 
 ous liar; he is well known by all the officers and lead- 
 ing citizens about here, and would not be believed by 
 any one under oath. It is next to impossible for him 
 to speak the truth. Don't give yourself any uneasiness 
 on account of what he says." This man does not ap- 
 pear to have had any motive in writing to me, and the 
 only purpose seems to have been to indulge in the habit 
 of which the sheriff accused him. 
 
 Another man confined in Auburn prison, New York, 
 stated that he formerly associated with Mosher, and 
 knew his haunts, habits, and associates, and he could 
 find Charley Ross; insisting that it was necessary for 
 him to be released from prison to make a personal 
 search. However, when pressed by the officers to give 
 some evidence of his ability to accomplish what he pro- 
 posed to do, he utterly failed to convince them that he 
 knew anything about the matter. The statements made 
 by prisoners have always been regarded as unreliable; 
 but particular care has been taken to sift them, and find 
 out the motives that prompted them. No prisoner, 
 however, has been found who could give the least in- 
 formation about the abductors, except such points as 
 could be learned from the newspapers. 
 
 On the 14th of September, the following personal was 
 published in the New York Herald: 
 
 John — Ilat not found. Am ready to pay sum demanded, but only 
 through an attorney. He dare not betray you. Name one anjrwhere. 
 
 To this the following letter was received in reply, 
 September 25 th : 
 
 [No. 19.] 
 New Haven, Sept. 23.— J/r. A*w.— we did not see yu last answer til 
 to day. wc was in new brunswic british province and cold not sec the 
 
THE SEARCH CONTINUED. 21 5 
 
 New York herald we went there to se if the law would permit us to 
 make a symultaneous change with yu but we find no such change can 
 be efected with safety to our selves, you ask to transact the bisiness 
 through an attorney this is to absurd to think of for one minute that man 
 does not exist that we cold tiust to receive that money but one of our 
 own party and we are not wiling that one of our party shall become rec- 
 ognizable by any living person, as we now stand we can confront any 
 one with impunity and are determined to keep so. if you be convinced 
 that we have him and want to ransom him why did you not agree to our 
 proposition, we have told yu if the money was lost in transit tu us it 
 would be our los should yu folow our instructions and yu get yu child, 
 Mr. Ros we cannot show the child to yu and we cannot give you any 
 more proof than we have ; yu must except this as the only alternitive 
 left you to ransom him or murder him, for one or the other wil and shal 
 take place before many days. Yu as his father have been mor cruel to 
 him than we have. We told yu that his place of cencealment was such 
 that no living being could find it and that it was not a fit place for any 
 one to be in the length of time he has been there. We do not keep him 
 there to punish him ; your detectives have made it much worse for him 
 than he would be had they not such a close search for him ; he has kept 
 his health wonderful considering his close confinement. We do not see 
 him often or even hear from him. The last time we se him he had 
 been ailing with pain from stoppage of urin he would go 24 and 30 
 ours without making water and then he would cry with pane when he 
 would urinate, but his custodian got him som medicine which helped 
 him. we tel yu positively Mr. Ros his hiding place must be his tomb 
 unless you bring him out with the ransom for we have a settled plan to 
 act upon and we shal never digress from it and that is death or ransom. 
 Yu will find we speak truth in this for once if yu compel us to put him 
 to death yu shall receive a letter in 24 ours after, wher yu wil find his 
 body, as soon as we cop another kid and it wil be a millionaire this 
 time your child must die. we wil then see if he wil be so heartless as 
 to let his child die. you detectives perhaps tel yu that yu wil pay yu 
 money and get no child then but we dont do bisiness in that way we 
 dont want him much longer neither dead or alive, if yu pay for him 
 yu shall have him safe and sound, if not yu shal have him dead, so 
 you can rest assured yu wil get him soon one way or the other, if die 
 he must yu shal se that he has been dead but a few ours when yu git him 
 then yu can thank yu friends for their kind advise. Ros this is the last 
 advise we wil offer yu if yu reject it yu can make up yu mind that the 
 
2l6 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 day of grace is forever lost to save your child. Ros if yu want to save 
 yu child yu must comply with our terms and yu yourself be our Attorney 
 for we wil have no other and we are absolutely determined on that 
 point, when yu see fit to change yu money for yu child in the way we 
 direct yu can answer this through the herald personal New York, we 
 shall keep up this unnessary correspondence no longer your asking for 
 more evidence that we have him looks to us as if it was a scheme of Mr. 
 Haines to entrap us, but mr hains will never have that pleasure Mr Ros 
 you must be convinced by this time that no reward however large can 
 effect or influence our party we told yu this at the first and we told yu 
 how hopelessly it was for yu to search for him when we had taken such 
 great labor to find a suitable place to conceal him and the imposebility 
 for any one to find him in our possession when we have it fixed so we 
 can lanch him into eternity at an instant's warning, and yet yu consent 
 that a reward shall be offered to induce some one who has no right to 
 approach his hiding place but perhaps yu look upon this as romance or 
 fiction yet fiction is sometimes more stranger than truth. Ros — yu 
 should be your own counciler in getting yu child and then let the detec- 
 tives council yu how to get us, take our advice for once and se if we do 
 not give you the best council — that is get yu child at any price on any 
 terms we offer yu regardless of all other advise — we have told yu and 
 now repeat it that this thing is drawing to a final crises. Mr Ros when 
 yu conclude to act as our atty and meet us on our terms then yu can 
 answer this as directed we shal henceforth notice nothing else from yu. 
 
 The interval between the publication of the last per- 
 sonal and the date of the letter in reply to it, the ab- 
 ductors say was caused by their having visited New 
 Brunswick, in the British Provinces, to learn whether a 
 simultaneous exchange could be made there. They 
 profess to have been satisfied that this could not be ac- 
 complished. They decline to act through an attorney, 
 and assert that they will not confide in any one, believ- 
 ing they are secure from detection, but will keep their 
 own secret. In answer to the first part of our personal, 
 " Hat not found," they refuse to send any other proof 
 than those already given that they have Charley, and 
 
THE SEARCH CONTINUED. 21/ 
 
 state that unless I ransom him I will be his mur- 
 derer. They re-assert that his place of concealment is 
 not a fitting place for any one to be in for any length 
 of time; yet he is not kept in it to punish him, but of 
 necessity, in consequence of the close search which has 
 been made for him. They say his health has not been 
 injured by his close confinement, but he had suffered 
 temporarily from a complaint incident to childhood; 
 that his place of concealment will be his tomb, unless 
 ransomed, as they have a settled plan to carry out, from 
 which they will not deviate; should he not be ran- 
 somed, he will certainly be put to death, and that within 
 twenty-four hours after I shall know where to find his 
 body. 
 
 They profess to be arranging to steal another child, 
 and when that is done my child must die, so that they 
 can refer to his death in order to intimidate the parents 
 into paying the ransom. They suspect that the asking 
 for more evidence that they have Charley is a scheme 
 of Captain Heins, who the writer asserts shall never have 
 the pleasure of entrapping them. They repeat that the 
 place in which the child is secreted has been selected 
 with great care, and it is impossible for any one to find 
 him; it is so arranged that at a moment's warning he 
 can be destroyed without the possibility of their ever 
 being discovered. They advise me to redeem Charley, 
 regardless of what others may say, and after that to 
 allow the detectives to endeavor to find them. The let- 
 ter concludes by saying that when I have decided to be 
 my own attorney, and agree to their terms, I may notify 
 them by another personal. 
 
 This letter is dated New Haven, Connecticut, and 
 
 lO 
 
2l8 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 shows that the abductors did not remain in one place 
 for any length of time after they knew they were sus- 
 pected of having committed the crime. Whether they 
 went to the British Provinces has not been found out; 
 but there was sufficient time to have gone there and 
 returned, there being an interval of seventeen days be- 
 tween the dates of the last two letters. They realized 
 that public sentiment had been so outraged by the 
 crime that it would be unsafe for them to entrust the 
 exchange to an attorney or any one else, and their only 
 security lay in keeping the matter under their own con- 
 trol. The complaint which Charley is said to have 
 suffered from had not been thought of by any mem- 
 ber of the family since he was stolen, until this letter 
 called our attention to it. It was then remembered that 
 on one or two occasions he had complained of pain, 
 which, however, yielded to mild remedies, without our 
 calling in a physician for treatment. Notwithstanding 
 the long period during which the abductors were una- 
 ble to get the ransom money, and their own knowledge 
 that they were suspected of having kidnapped the child, 
 yet they persistently adhered to the original plan, pre- 
 arranged with all the skill and cunning which could be 
 devised. They continue to lacerate my feelings by re- 
 peating the sufferings my little son was compelled to 
 endure, and what would be the final result if I failed to 
 comply with their demands. 
 
 On the return home of Mrs. Ross's brother, Henry 
 Lewis, from Europe about the first of September, 
 although he had been informed of the stealing of Char- 
 ley, and of many of the facts connected with it, yet he 
 desired to know what theories concerning the abduc- 
 
THE SEARCH CONTINUED. 2I9 
 
 tors were held by those who were famihar with the 
 case; also what had been done, and what was being done 
 at that time, to find the kidnappers and to recover the 
 child. This information he desired so that he could 
 decide what action he should take, and what he should 
 recommend to be done in the future. I referred him 
 to Mr. Bullitt and Mr. McKean, who had been made 
 acquainted with everything that I knew of the matter, 
 and who had studied the case, and were aiding me in 
 every way possible, not only by their counsel, but by 
 constant personal efforts. He was also referred to those 
 who were interested and actively working in it, viz: 
 Captain Heins, the committee of citizens, and the Pin- 
 kerton detective agency. After he had learned from* 
 these gentlemen all they could tell him, I related to 
 him everything I knew about the matter, and requested 
 him to see Superintendent Walling in New York, add- 
 ing that I believed he had the only clue I knew of, 
 which appeared to me to be correct, and while it was a 
 mere suspicion, yet there seemed to be so much in favor 
 of its being right, that before he did anything I desired 
 he should hear upon what the suspicion was based. 
 On his return from New York he expressed the opinion 
 that the suspicions which were entertained there that 
 Mosher and Douglas (alias Henderson and Clark) were 
 the abductors, seemed to be plausible, and he had urged 
 Superintendent Walling to work the case up ; but at the 
 same time he did not propose to rely alone on that clue, 
 but should advocate looking into everything having any 
 bearing on the case. 
 
 Mr. Lewis now entered actively upon the search. 
 To him all my correspondence was sent. He met the 
 
220 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 committee of citizens daily, and conferred with the 
 authorities here and in New York, whenever it was 
 required. He relieved me during the month of Sep- 
 tember, by assuming a great deal of the labor and 
 responsibility, which had fallen on me, and by acting for 
 me in many cases which came to his knowledge. I was 
 not directly in communication with Supt. Walling, his 
 official correspondence about the case being with the 
 authorities in the city ; therefore, I was not acquainted 
 with the detail of tlie operations of the New York 
 Police Department. But having so much at stake, I 
 went to New York many times to learn what progress 
 was being made in the search for the suspected party. 
 Supt. Walling assured me that he was doing everything 
 that possibly could be done towards getting the men; 
 that he knew they were moving about from place to 
 place, near to New York city ; tliat their arrest was 
 simply a question of a short time, and they could not 
 much longer elude his officers, who were following 
 their tracks very closely. On my last interview with 
 him in September, he stated that he could get Douglas 
 at any time, and if I wished him to be arrested, he 
 thought he could have him within two days. I replied 
 that, "In view of the threats contained in the letters of 
 the abductors, that the life of the child would be taken 
 in case one of their party was arrested, I feared to 
 run the risk of having Douglas taken without Mosher 
 being arrested at the same time." To which he 
 replied, ** We will have them both ; we know them 
 and will pursue them until we find them." 
 
 While this trail was being followed up in New York 
 city, Mayor Bricst, of Trenton, with the authorities in 
 
THE SEARCH CONTINUED. 221 
 
 that city, were earnestly engaged in working up a 
 supposed clue in that city, which at one time bade fair 
 to result favorably ; but which after much labor and 
 time had been spent, proved to be wrong. Mayor 
 Briest writes to Capt. Heins as follows : 
 
 Trenton, N. J., September s, 1S74. 
 Dear Sir : — I certainly feel a great interest in the Ross case, for it 
 has been impossible for me to relieve my mind of the impression, that 
 the man we have under surveillance in this city has some connection 
 with it. Yet I may be mistaken, as others have been, whose impressions 
 have been equally strong, &c., &c. Truly Yours, 
 
 Briest, Mayor. 
 
 He again writes, September i8th : 
 
 Captain William. R. Heins, Detective, Philadelphia. — 
 Dear Sir: — The man we have been watching, so far has outwitted 
 us. He left his residence on Monday morning about 3 o'clock, with 
 carpet-43ag, duster, and umbrella, apparently to take one of the early 
 trains ; and passed where he must have known a policeman would see 
 him. He gave the man who was watching him the slip, and again 
 paraded by the City Hall about 9 a. m., with his duster and umbrella, 
 but without his carpet-bag, etc. Our aim has been to arrest him when 
 we are certain he is going to New York. But this morning, while the 
 scouts were being sent out, word was sent to the Marshal that he had 
 jumped on the Pittsburg Express, which passes this city at 8 A, M., for 
 New York. It does not generally stop at this city ; but this morning 
 happened to slow up to let off a railroad official, and thus made an 
 opening for him to get away. The mention of that hat bemg lost on 
 Bridge street in this city, and the actions of our man to ascertain 
 whether his movements were watched, etc., has impressed me that there 
 is a connection somewhere between the two. Of course, I am free to 
 acknowledge that I may be mistaken ; but will not be long in doubt, if 
 he returns to make this city his headquarters, etc., etc. You have heard 
 
 F 's story, and are able to judge what there is in it. He seems to be 
 
 very anxious and earnest about the matter ; but in this Ross case, when 
 a man gets an idea in his head about it, he seems unnaturally persistent 
 about it until it touches bottom. 
 
 Yours truly, Briest, Mayor. 
 
222 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 October 1st, again he writes: 
 
 Capt. Wm. R. Heins. — Dear Sir: — Our man is away, and we have 
 no trace of him since Saturday. As the personals look as though matters 
 were coming to a focus, I would be obliged if you would keep me 
 posted as to the reception of letters, that we may not grope too much in 
 the dark, whether our suspicions are well founded or not, etc., etc. 
 
 Yours truly, Briest, Mayor, 
 
 Again, on the 30th of October, he writes : 
 
 Capt. Wm. R. Heins. — Dear Sir : — Yours of the 3d received, with 
 thanks for the information. Our man is still away, and my suspicions 
 of his connection with the affair grow stronger instead of lessening, in 
 the light of the few facts shed upon what appears to be the climax of 
 this ** unholy crime." If the money is to be paid for the child, and you 
 will promptly advise us, we will take the responsibility of taking him, if 
 he does not overreach us. We think he is in it, and that he will resort 
 to his old express job, which he seems to have practiced for some ulte- 
 rior design. However, I may be speculating too far. 
 
 Very truly yours, Briest, Mayor, 
 
 Again, October 27th, he writes : 
 
 CArr. Wm. R. Heins. — Dear Sir : — Surface indications (as they say 
 in mining parlance) have been very few with us lately, in regard to the 
 missing child ; and from not hearing from you, I had begun to think 
 either that the child had been quietly returned, or that slow progress was 
 being made in the negotiations to that end. 
 
 Briest, Mayor. 
 The man suspected of being connected with this 
 crime was known also in New York, having been ar- 
 rested in that city for stealing bonds ; after pursuing 
 him for a long time, we satisfactorily ascertained 
 that he was not implicated in the abduction. Thesis 
 letters and extracts are given to show, whenever any 
 degree of suspicion was entertained against a per- 
 son who was known to be a criminal, how closely his 
 movements were watched by the authorities in other 
 cities, and how desirous they have been to assist in 
 
THE SEARCH CONTINUED. 223 
 
 finding the miscreants who had committed this " un- 
 holy crime." 
 
 At this stage of the history I was disabled for any 
 further search for my little boy. The incessant strain 
 upon mind and body for the past three months — the 
 alternation of hope and fear — the anxious pursuit — the 
 weary labor by day, and the sleepless nights — were 
 surely a heavy burden to carry, without the heartless 
 slanders and infamous calumnies which were coined and 
 circulated about Mrs. Ross and myself. All these coming 
 on like a flood made serious inroads upon my reason- 
 ably strong constitution, now weakened by intermitting 
 fever contracted during my fearful and memorable trip 
 to Albany, through the malarious swamps of New 
 Jersey. For several weeks I had felt my strength yield- 
 ing to the excessive tax upon my system, and for days 
 was kept up only by force of will, strung to the greatest 
 tension by longing for our lost darling. When the 
 break came, it was sudden and overwhelming; both 
 body and mind succumbed at the same time, and for 
 nearly four months I was unable to give personal atten- 
 tion to this or any other subject. During that time 
 my friends, who had been so closely identified with me 
 in the great affliction, continued to give their attention 
 to the search, and to them I am indebted for informa- 
 tion of what was done during these long, weary, blank 
 and clouded months of October, November, December 
 and January. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 LAST LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS — THEIR TRAGIC 
 DEATH — VIGOROUS SEARCH FOR CHARLEY. 
 
 |N the 29th of September the following "Per- 
 sonal" appeared in the New York Herald: 
 
 John, your terms are accepted. Name time between pay- 
 ment and delivery. 
 
 To which an answer was received as follows : 
 
 [No. 20.] 
 New Brunswtc, Scptcmlxir 30. — Mr. Ros : yu have at length agreed 
 to our terms, how much better would it have been for yu had yu com- 
 plied at first, we tolil you at first there was no other altemitive left yu 
 but to part with your mony or yu child for one or the other yu must, 
 we told yu before it shal not exceed 10 ours from the time we receive the 
 mony til yu receive yu child and yet it may be a few ours longer, we 
 must have time to examine the money to see that yu have not got it 
 secretly marked up. we tel yu for your own interest not to mark the 
 notes in any way whatever for if you break the terms of agreement with 
 us we shal then break it with yu and yu had much better keep your 
 money for we tel yu positively we would not keep our word, we would 
 not liberate the child, but on the other hand if yu come to us in good 
 faith with the intention of parting with yu money for the sake of getting 
 yu child and saving him from death then we pledge ourselves by all the 
 powers that be sacred in heaven and earth yu shall have yu child saf and 
 sound as soon as we can get him to yu with safety to ourselves we think 
 we told yu once how we would return him tu yu. but this is the way 
 we propose to do. we will take him to some ministers house at night 
 put a label on him stating this is Charley Ros take him immediately to 
 304 Market st phil or Washington lane germantown yu will find a suffi- 
 cient sum in his pocket to pay yu for yu trouble no reward will be paid, 
 we have sent word to his parents stating where he is. Mr. Ros we do 
 
 (224) 
 
LAST LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 22$ 
 
 not intend the party where we leave him shall see us at all they will be 
 perfect innocent so you should not give them any trouble, we will send 
 you word immediately stating where he is left, but the probability is he 
 will be brought home long before yu the get letter but this will make it 
 perfectly safe and sure for yu to get him. Mr. Ros it is true yu have 
 got tu rely entirely on our honor for the fulfilment of this part of the 
 contract but you can rely with implicit confidence, bad as we are and 
 capable of the blackest deeds yet we have some honer left, your large 
 rewards have in a measure proved this there are 4 of us to divide the 
 ^20,000 among and either one of the 4 could went and got the whole 
 amount to himself if he had been without principal, how easy could any 
 one of the 4 went on the sly and had us all coped and revealed where 
 the child was secreted but yu see we have not done it. we have no fear 
 of one another though it were a million dollars, we have told yu for 
 your own interest not tu mark the money which yu intend tu ransom 
 your child with, keep faith with us and we will keep faith with yu and 
 yu shal have yu child safe and sound in lo or 12 ours, provide yourself 
 with the amount in United States notes from I tu 10 in denomination, 
 not national bank notes when yu are all prepared with this and are ready 
 to meet us drop a word in the herald New York yu can take as many of 
 yu friends as yu choose but do it quietly if yu want tu get yu child. Mr 
 Ros first get yu child then let the detectives assist yu. yu see they have 
 not the power to do anything, time has proved this and if yu rely upon 
 them so it will ever prove. Mr Ros put yu child when yu get him on 
 exhibition and yu wil relize all your money back in 6 months for there is 
 not a mother in phila that will not pay a dollar to see him. 
 
 Throughout this letter it is apparent that the kidnap- 
 pers feared either that it was not my purpose to give 
 them the money, or that attempts would be made to 
 deceive them in some way; hence they so frequently 
 caution me against acting in bad faith towards them, 
 and insist on receiving United States notes oi small dQ- 
 numinations. In all the previous letters they stated it 
 would be to their interest to return Charley after find- 
 ing the money correct. In this one matter they claim 
 credit for some principle, and, as evidence of it, say that 
 there are four of them among whom the ^20,000 is to 
 10* 
 
226 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 be divided, and that cither of the four, by informing on 
 the rest, could easily have obtained the whole reward 
 offered by the Mayor ; but they boast that they have 
 kept faith with each other, and would have done so if 
 fifty times as much had been offered. It was supposed 
 by many persons that by offering a large reward one 
 of the villains in the plot would be induced to inform 
 on the rest; but they were so closely bound to each 
 other that no such results followed. The time for the 
 delivery of the child after receiving the money is again 
 extended; at first it was fixed at five hours, then ex- 
 tended to ten, and now from ten to twelve hours, claim- 
 ing an additional allowance to enable them to find the 
 money correct. They state more particularly the way 
 in which they propose to return Charley, and suggest 
 that I make a public exhibition of him to reimburse 
 myself 
 
 As stated in the last chapter, I was prevented from 
 giving further attention to the search, but everything 
 requiring examination here was looked into by the 
 authorities and my friends, as well as the clue which 
 the New York police had worked upon for so long a 
 time. The detail of their operations I am not able to 
 give. Not only were Westervelt's services engaged in 
 the case, but also those of the person who gave the first 
 information of his suspicions that Mosher and Douglas 
 were the kidnappers. He with a number of police offi- 
 cers was continually employed in endeavoring to find 
 the men. 
 
 Westervelt never would admit that he had seen the 
 men, but professed always that he was looking for them, 
 until Superintendent Walling learned that he had seen 
 
LAST LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 22/ 
 
 them, and told him that he knew he had seen Mosher 
 and Douglas. He then admitted that he had met them 
 at two different times, but claimed he could not have 
 informed the Superintendent in time to be of service to 
 him. 
 
 On the 7th of October the following personal was 
 published in the New York Herald: 
 
 John, the money is ready ; state clearly and fully mode of payment 
 and manner of delivery. 
 
 On the 1 6th of October an answer as follows was 
 received, which was mailed in Newburg, New York, on 
 the 15th, although written on nth of October, and 
 having a post-script dated the 15th : 
 
 [No. 21. Mailed at Newburg, N. Y., October 15, 1874. Received 
 October 16, 1874.] 
 October i i . — Mr. Ros : You say the money is ready how is it then 
 we can't come to a speedy compromise if yu was anxious to get yu child 
 and wiling to pay yu money then there is no trouble about it* we are 
 anxious to give him up but only on the conditions we have before told 
 yu you ask again how we are to deliver him to yu we told yu in our last 
 letter plainly how we would return him to yu is not that way satisfac- 
 tory yu don't want us surely to turn him loose on the road at the ded 
 our of night we wil never bring him to you personaly nor wil we ever 
 take him to any one you appoint but we will take him to a strange 
 family where it is least expected and where you will be sure to get him 
 if the way of delivering him is not satisfactory to yu then we cannot 
 come to terms for we are determined in delivering him to yu that no 
 person shal see our face when we do go with him we shal be com- 
 pletely disguised yu ask to state plainly how yu are to pay the money 
 that will be told yu at the proper time so far as the money is concerned 
 that is imaterial to yu what disposal is made of it so long as yu comply 
 with our demands which you already know all you have to do now in 
 order to have yu child restorded to yu is to make up yu mind that yu 
 have got to part with so many dollars and it maters not to yu what 
 becomes of the money so long as it satisfies our demand we return yu the 
 child, yu may have a doubt that yu may not then get yu child, we 
 cannot give yu the child before we get the money for then we part with 
 
228 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 every compulsion to make yu pay it. we cannot hand you the child as 
 yu hand us the money for all the power and all the law is on your side, 
 the thing is all embodied in a nutshell, the child is of no entrensic 
 value to us whatever, any further than to compel yu to ransom him if yu 
 pay the ransom and we do not give him up to yu would any one else 
 give a dollar for their child when they would have no assurance what- 
 ever of getting him. yu certainly would not be fool enough to pay the 
 ransom the second time when we had not kept faith with yu the first 
 time but yu ask he might be dead and then we could not give him up— 
 yes he might have been dead a dozzen times through your neglect to 
 redeem him but as it hapens he has lived in spite of his close confine- 
 ment again yu say we might hurried his death as we have threatened it 
 so many times. That is true — we might but it has not come to that 
 crisis yet so long as the inducement is held out of geting the ransom he 
 is in a measure safe but there wil be a time when the inducement wil 
 cxaust itself when this death takes place it wil be our policy and interest 
 to make it known to yu at once that others may be wiser than yu — if yu 
 should pay the ransom and then not get yu child would any one else 
 have faith enough in us to p:;y a ransom when Ros did not get his child 
 after paying for him — Mr. Ros you can rest assured with all confidence 
 when yu pay yu mony yu wil get yu child but it wil be imposible unless 
 you do. yu have ben living in hope of geting him without the ransom 
 but the detectives in the case are powerless, yu get a clue every few 
 days or rather a false clue, only a few days ago yu child was seen in 
 New Haven, i tel you positively and tu save you trouble and anxiety 
 that yu child has not been seen by any human being since the third day 
 of July other than the party who have been in charge we could not take 
 him five miles without being arrested ; when we return him to yu it 
 will be in the night time if at all when yu hear yu child is seen here or 
 there yu can have no faith in it. for he wil not be seen by any one 
 while we have him that yu can rest assured of. yu say yu money is 
 ready, are you ready to take a short journey and have this thing set- 
 tled. Mr. Ros this continual correspondence looks to us as if it was 
 but a ruse to get a clue to oiur whereabouts. We tel yu positively should 
 they succeed in capturing one of us it would certainly prove death to yu 
 child. Do 3ru believe it or not — whether or not it wil not alter our 
 decree. If yu banish all hope of ever geting yu child til yu ransom 
 him and drop the detectives yu wil then take a rational view of the 
 thing and see it in its true light. We told yu we were going to urope last 
 month; part of us did go, but we expect them back in few days and then 
 
LAST LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 229 
 
 we can settle the business if yu are ready. We wil see the personals in 
 the New York herald. 
 
 October 15 — we had almost concluded after writing this not to send 
 it for you ask questions that answered planly — but we wil see what you 
 want now — if yu are ready to pay we are ready to return the child to 
 your satisfaction. 
 
 This letter is little else than a repetition of several 
 already given. They, however, say the child is still 
 living notwithstanding his close confinement, and de- 
 clare his safety from a violent death so long as there is 
 a prospect of getting the money. They also state that 
 he has, since the 3d of July, been seen only by those 
 having charge of him, and that when he is returned it 
 will be in the night, by persons disguised, so that recog- 
 nition will be impossible. They also say that should one 
 of their party be captured the life of the child would 
 certainly be taken. They suspect this correspondence 
 is kept up on our part in order to get a clue to their 
 whereabouts. This was our real object, but they kept 
 moving about from place to place so frequently that it 
 was not possible to keep pace with them. 
 
 The following letter was received from Superinten- 
 dent Walling about this time, reporting his progress in 
 the Mosher and Douglas investigation: 
 
 New York, October 22, 1874. 
 
 Wm. R. Heins, Esq., Captain Detective Police, Philadelphia. 
 — Dear Sir: — I saw my informant last night; he says that we are surely 
 on the right track, but they have hopes of getting the child redeemed, 
 and he has not been able to find where it is. I think any arrangements 
 made with the kidnappers for the restoration of the child would be a 
 public calamity ; no child would be safe hereafter if it had parents or 
 friends who could raise money. I am confident that I shall get the 
 guilty parties and the child at some time not far distant, provided no 
 compromise is made with them. 
 
 Very respectfully yours, etc. 
 
 Geo. W. Walling, Superintendent, 
 
230 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 And on the 28th of October he writes thus: 
 
 New York, October 2S, 1874, 
 W. R. Heins, Captain Detective Police, Philadelphia.— 5/>.* 
 —Yours of yesterday received. On Monday night Clark alias Douglas 
 went to where they used to meet, but found the lager beer saloon closed. 
 He inquired for Westervelt. I heard it yesterday morning, and about 
 an hour afterwards Westervelt came and told me Clark had been inquir- 
 ing for him. Of course I did not tell him I knew it; so I think Wes- 
 tervelt has kept faith with me. 
 
 I am satisfied that I could get Clark alias Douglas, as I have heard 
 from him several times, but he was always alone. I do not want to get 
 him without Mosher. I am in hopes of locating the child soon, as I 
 
 now think Westervelt was mistaken in his suspicions of . There 
 
 is another person we suspect as having custody of the child, as he has 
 been missing since the disappearance, and he was intimate with them. 
 Yours, etc. Geo. W. Walling, SuperinUnderU, 
 
 He writes again on November 4th, 1874: 
 
 Captain Heins. — Dear Sir: — Since you were here I have seen the 
 man of whom I spoke to you about getting information of Mosher. He 
 says some one has been to every place where Mosher used to go, and 
 inquired for him, and that they all know he is wanted and what for, 
 and that he is secreted. I also saw Westervelt, and accused him of 
 having played me false. He swears he has not, and says that he has seen 
 Douglas and could get him for me, but does not know where Mosher 
 is. I am certain that they are the parties, and am equally certain that 
 they will not harm the child. 
 
 I wish the boy's friends could make up their minds to defy the kid- 
 nappers ; had they done so a month ago, I believe the child would now 
 be at home with its mother. Nothing but the hope of gain and being 
 able to make a bargain for their security, I am confident, causes them to 
 keep possession of the child. 
 Yours truly, 
 
 Geo. W. Walling, Superi$itendent, 
 
 Again, on November 12th, he says : 
 
 The parties are hard up and have come to the end of their tether. 
 We are pushing them so hard that they dare not get out to do anything. 
 I don't think Douglas will squeal unless we can get hold of him. 
 
 Yours, etc., Geo. W. Walling, Superintendent. 
 
LAST LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 23 1 
 
 Before the Superintendent succeeded in getting Wes- 
 tervelt's consent to help him to find Mosher and Doug- 
 las, he promised him that if he was successful he should 
 have the full amount of the twenty thousand dollars 
 reward offered for the abductors and the child. For 
 some time Westervelt professed to be working for that 
 object; but subsequently told Mr. Walling that he 
 would not give information of his brother-in-law, but 
 would " give Douglas away." The Superintendent hesi- 
 tated to assume the responsibility of taking Douglas 
 alone, knowing that Mosher was the principal in the 
 plot. He feared that the threats made against the life 
 of the child in the event of one arrest would be put into 
 execution. He finally, however, directed Westervelt to 
 put him in the way of getting Douglas. This Wester- 
 velt never did, although several opportunities were 
 afforded, which became known at a subsequent time. 
 In October Mr. Walling learning that Mosher and Doug- 
 lass were on a boat in some of the waters near New York, 
 wrote to Capt. Reins. Mr. McKean suggested that a 
 steam-tug be chartered and sent in search of them. 
 The necessary funds were remitted, and Detective Wood 
 of this city, with two officers from New York, and an 
 other person well acquainted with both the men to be 
 sought and localities to be visited, were sent on a steam 
 launch to carry out Superintendent Walling's plan. 
 They went up the Hudson River as far as Newburg, 
 examining all the creeks emptying into the river on 
 both sides; returning they entered the East River and 
 searched all the inlets and coves on both sides of Long 
 Island Sound, and after being absent about eleven days 
 returned without getting any trace of the fugitives. 
 
232 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 Officers were detailed to watch Astoria ferry, reported 
 by Westervelt as a place where the at^ductors might be 
 found. He also informed the Superintendent of a res- 
 taurant where they had taken meals when in New York. 
 After vainly watching these places for weeks the offi- 
 cers were withdrawn. On the 28th of October the 
 following personal appeared in the New York Herald: 
 
 John, too sick to take journey. Will relative answer ? 
 
 And on the 31st the following reply was received, 
 dated Philadelphia: 
 
 [No. 22.] 
 
 Phila Oct 31 Mr Ros we told you at the beginning of this bisnes 
 we would deal with none but you the reason of this must be apparent to 
 yu the fate of your child would depend upon your actions in dealing 
 with us we know you would not intentionally sacrifice your child in 
 breaking faith with us we told you in dealing with us you must act in 
 good faith and any breach of faith on your part would be meeted out in 
 certain death Mr Ros if you have any relation or friend that you can 
 delegate to this important bisines then we are ready to deal with him 
 we care not who he may be if it be mr hines or the states attorney — we 
 are willing to negociate with him but mr Ros we want you not to deceive 
 yourself in this bisines for we tell you plainly his acts will involve the 
 life or death of your child we shall regard him as your substitute in 
 every particular and hold the life of your child responsible for his ac- 
 tions. Mr Ros from your answers we understood you agree to the terms 
 we previously dictated, send your substitute to New York tuesday 3rd 
 november with the means to settle this bisines. remember the money 
 must be in every particular as we directed for you can accomplish nothing 
 with us in using any stratagem for we will not release the child under 
 any other circumstances then your carrying out the terms in good faith 
 with us it is unnecessary for us to pledge ourselves in any way in regard 
 to the child being immediately returned to you. all we can do or say is 
 — it shall be our first move to restore the child after we see the money is 
 all right, we shall spare no trouble or expense in returning the child to 
 you safely, though it cost us five thousand we would not hesitate to use 
 it in order to return the child, but it will not cost us ten dollars and you 
 shal have him as safe and sound as he was on the first day of July last 
 

 l\x<aA^^x. /^,-vJhaJ I^tIW} /jr^^w^ Vcn- jiA>>-*tllX jy^ \X1aK^ 
 Reduced Fac- Simile of Letter Number Twenty-two. 
 

 Reduced Fac- Simile of Letter Number Twenty-two. 
 
LAST LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 23/ 
 
 when he was playing in front of your door with Walter, your substitute 
 on arriving in new York must put a personal in herald, say. John i am 
 
 stoping at hotel with his name in full. Mr Ros you say the money 
 
 is ready and your substitute, and we are ready, then November the 
 3d wil prove or disprove the sincerity of your action. Mr Ros you see 
 by this we have come among you once more. 
 
 The abductors, holding the Hfe of the child as the for- 
 feit should there be an attempt at any deception on my 
 part, were bold enough to say that any one, even Cap- 
 tain Heins or the district attorney, may act as my sub- 
 stitute in paying the money. They appoint November 
 3d as the day on which my substitute should be in New 
 York. Previous to his going, they require to be noti- 
 fied at what hotel he would be, and also that his full 
 name be placed to the advertisement. They say after 
 the money is found to be right they will return the 
 child regardless of cost, as safe and sound as he. was 
 on the day he was taken away, and boastingly call at- 
 tention to the fact of their being in Philadelphia. On 
 the 3d of November another personal was inserted ir 
 the New York Herald^ as follows : 
 
 John, change address of personals. Relative will not sign his nama 
 in full. 
 
 And on the same day the following answer was sent 
 from New Brunswick, New Jersey: 
 
 [No. 22^.] 
 New Brunswick, November 3 — Mr. Ros. it looks very strange to us 
 that you should quible about the name to address us. is your object to 
 keep the detectives informed of our whereabouts by having us writing 
 you so often, it looks so but time will prove all things, our advice is to 
 you and it is better than all the detectives combined can give you is to act 
 squarely in this bisnes if you have any regard for your child, we think 
 we have cautioned you enough on this point, we are satisfied the detec- 
 tives are working the thing up to their interest we know all about their 
 
238 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 doings and how they are bleeding you and Mr louis out of your money 
 you will open your eyes to their games, by the by we could tell you much 
 about them but our place is to keep mum and yours to investigate before 
 you give more money out. it makes us jealous to see you pay out your 
 mony foolishly when they can give you nothing in return but a parcel of 
 fabricated lies, we confes we are bleeding you to— but we have an 
 equivalent to give you in return, if you child b any equivalent, you will 
 find sooner or later that there is no other earthly party in this world to 
 deal with than ourselves if you want to recover your child. Mr. Ros 
 why could not your relative give any name so that we could have a name 
 to address him ? it matters not what the name is we shall regard him 
 as yourself in every sense of the word so look to whom you appoint to 
 transact this business for you. we tell you positivey and absoluty that 
 on his acts right or rong square or crooked in dealing with us the life or 
 death of yu child shall hang now. Mr. Ros you may appoint any one 
 you please to transact the bisines with us but we want you to bear in mind 
 that his acts are your acts and it shall be consumated just as you will it — 
 and if you want your child safe and sound this is the final day of salvation, 
 we have been at least under I15 a day expense since we had him but that 
 is our own affair, you may have been under five times that expense for 
 what we know. Mr Ross you must not be deceived from this because we 
 are under expenses from keeping him that we will turn him loose should 
 you not meet our demands, we tell you positively we could not do it 
 we would not do it should it benefit us the whole amount of |20,ooo 
 than for the redemption of your child, you may think from this should 
 you pay the demands, we might not then return your child. Mr Ros 
 when you have paid our demands in good faith you have answered all 
 we can ask of you and we tell you as we have told you before that your 
 child is not worth one cent to us after that ony to return him to you and 
 we would not fail in any event to return him to you for $10,000. 
 strange as this may appear to you yet it is our interest to do so. should 
 you not come to our terms it is our interest that you never get him and 
 you may rely on it you never will alive, you may think this is to cruel 
 for any sivelized person to perpetrate but we tell you positively it is the 
 lot of one of us to perform it if it comes to this crises, you will not be 
 able by any quibbling to stay the hand of fate much longer from him. 
 we have kept him over one hundred days longer than we expected, 
 now it is for you alone to say whether he shal live or die. this is the 
 last letter we shall we ever send you till we send you the final one reveal- 
 ins>i: to YOU whether he is either alive or dead just as you will it to be. 
 
LAST LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 239 
 
 you need not ask more questions for they will not be noticed no answer 
 will be returned, if you appoint any one to conduct this business for you 
 let him come to New York make it known through personal with any 
 address he choses. this address will do (John Johnathan is stopping at 
 so and so. Johnathan or who he may be must not leave the hotel till he 
 hears from us. if you mean square bisiness have your personal in 
 Friday's Herald (N. Y.) and be in New York on Saturday morning. 
 Mr. Ros bear in mind this is the last and fifial letter you ever receive 
 from us unless you come to New York to close this bismess. 
 
 The abductors again intimate that we are keeping 
 up this correspondence for the purpose of tracing them, 
 and warn us that the money being used in looking for 
 them is spent foohshly. They profess to know what 
 the detectives are doing, and state that they cannot aid 
 me; -they themselves, and they alone, can give me an 
 equivalent for the money by returning the child. Who- 
 ever may act as my agent in transacting this business 
 will be regarded as myself, and on his action the life of 
 the child will depend. They say they have been at an 
 expense of fifteen dollars per day since Charley was 
 taken, and have kept him one hundred days longer 
 than they expected; that after the money is received the 
 child will not be worth one cent to them, having an- 
 swered all the ends for which he was taken; but add 
 that should the money not be paid, I will never get him 
 alive, but will be informed of his death. They declare 
 that this is the last letter they will send, unless they 
 write to reveal the fact of his death; that it has fallen to 
 the lot of one of them to kill him if he is not redeemed; 
 and give the address for the next personal to be put in 
 the Herald of November 6th. This appeared in the 
 paper on that date, and is as follows : 
 
 John, you must cliange the name of John for personals. It has be- 
 come too well known. 
 
240 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 On the 7th of November the following reply was 
 received, dated Philadelphia: 
 
 [No. 23.] 
 
 Phila., Nov. 6. — Mr. Ros: we told you in the last positively we rould 
 not write you any more, this dozing about puts us to no small amount 
 of trouble we had left phila for New York thinking you were ready 
 to close up the business, we told you p>osiiively procrastination is dan- 
 gerous, had we accomplished what we have been fishing for the last 
 three months your child would now have been dead but we have not yet 
 caught the fish we wanted, yours is but a small item compared with 
 something else. Walter said you owned the two new houses right oppo- 
 site you or we should never troubled you. Mr. Ros you have asked to 
 keep this negotiation a secret between ourselves it is a wise policy in 
 your doings not that we fear being traped in our own game. This is 
 positively the last from us. if you are sincere you would be anxious to 
 settle tliis business if you regard the life of your child, we mean to fulfil 
 every promise we made you in good faith, the result depends entirely 
 with yourself whom you appoint to transact this business for yu we want 
 at least two days notice before you come to New York for we may be 
 500 miles off and we ask for time to get there yu can say tuesday nov 10. 
 Saul of Tarsus, (choose your own name say i will be stoping so and so 
 all day. do not leave the hotel wherever you may be stoping for one 
 minute during the day), this thing must come and shall come to a close 
 in a few days. 
 
 In this, the last letter received from the abductors, 
 they hint that they have been trying for three months 
 to steal another child, and had they succeeded my child 
 would have been killed, and a ransom demanded for 
 their new victim, compared with which the twenty 
 thousand required from me would be an insignificant 
 sum. They also state that Walter misled them regard- 
 ing my circumstances by telling them I owned two new 
 houses which had been built opposite to my residence. 
 Tuesday, November loth, is fixed as the day on which 
 my representative is asked to be in New York to pay 
 over the money, and the address of the personal is 
 changed to " Saul of Tarsus." 
 
LAST LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 24I 
 
 More than four months had now passed since Char- 
 ley had been stolen. The poHce and detective agen- 
 cies, with all their unremitted and almost superhuman 
 efforts, had failed to find the thieves, or get a clue to 
 the place where they had hidden their victim. Twenty- 
 three letters written and mailed in different places had 
 been received from the abductors, bidding defiance to 
 the best detective skill. Contrary to our expectation 
 and hope, the abductors had not made a single error, or 
 the smallest slip, by which they could be traced; but 
 with a shrewdness and cunning far above ordinary crim- 
 inals, they had successfully evaded pursuit, and baffled 
 every effort at discovery. 
 
 Four months were these of acute suffering to my 
 family and friends ; and now I was so ill that for a time 
 my life was despaired of, and it was thought by my 
 medical attendants that nothing but the speedy return 
 of Charley could restore my broken mind and body — 
 that the load of trouble which was crushing me must 
 be removed in order to a mental and physical restora- 
 tion. The want of success in the past led to little hope 
 of recovery of Charley by the same appliances in the 
 immediate present. Besides, Mrs. Ross was weighed 
 down with the accumulation of trouble; and thus, in the 
 double hope of saving my life and recovering Charley, 
 she consented to have the child restored by paying the 
 ransom. This her brothers determined to do in the 
 way pointed out by the abductors, paying them the 
 money and taking the risk of getting the child after- 
 wards. As the authorities both here and in New York 
 knew of the change of address of the personals from 
 "John" to "Saul of Tarsus," they were informed that it 
 
242 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 was the purpose of Mrs. Ross's brothers to redeem the 
 child by paying the ransom which the abductors de- 
 manded, and on the 1 3th of November, Superintendent 
 Walling wrote as follows to Captain Heins : 
 
 Dear Sir. — Please see Mr. Lewis and say to him that I think it dan- 
 gerous for parties to meet relative to any negotiations for the child, with 
 a large amouut of money, unless they have some officers within call, as 
 the parties might be disguised, and in case the villains were to fail in 
 making terms, they might take desperate chances to obtain the money. 
 
 Geo. W. Walling, Superintendent. 
 
 Notwithstanding the caution of the Superintendent, 
 the family proposed in good faith to deliver the money 
 at the appointed place. In order to notify the abduc- 
 tors of this purpose, the following personal was pub- 
 lished in the New York Herald of November 15th: 
 
 Saul of Tarsus. Fifth Avenue Hotel, Wednesday, the iSth inst. All 
 day. F. W. Lin'COLN 
 
 On the 17th of November, my wife's brother and her 
 nephew took rooms at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, regis- 
 tering the name F. W. Lincoln, to correspond with the 
 personal, remaining continuously in their room from 
 the time of their arrival until the evening of the follow- 
 ing day. They had with them a satchel containing 
 ;$20,ooo in United States notes of denominations of from 
 ones to tens as required, and were kept in nervous 
 anxiety the entire day. No one called for the money, 
 and on the 19th,. the following day, they published in 
 the same paper a personal as follows : 
 
 Saul of Tarsus. We have performed our part to the letter, you have 
 broken faith; we will have no more trifling; action must now be simul- 
 taneous. 
 
 No answer was ever received to either of the last two 
 personals. Thus was ended a correspondence charac- 
 
LAST LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 243 
 
 terized by a heartlessness and brutality unsurpassed in 
 the annals of crime. Heart-rending as was the abduc- 
 tion in itself, the letters immeasurably increased the 
 torture. It is impossible to conceive of anything more 
 cruel than the continual threats to annihilate the child 
 should the demands of the kidnappers not be fully 
 complied with. 
 
 These terrible letters, full of everything calculated to 
 'Stir a parent's soul to the lowest depths, were in such 
 accord with the cold-blooded scheme, that for five long 
 months a constant dread possessed us that the threats 
 they contained would be literally executed; and though 
 our hearts yearned to hear something of our suffering 
 stolen one, yet each letter was opened with fear and 
 trembling. It might announce our Charley's death 
 by murderous hands, and notify us of the place where 
 his lifeless remains were deposited, or tell us how he 
 was pining away in sickness and darkness — away from 
 his home and those who loved him — away from the 
 sympathy and tender care of his mother — with none 
 near him but such wretches as those who stole him, 
 whose hearts were too hard to relent at his cries, or to 
 be moved by his sufferings. None but ourselves can 
 ever know how bitter the draught in the chalice. 
 Truthfully did these villians say in one of their letters, 
 " You may think this is too cruel for civilized persons 
 to perpetrate ; but we tell you positively It is the lot of 
 on9 of us to perform it." Monstrous indeed is it, that 
 men should be so devoid of all human feelings as to 
 avow that they even contemplated sacrificing the life of 
 a little child for the sake of money, and in advance 
 to notify the parents of their purpose. Yet it is so — to 
 realize it is nigh impossible. 
 
244 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 The failure of the abductors to come to the hotel on 
 the 1 8th of November for the ransom money, caused 
 our friends to determine not to hand over the money 
 unless Charley was given up at the same time; hence 
 in the last personal it is positively said that the ex- 
 change must now be simultaneous. The kidnappers 
 evidently were afraid to show themselves, notwithstand- 
 ing the boldness they assumed and the security they 
 professed; and when the time to fill an appointment 
 arrived they failed to carry out their plans. The search 
 for them was continued with unabated activity. Their 
 usual haunts were watched, and a constant eye kept on 
 the various saloons along the river-front and elsewhere. 
 A detective obtained a situation in a restaurant as an 
 attendant where it was said they occasionally took their 
 meals. Officers were placed in a house opposite the 
 premises of a notorious receiver of stolen goods, where 
 they usually disposed of their plunder. On several oc- 
 casions detectives were close on the tracks of the crim- 
 inals, and at one time they entered a suspected saloon 
 to find that the men had left there about an hour before. 
 All knowledge of their whereabouts was denied by 
 those who ought to have known, and who actually did 
 know. Notwithstanding all these difificulties, they were 
 hunted for as by bloodhounds after their prey.' They 
 felt that they were not safe anywhere — the letters posted 
 in so many different places indicate that they were in- 
 deed fugitives — and so hard were they pressed by the 
 officers that they were forced to remain almost wholly 
 on the water, visiting New York at rare intervals, and 
 then only in the night in the most secret way. Soon 
 they were brought to distress and suffering for both 
 
LAST LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 245 
 
 food and clothing', and under these circumstances 
 resorted to burglary to supply their most pressing 
 necessities. 
 
 On the eastern side of the upper bay of New York, 
 the Long Island shore rises into an uneven and beauti- 
 fully wooded bluff known as Bay Ridge. Along its 
 slopes and summits are a large number of villas and 
 cottages, mostly summer residences of wealthy citizens 
 of New York. It is regarded as one of the most de- 
 lightful places in the neighborhood of the metropolis. 
 On one of the highlands that curve the water's edge 
 — about a mile distant from the shore — are two hand- 
 some dwellings, one of which is occupied permanently 
 by I. Holmes Van Brunt, the other as a summer resi- 
 dence by his brother. Judge Van Brunt, of the Supreme 
 Court of New York. The houses are separated by a 
 narrow lawn. Before closing the house for the season 
 the Judge furnished it with a burglar-alarm telegraph, 
 which conveys information of the slightest interference 
 with any of its doors or windows into the bed-room of 
 his brother in the adjoining house. On the morning 
 of December 14th, at two o'clock, this alarm-bell rang 
 violently. Mr. Van Brunt was at once awakened, and 
 immediately called his son Albert, who was asleep. 
 When Albert came down stairs the father said, "Go 
 over and see what has sounded that alarm; I think the 
 wind has blown open one of those blinds again," an oc- 
 currence which had more than once before caused the 
 bell to ring. The young man went, first taking the pre- 
 caution to put a pistol in his pocket. Approaching his 
 uncle's house he noticed a flickering light through the 
 blinds of one of the windows; he returned and told his 
 
246 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 father about the light, procured a lantern for himself, 
 and went to arouse William Scott, the Judge's gardener, 
 who lived in a cottage close by, and who had the keys 
 of the Judge's house. On their way back, Scott and 
 Albert ascertained that more than one man was in the 
 house with the light. They then awoke Herman Frank, 
 the hired man, and after placing one man in front and 
 another behind the Judge's house, Albert returned to 
 his father and reported what he had seen and done. 
 His father, although seriously suffering from illness, after 
 getting together the arms in the house, joined his son, 
 and calling the gardener and hired man to him, said, 
 *' Now boys, we have work to do, and must understand 
 each other; we must capture those fellows if we can 
 without killing them, but if they resist we will have to 
 defend ourselves. Albert, you and Scott stand before the 
 front door, Frank and I will take the rear, and whatever 
 happens afterward, let us remain in the positions we first 
 take up; because if we move around we will be certain 
 in the dark to shoot one another instead of the thieves. 
 Whichever way they come, let the two who meet them 
 take care of them as best they can ; if they come out 
 and scatter both ways, then we will all have a chance 
 to work." The party took their respective places ; the 
 night was pitch dark, cold and wet. The watchers 
 waited patiently for nearly an hour, while the burglars 
 went through every room in the house, with the rays 
 from their dark lanterns flashing now and then through 
 the chinks in the shutters. At length they came down 
 to the basement floor and into the pantry. Through the 
 window of this little apartment Mr. Van Brunt could see 
 distinctly the faces of the two burglars. He could have 
 
LAST LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 24/ 
 
 shot them down there and then in perfect safety to him- 
 setf and his companions, but he wished to refrain from 
 taking hfe until he could be certain that the robbers 
 would show resistance. He did not wish to kill them 
 in the house, nor in any other way than in self-defense. 
 The elder Van Brunt, finding he was growing numb 
 and weak from the effects of the cold, damp air of the in- 
 clement night, determined "to push things," and stand- 
 ing in front of the back door, ordered the hired man to 
 open it quickly. In trying to get the key into the key- 
 hole he made a noise which the quick-eared burglars 
 heard. Their light went out immediately, and their 
 footsteps were heard ascending the cellar stairs. Mr. 
 Van Brunt and his man moved towards the trap-door 
 of the cellar, the lock of which had been broken. This 
 was soon opened, and the body of a man started up, 
 followed by the head of another. Mr. Van Brunt cried 
 out " Halt," in response to which two pistol shots from 
 the cellar door flashed almost in his face, but without 
 injuring him. He then fired his shot-gun at the fore- 
 most man, and a cry of agony followed. The other 
 man fired at him a second time, and then ran towards 
 the front of the house. There he dashed almost into 
 the arms of the younger Van Brunt, at whom he fired 
 two more shots, luckily missing him also, and before 
 the pistol could be fired again his arm was struck down 
 by a blow from Mr. Van Brunt's shot-gun, which was 
 shattered. Uttering a terrible oath the burglar now re- 
 treated, but before he had gone many rods Mr. Van 
 Brunt sent a bullet into the would-be murderer's back. 
 The desperate house-breaker staggered for an instant, 
 and then fell dead. 
 
248 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 Meanwhile the other burglar, although mortally 
 wounded from the elder Van Brunt's first fire, continued 
 to shoot in the dark until he was exhausted. The 
 firing now ceased, the only thmg positively known, after 
 the second or third shot, being the gratifying fact that 
 while none of the defenders of the Judge's property 
 were hurt, the two burglars were literally riddled with 
 shot and bullets. One was stone dead, with his empty 
 revolver under his head ; the other lived until five 
 o'clock — only about two hours. Several neighbors, 
 aroused by the firing, came rushing to the place, and got 
 there by the time the fight was over ; one of whom was 
 asked by the wounded man to give him some whisky. 
 After tasting it, he pushed it away, and called for water, 
 which he drank eagerly. He was then asked who 
 they were, and where they came from ? He replied, 
 " Men, I wont lie to you ; my name is Joseph Douglas, 
 and that man over there is William Mosher." He 
 spelled M-o-s-H-E-R-'s name, adding, " Mosher lives in 
 the city (New York), and I have no home. I am a 
 single man, and have no relatives except a brother and 
 sister, whom I have not seen for twelve or fifteen years. 
 Mosher is a married man, and has five children." 
 Believing himself to be mortally wounded, he con- 
 tinued : " I have ;^40 in my pocket ; I wish to be buried 
 with it ; I made it honestly." Then he said, " It's no use 
 lying now : Mosher and I stole Charley Ross from 
 Gertnanto^vn" When asked why they stole him, he 
 replied, " To make money." He was then asked who 
 had charge of the child ; to which he replied, " Mosher 
 knows all about the child ; ask him." He was then 
 told that Mosher was dead, and was raised up so that 
 
LAST LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 249 
 
 he could see the dead body of his partner in guilt. He 
 exclaimed, " God help his poor wife and family." To 
 the question, "could he tell where the child was;" he 
 answered, " God knows I tell you the truth ; I don't 
 know where he is ; Mosher knew." The same question 
 was repeated a number of times to him ; but he gave 
 no further information, but said, " Superintendent Wal- 
 ling knows all about us, and was after us, and now he 
 shall have us. Send him word. The child will be 
 returned home safe and sound in a few days." He told 
 his inquirers that they had come over in a sloop which 
 was lying in the cove, and begged them not to question 
 him any more, and not to move him, as it hurt him to 
 talk or to move. He remained conscious until about 
 fifteen minutes before his death. Thus writhing in 
 agony, lying on the spot where he had fallen, drenched 
 with the descending rain, ended the purposeless and 
 miserable life of one who aided in rending the heart- 
 strings of a family unknown to him, and in outraging 
 the feelings of the civilized world. So swiftly did 
 retribution come upon his companion, that not one 
 word escaped his lips : no message to his family — no 
 confession of his terrible crimes — no prayer was he per- 
 mitted to utter : suddenly, as by the stroke of light- 
 ning, was his soul ushered into eternity. Surely " the 
 way of the transgressor is hard." 
 
 On the morning of the 14th December, Supt. Wal- 
 ling received a telegram from Justice Church, of Bay 
 Ridge, stating that two men, Mosher and Douglas, had 
 been shot and killed in attempting a burglary, and one 
 of them had confessed that they were the abductors 
 
 of Charley Ross, and that the Superintendent was 
 II* 
 
250 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 searching for them. Supt. Walling telegraphed at once 
 in reply that they were the very men he was searching 
 for, and he would send a detective to identify them. 
 Detective Silleck was at once dispatched to Bay 
 Ridge, and as soon as he saw the dead bodies of 
 Mosher and Douglas, he said, pointing to the one, and 
 then to the other, ''That is Joe Douglas, and tJtat is Bill 
 Mosher. Take the glove off his left hand, and you'll 
 find a withered finger." Detective Sellick knew that 
 in his early life Mosher had lost the dividing cartilage 
 of the nose from disease, and his appearance and 
 speech from that cause was peculiar. He also knew 
 that from a felon the first finger on Mosher's left hand 
 had withered away to a point, and the nail on the 
 finger had grown to the shape of a parrot's beak. To 
 conceal this defect, he usually wore gloves. On receipt 
 of the dispatch from Bay Ridge, Supt. Walling tele- 
 graphed to Capt. Heins the intelligence of the death of 
 Mosher and Douglas, with the confession of the latter, 
 and requested him to come to New York. The Cap- 
 tain, as soon as he received the telegram, said that if 
 the men had not told where the child was concealed, 
 there would be greater diflficulty in finding him now 
 than there would have been had they lived ; for while 
 they lived, there was a prospect of arresting them, and 
 through them of recovering the child. Mr. McKean 
 with Captain Heins left Philadelphia by the next train, 
 first arranging with my nephew to telegraph him to 
 take my son Walter and the gardener, who had seen 
 the men driving on the lane, to New York^ for the pur- 
 pose of identification in case the bodies were not disfig- 
 ured, and could be recognized. In accordance with 
 
LAST LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 2$! 
 
 this arrangement^ the following telegram was sent, 
 dated New York, December 14, 1874: 
 
 Frank D. Lewis. — Superintendent says the bodies are not disfigured. 
 Bring Walter over. Have hope of finding where the child is to-night. 
 Tell the chief, and keep quiet. \Vm. R. Heins, CaJ>t. Detectives. 
 
 On the following morning, December 15th, Walter, 
 with his uncle Joseph W. Lewis and Peter Callahan, 
 the gardener, went to New York in response to the tele- 
 gram received from Captain Heins. Walter had not 
 heard of the tragedy, and did not know for what object 
 he was taken to New York. While there no one was al- 
 lowed to converse with him on the subject. The reason 
 for this was, that he might see the dead bodies of 
 Mosher and Douglas before any one could speak to 
 him about what had taken place on the previous day at 
 Bay Ridge, so that when taken to the Morgue in Brook- 
 lyn, to which the bodies had been removed, he was in 
 perfect ignorance of the purpose of his visit, or of the 
 catastrophe that had necessitated it. The bodies had 
 been stowed away in a vault the night before. When 
 they were brought out the child Walter was startled at 
 first, and seemed greatly agitated; soon he recovered 
 himself, and the recognition, as described by an eye- 
 witness, is as follows : " When the bodies were shown 
 to little Walter he was left to himself, no one asking 
 any questions. His recognition of Mosher, the older 
 of the two burglars, was slow and gradual, his memory 
 reviving by degrees ; but the instant he saw the body 
 of the younger man he said, * Oh, that's awful like him; 
 he's the driver' — meaning the driver of the buggy. 
 These exclamations came quick, spontaneous, and with 
 an earnestness that was as convincing as they were 
 
252 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 impressive. Subsequently he said, 'He/ pointing to 
 Douglas alias Clark, *was the one that gave me the 
 money to buy the fire crackers.* Again he said, ' He 
 was the one that gave me the candy, and the other 
 one,' pointing to Mosher, *he sometimes had candy 
 too.* Peter Callahan was equally positive about Doug- 
 las (alias Clark) as the driver of the buggy, and ex- 
 pressed a strong belief as to Mosher. He said, ' I am 
 certain, from his general appearance, that he was one 
 of the men, but whenever I attempted to look at him 
 he put up to his face a handkerchief which partly hid 
 it. I suppose he did so to hide the deformity of his 
 nose. I recognize the body fully.' The identification 
 of the bodies as those of the two men who had been 
 seen on Washington Lane, Germantown, and who had 
 driven the children away, fully satisfied those who were 
 acquainted with the suspicions so long entertained, that 
 William Mosher and Joseph Douglas were the real 
 abductors of my son, Charley Ross. 
 
 Very early on Monday morning the intelligence of 
 the tragic death of the burglars, and the dying confes- 
 sion of one of them, became known in the city of New 
 York, and, through the Associated Press, was tele- 
 graphed throughout the length and breadth of the land. 
 It was the chief topic of conversation. So much had 
 been said and written about the abduction during the 
 past five months, and so few persons knew that the men 
 who were killed at Bay Ridge had been for a long time 
 suspected of the crime, and were then even being 
 hunted by the police, that when it was published that 
 one of them had in his dying moments confessed that 
 he and his companion had stolen Charley Ross, an 
 
LAST LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 253 
 
 intensified interest was everywhere manifested. There 
 was added to the crime a fresh and awful element of 
 tragedy. The sudden death by violence of the two 
 villains struck the community as a just and startling 
 act of retribution from God. 
 
 When merited punishment overtakes deep guilt, the 
 public sense of justice is satisfied; but when the pun- 
 ishment is astonishing and unexpected, and the sudden 
 retribution which falls on one offense in the very act of 
 its commission, and which might seem greater than its 
 wickedness deserves, reveals another and darker crime, 
 which shows that the criminals had sinned up to the 
 full measure of the fearful penalty, reverent minds 
 cannot fail to recognize in so wonderful a coincidence 
 the directing hand of Providence; and even the most 
 thoughtless will be awakened to some dim sense of a 
 moral Governor presiding over human affairs. The 
 crime of stealing a little child, and holding his life sub- 
 ject to the payment of a large sum of money, was of so 
 revolting a nature that the whole community felt it to 
 be an offense against society; and wherever the sudden 
 and violent death of the kidnappers was announced, the 
 universal feeling seemed to be that God would not per- 
 mit such a crime to stand unpunished, or such criminals 
 to exist. Certainly the event must be classed among 
 the romances of crime; for here were two men, hunted 
 through many months, tracked hither and thither by tire- 
 less officers, yet escaping the consequences of their great 
 crime only to be shot dead for a far less heinous offense, 
 and one in no way connected with the kidnapping. 
 The killing of two burglars at the same time is itself a 
 rare and extraordinary event, well worthy of comment, 
 even had the victims not been the long-sought kidnap- 
 
254 CHARLEY ROSS, 
 
 pers. Besides, in the contest in which they were en- 
 gaged, although the burglars made every effort to 
 defend themselves by maiming or killing their oppo- 
 nents, and fired many shots, yet they injured not one 
 of their assailants, not even slightly. Then the revela- 
 tion extorted by approaching death from the younger 
 of the two burglars is one of the noteworthy incidents 
 in the history of crime. The pages of fiction present 
 nothing more remarkable than that yol-untary confes- 
 sion and its surroundings. The thick darkness of the 
 last hours of a stormy December night enveloped the 
 dying thief, as he lay on the wet ground stricken with 
 his death-wound. A dim lantern, serving only to ren- 
 der the surrounding darkness barely visible, revealed 
 one or two persons standing over the fatally-wounded 
 man. His first thought was the alleviation of his 
 physical suffering — he begged for whisky, which was 
 brought; but finding himself unable to swallow it, he 
 then asked for water, which he drank without relief to 
 his excruciating sufferings. Then came upon him a 
 sense that his worthless and miserable life was fast ebb- 
 ing away, and the pangs of conscience for a few brief 
 moments became even stronger than the torture of his 
 wounds, and forced him to unburden his mind of a 
 guilty secret: "It's no use lying now," said he, "I 
 helped to steal Charley Ross." The terror of death, 
 and fear of the just retribution which lies beyond this 
 world, unlocked his guilty tongue. This sudden awak- 
 ening of a dormant conscience in view of the near ap- 
 proach of death, affords strong evidence of the existence 
 of that moral sense which our religion teaches us to 
 believe will survive even the blackest career of crime. 
 
LAST LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 25$ 
 
 Tortured by his suddenly awakened conscience, this 
 hardened miscreant felt impelled to unburden his mind 
 by a confession which is one of the striking features of 
 this singular tragedy. His was the bad end of a bad 
 man — the terrible ending of a hard and bitter life. 
 
 But while the universal sentiment at first was that 
 these vile, bad men had met their deserts, yet, on sec- 
 ond thought, a feeling of disappointment followed, that 
 they had not been captured instead of being killed, and 
 forced to reveal their guilty secret. The greater crim- 
 inal who devised the plot — the author of the cruel letters, 
 and who probably was the only one of the pair who 
 knew where the child was secreted — died instantly, 
 without a word — the word for which we had toiled for 
 months. Efforts were at once made to find a trace of 
 the hiding-p*lace of the child. Nothing was found on 
 the persons of the dead burglars that indicated who 
 they were, or gave any light on the subject of the ab- 
 duction. They had with them a complete set of burg- 
 lar's tools, and each one had a revolving pistol and a 
 large knife. The boat on which the burglars came to 
 Bay Ridge was thoroughly searched: there were found 
 on it a few copies of the New York Herald and a copy 
 o*' the New York Evenijig Telegram^ in which was a 
 burlesque account of the finding of Charley Ross; 
 nothing, however, was discovered to give the least clue 
 upon which to work. The boat, it was subsequently 
 ascertained, had been stolen on the night of the 27th of 
 September, at Bridgeport, Connecticut: when taken it 
 was a cat-rigged sail-boat, but had been altered by 
 Mosher into a sloop before the tragedy on Bay Ridge. 
 
 It was supposed that Mosher and Douglas had per- 
 
256 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 haps two accomplices, and the pohcy now adopted was 
 to discover them by hunting up all their associates. 
 Mosher's wife and her brother, Westervelt, were the 
 means through whom this information was sought. 
 Hours were spent by Superintendent Walling and Mr. 
 McKean in questioning them, for they were unwilling 
 witnesses. Mrs. Mosher said that her husband had told 
 her that the child had been placed with an old man and 
 woman, and was well cared for, but she did not know 
 who his keepers were, or where they lived. Superin- 
 tendent Walling received a letter about this time, stating 
 that an old man and woman were living alone on an 
 island in Long Island Sound, whose conduct was very 
 suspicious, as they would not permit any one to come 
 on the island. This information was thought to be so 
 important that, although it was night, an officer was 
 dispatched to watch the shore, and prevent any person 
 from going to the island, or from coming off to the 
 mainland. Early the following morning several per- 
 sons, with two or three officers, after considerable risk 
 of shipwreck amidst the ice, landed on the island. It 
 was thoroughly examined, but they found no evidences 
 of there ever having been a child kept there. The old 
 people, although they had heard of the abduction, had 
 not heard of the killing of the abductors, and stated that 
 they had been much annoyed by roving marauders who 
 .came to steal poultry, and that they were suspicious of 
 visitors. An old woman was heard of in Connecticut, 
 whose mysterious movements were suspicious. She 
 was a friend of Mosher, had loaned him money to 
 begin business at one time, and was said to be the very 
 kind of person with whom tlie child might be placed. 
 
LAST LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 25/ 
 
 She occasionally went to Brooklyn and New York, but 
 moved about as if she was afraid of something; and 
 besides she had several children living with her, one 
 about the age of Charley Ross, and this boy had dis- 
 appeared. Here was a case which looked very much 
 as if it would furnish a solution to the secret. The 
 old woman's home was visited; stubborn and belliger- 
 ent, she protested she knew nothing about anything, 
 and would not tell if she did : said, " I knew that Mo- 
 sher was not strictly honest, but that was nobody's 
 affair, if I chose to aid him in earning his living de- 
 cently." Hours were spent in plying her with ques- 
 tions, and finally all her mystery was accounted for. 
 She owned some tumble-down tenement houses in 
 Brooklyn, and was in constant dread lest officials should 
 come to collect taxes, or compel her to put them in 
 habitable condition. The little boy which had been with 
 her was the child of her niece, and was dead. During 
 his sickness he had been attended by the Mayor of the 
 city, who was a physician ; his photograph was shown 
 to the officers, and they were satisfied that she never 
 had our little boy. When the old woman really un- 
 derstood the object of the visit, she was enthusiastic in 
 her desire to serve the Ross family, and offered to re- 
 turn to New York with the officers, and do what she 
 could to find the child. Thus again were hours spent 
 on a trail which appeared to have something real in it, 
 but which when investigated proved valueless. 
 
 About this time a statement was made public, that 
 the body of a boy was found in Newark Bay on the 
 19th of November, and after keeping the remains four 
 days, and no one appearing to claim the body, they 
 
258 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 buried it. The child was said to be about four years 
 old, light complexioned, light silky hair cut close, blue 
 eyes. I received several letters, stating that he 
 answered the published description of my son, and that 
 it was believed he had fallen from a boat and was 
 drowned. Although we very much doubted if he was 
 Charley, because all agreed that the child which was 
 found had blue eyes, while ours has brown or hazel 
 eyes ; yet, to be certain, his body was exhumed and 
 examined. The physician present wrote to us that the 
 child could not have been more than about 20 months 
 old. He had but few teeth, had blue eyes, which con- 
 clusively confirmed us in our judgment that the child 
 was not Charley. 
 
 In the different interviews which Superintendent 
 Walling and Mr. McKean had with Westervelt, many 
 points of interest connected with the case were, by 
 .searching questions, dragged out of him. This will be 
 more particularly noticed at another time. Among 
 other tilings, he stated that he had slept at a hotel in 
 the same room with Douglas, Saturday night, Decem- 
 ber 1 2th, the night before the killing, and Douglas then 
 told him that the child was living, and Mosher, despair- 
 ing of getting the ransom by the plans proposed, was 
 considering a change in them, and had partly worked 
 out another plan for re-opening the negotiations on the 
 basis of a simultaneous exchange. Circumstantial evi- 
 dence was thus obtained, confirming the dying state- 
 ment of Douglas, that the child was living at the time 
 of the death of the men. This information, obtained 
 by Mr. McKean, so contrar>' to the popular belief on the 
 subject — although those familiar with the whole case 
 
LAST LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 259 
 
 never had any reason to suppose that the child had 
 died or been destroyed — was an additional incentive to 
 hasten the efforts to discover the person who had pos- 
 session of the child. Through Westervelt, two of 
 Mosher's associates were heard of, who lived in Balti- 
 more. Officer Wood, of Philadelphia, was forthwith 
 sent to that city to look them up. They were found 
 living- in miserable quarters in the midst of squalor and 
 wretchedness, and brought to Philadelphia, where they 
 were closely examined. This episode was almost 
 laughable. These fellows, who had been thieves and 
 receivers of stolen goods, were great cowards, espe- 
 cially fearing "vigilance committees." They had no 
 sooner got to Philadelphia, where they arrived before 
 daylight, than they were taken to a tavern where some 
 drunken brawlers were fighting. Taken from this place 
 quite nervous, they were put into a room at the police 
 station, where muskets and ropes are kept. This was 
 too much for them. They felt sure of being lynched, 
 and one of them, getting down on his knees, begged 
 piteously to be let off. Throughout their examination, 
 they evinced great terror; and afterwards, some victuals 
 being given them, they declared the food had been pois- 
 oned, complained of illness, and refused to eat. These 
 fellows told what they knew, which was not much, and 
 then were sent back to Baltimore. Evidently they 
 were not the kind of people to whom Mosher would 
 confide a secret of such vital importance as the abduc- 
 tion of a child and his place of concealment. 
 
 Those engaged in the search had become accustomed 
 to disappointments and delays ; but instead of being 
 discouraged, began again with renewed zeal after each 
 
260 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 and every disappointment. Everything in the nature 
 of a clue was followed up as quickly as the railroad and 
 telegraph would enable the searchers to do the work, 
 by night and by day, without any cessation. There 
 was a hope, after the abductors were killed, that their 
 accomplices would set the child free ; and instructions 
 were given to the whole police force of New York, to 
 be on the lookout for a stray child, and if such should 
 be found in any respects answering the description of 
 Charley Ross, to send him immediately to Police 
 Headquarters. 
 
 Considerable excitement was occasioned at the Cen- 
 tral Office one afternoon by the report that Charley 
 Ross, the long-lost child, had been found by a police- 
 man on the Bowery, and had been placed in charge of 
 the Superintendent. At first sight, before questioning 
 the boy, the Superintendent thought he certainly had 
 the right child. He was about five years of age, had 
 long, curly, flaxen hair, dark hazel eyes, and the features 
 bore a striking resemblance to the pictures of Charley. 
 The suspicion was strengthened by the child, who, when 
 asked his name, said it was Charley. On being further 
 questioned he gave his father's name and residence, 
 and was recognized by an officer as a child, who had 
 been brought to a station-house once before on the 
 supposition that he was Charley Ross. The authori- 
 ties not being able to get a real clue to the custodian 
 of the child, and the abductors being dead, were com- 
 pelled to examine into everything which was brought 
 to their notice, however improbable, with the hope that 
 something would be found out which would reveal the 
 hiding-place of the child. This imposed on them an 
 
LAST LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 26l 
 
 immense amount of labor, which was cheerfully per- 
 formed ; and, although disappointed so often, yet when- 
 ever anything fresh was started they readily undertook 
 to investigate it with ardor and zeal in the face of innu- 
 merable failures. This persistent search was continued 
 from the time of the killing of the abductors until the 
 20th of December without any favorable results, and 
 the mystery still remained as inexplicable as it had ever 
 been. 
 
 At this point Mrs. Ross's brothers, seeing that there 
 was scarcely a probability of finding the child by the 
 means which had been employed, determined to make 
 an effort to end the matter by offering a reward for 
 Charley, promising to ask no questions of the person 
 who should return him, or who should give informa- 
 tion which would lead thereto. This advertisement 
 appeared December 23d, 1874, in the papers of all the 
 principal cities, over, my name, and is as follows : 
 
 $5,000 REWARD 
 Five thousand dollars reward will be paid for the return, 
 
 WITHIN TEN DAYS, 
 
 From this date, to any one of the addresses named below, of my son, 
 
 CHARLES BREWSTER ROSS, 
 Aged four years and seven months, who was taken from Germantown, 
 July 1st, 1874. 
 
 Being entirely satisfied that his abductors were killed at Bay Ridge, 
 L. I,, on the 14th inst., I now offer the above sum for his return, or for 
 information which shall lead thereto, promising to ask no questions. 
 
 The boy may be delivered to any one of the following addresses : 
 Ross, Shott & Co., No. 304 Market St., Philadelphia. 
 Henry Lewis, No. 2101 Walnut St., Philadelphia. 
 I Ewis Brothers & Co., No. 74 Leonard St., New York. 
 Lewis Brothers & Co., No. 63 Franklin St., Bostoru 
 
262 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 A. B. Stoughton, opposite Patent OflSce, Seventh St., Washington, 
 
 D. C. 
 HoLLiDAY, Phillips & Co., No. 21 Hanover St., Baltimore, Md. 
 Or to my residence, where information may also be sent. 
 
 Christian K. Ross, 
 East Washington Lane, Germantown, via Chestnut Hill Railroad. 
 Philadelphia, December 2jd, 1874. 
 
 It has already been stated that eflforts were made to 
 procure some of Mosher's writing, to compare it with 
 the letters which I had received from the abductors, 
 but without success, excepting the signature of WilHam 
 Henderson to receipts — that being one of his assumed 
 names. Westervelt had declared that he did not know 
 where to get any ; yet when closely questioned after the 
 death of the men, he told Mr. McKean that on the 25th 
 of June he was in Philadelphia, and Mosher had written 
 a letter addressed to a Mrs. Murdock, who attended the 
 lighthouse at Rondout; that he carried that letter to 
 New York, and mailed it there on the 26th of June, it 
 being dated one day in advance of the writing, so as to 
 correspond with the date of mailing; and he thought if 
 some person was sent to see Mrs. Murdock, the letter 
 could be obtained from her. Superindendent Walling 
 on the 24th of December sent an officer with Wester- 
 velt to Rondout, and they got the letter, difac simile of 
 which is here given. It is signed Wm. Hendricks — 
 another of the names which Mosher assumed. Although 
 written in Philadelphia, as Westervelt stated, it is dated 
 New York, as follows : 
 
 New York, yune 26, 1874. 
 
 Mrs. Murdock. — ^You must think very strange of me in not writing to 
 
 you on the 1st of May, as you desired me. The reason was that I got a 
 
 good situation on a vessel to go to South America as carpenter on her. 
 
 I got back about one week ago. I don't know when I shall be able to 
 

 
 Fac- Simile of the Rondout Lighthouse Letter. 
 
/i^i^/-:?^^i^u.^uK^ v^^^T^/^ 
 
 
 /^ /7^ ^.'^i^^^^ i?0'.£,^'-2^ yp^f^ 
 
 
 Fac-Simile of the Rondout Lighthouse Letter. 
 
LAST LETTERS FROM THE ABDUCTORS. 26/ 
 
 get up to Rondout ; but you please send me the balance of five due on 
 the boat. There was 85 cents due for repairing your row boat but you 
 need not mind that. Send me ^5 and it will be all square. 
 
 Respectfully, etc., Wm. Hendricks. 
 
 P. S. — I will inclose you an envelope with my address. I am board- 
 ing here at present and shall be for the future. 
 
 Both enveloj>es were also obtained : the address on 
 the envelope which Mrs. Murdock was requested to 
 use when she would answer his letter, is that of the 
 house in which Westervelt lived at that time. This 
 letter, written in his usual handwriting, has been care- 
 fully compared by experts with the disguised letters 
 which I received, and they have decided that all of them 
 were written by the same person. 
 
 At the time of the killing of the abductors, I had not 
 fully recovered from my illness, and for the purpose of 
 restoring my health had been for several weeks in my 
 native place, Middletown, Pennsylvania, where my wife, 
 with Walter, had come to see me. At noon on the 
 14th of December, as they were about to return home, 
 he following telegram was received, addressed to my 
 brother-in-law : 
 
 Philadelphia, December 14, 1874. 
 Tell C. K. R. quietly that Mosher and Douglas were killed last night, 
 while committing a burglary, near New York. Douglas confessed that 
 they stole Charley. Joseph Ross. 
 
 Our hopes were now raised to the highest pitch, in 
 the anticipation that soon our dear little boy would be 
 restored to us, and that our anxieties would shortly be 
 ended. We had so long been subject to alternations 
 of fear and hope, that our weary hearts were only too 
 ready to catch at this intelligence as the first real gleam 
 of light that broke through the impenetrable darkness. 
 
268 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 Joy and happiness again resumed their wonted place 
 on Mrs. Ross's countenance as she left me, with the 
 promise that as soon as our dear Charley was found, 
 she would telegraph the glad news ; and sick or well, 
 we would (should he return before the coming holi- 
 days) unite in spending Christmas day with all our 
 loved ones to surround our happy family board. 
 
 Days passed away, yet no intelligence came ; truly 
 " hope deferred maketh the heart sick." Months have 
 gone, and still nothing has been heard of our little boy. 
 Years have passed, and there has been no solution of 
 the dread problem. Yet are we hopeful, believing that 
 Providence, who so strangely suffered the abductors to 
 be taken away without a sign, will further vindicate His 
 righteous government, and not permit us always to 
 remain in ignorance of what has become of our dear 
 little Charley. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 LOST CHILDREN RESTORED TO THEIR PARENTS. 
 
 lOTHING has been more talked of and written 
 about in this country for months past than 
 the abduction of Charley Ross, a Httle boy 
 of Philadelphia ;" so says an English paper of January, 
 1875. 
 
 For several months before the killing of the burglars 
 at Bay Ridge, the public had settled down in the belief 
 that the child was dead ; but when it became known 
 that one of the villains had confessed that he himself 
 aided in the abduction, and in his dying moments 
 declared that the child would be restored to his home 
 within a few days, the case was invested anew with a 
 vivid and startling interest. Intense excitement again 
 prevailed in this city, and every report was seized upon 
 by the public with avidity. And not in the cities 
 alone, but throughout the country, people were moved 
 to make the closest and most vigilant search. Evi- 
 dence of this was afforded us in numbers of letters 
 which began again to pour in, describing children who 
 were thought to bear a resemblance to the pictures of 
 Charley, so widely circulated. Many singular facts 
 have been brought to light in connection with the 
 search in this case, and children have been found in 
 nearly every section of the country, whose appearance 
 often led to the belief that the missing one was found. 
 
 (269) 
 
270 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 Some cases of exceptional interest deserve more than 
 a passing notice, and will be given more particularly. 
 One of these was that of a boy found in Chester, Illi- 
 nois. The child was brought to that place by two 
 villainous-looking men, one of whom claimed to be his 
 father. The citizens, not believing the man's story, had 
 him and the child placed in charge of the authorities 
 of the town, who, upon questioning the child, believed 
 him to have been stolen, and communicated by tele- 
 graph with the mayor of our city. Efforts were imme- 
 diately made through the telegraph to find out if he 
 was Charley ; but not being able to decide satisfac- 
 torily, my brother, James M. Ross, was sent to see the 
 child. He found him sadly disfigured, his face shame- 
 fully marked with acid; his hair was dyed, his back was 
 frightfully scarred, and his whole appearance indicated 
 that he had been most cruelly abused. Although my 
 brother was satisfied at first sight that he was not our 
 little boy, yet the citizens, fearing he might not know 
 him in his pitiable condition, prevailed on him to defer 
 his decision until the next day, it being in the night 
 when he arrived in the place. The following morning, 
 after examining the child again, he decided that he was 
 not Charley. When separated from the man who had 
 brought him to the town, the boy gave the following 
 romantic story of his adventures : He said, two men, 
 after taking him from a yard near his father's house, 
 had put him in a room and locked him up until dark, 
 when they conveyed him to the river bank, placed him 
 in a boat, and rowed him to the other shore. There 
 they left the boat, and made him walk a long distance 
 through the woods. At times he became so weary 
 
LOST CHILDREN RESTORED. 2/1 
 
 that he would fall to the ground ; but they whipped 
 him with switches to keep him awake. At length they 
 reached a cabin in the forest, occupied by a woman. 
 They did not tarry long in the hut, but started out on 
 foot on a begging expedition, the boy doing most of 
 the begging, being instructed what to say and how to 
 act. His captors treated him brutally, and required 
 him to obtain a dollar a day on pain of severe punish- 
 ment. Some days he would get three or four dollars, 
 and at other times he would get almost nothing. His 
 natural shrewdness soon led him to deceive his tyrants; 
 when he obtained more than a dollar he would give 
 them the exact amount they had fixed as his task, and 
 the balance he would hide away to use when he failed 
 to get the required sum. In this way the two men and 
 the woman and boy traveled through Illinois, Indiana, 
 Ohio, Kentucky, Arkansas, and other States, the boy 
 begging money, and the men and woman living on it, 
 and generally getting drunk every night. At length 
 the woman died, and the men ceased their wanderings 
 and stopped in Chester. 
 
 The boy at this time was about seven years old, and, 
 although naturally bright and intelligent, had forgotten 
 the name of the city from which he had been stolen, his 
 own name, and in fact everything which related to his 
 former life; said the man who claimed to be his father 
 was not his father ; but was unable to give any clue by 
 which to ascertain where or to whom he belonged. 
 The authorities of Chester refused to return the boy to 
 the man in whose charge he had been found, and an 
 application was made to the court by one of the citizens 
 to prevent him from being taken away, and to have a 
 
2/2 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 guardian appointed for him. After it was decided that 
 the child was not our Charley, a gentleman wrote to 
 the chief of police of St. Louis, Missouri, an account of 
 the little boy in Chester, who was supposed by those 
 who had seen him to be Charley Ross, and also gave 
 a description of the child, which letter was published in 
 the papers of that city. A gentleman of St. Louis, Mr. 
 Henry Lachmueller, read the account as published, and 
 recognized some points in the description that led him 
 to believe that the child might be his own son, who had 
 mysteriously disappeared two and a half years before. 
 Obtaining a fuller description, he proceeded to Chester 
 to remove all doubt. What was his joy on seeing the 
 child to find his hopes realized, and his long- lost son 
 found at last. Although the child had forgotten every- 
 thing relating to his family, yet as soon as he saw his 
 father he recognized him. Mr. Lachmueller returned to 
 St. Louis, and procured from the Governor of the State 
 and a Judge in St. Louis satisfactory letters that he was 
 a responsible person. In company with his wife he 
 returned to Chester, and got possession of their child, 
 whom they had long given up for lost — the authori- 
 ties being satisfied that he had been stolen by the two 
 vagabonds who had brought him to the place. Mr. 
 Lachmueller gives the following account of the way in 
 which the child was stolen. He was residing in St 
 Louis, engaged in the business of quarrying stone, and 
 in July, 1872, he and his men were engaged at their 
 work at a distance from his residence; his children car- 
 ried the men's dinners to them every day. On the 3d 
 of July several of the children proceeded from the house 
 with baskets of provision for the quarrymen, and on 
 
« t t i t > 1 i 
 «• * > > > 
 
 • » » » 
 • • • 
 
 * • » * . » 
 
 Henry Lachmueller, found in Illinois. 
 
 u (v I V 
 0/;l If I. 
 
LOST CHILDREN RESTORED. 273 
 
 their way back stopped at a grocery, where they were 
 acquainted. One of the boys, Henry, five years old, 
 took off his slioes, and playfully ran back in the yard; 
 as he did not return search was made for him, but he 
 could not be found. While the parties were searching 
 for him two bad-looking men informed them that it was 
 useless for them to hunt for the boy, as they had seen 
 him fall into the river and drown. Mr. Lachmueller, 
 believing the statement of the men, caused the river to 
 be dragged, in the hope of finding the body of his child. 
 While thus engaged he learned from some persons 
 in the vicinity that they had seen two men cross the 
 river in a boat, with a little boy answering the descrip- 
 tion of Henry. Mr. Lachmueller, on being satisfied 
 that the boy was stolen, declared he would make it the 
 business of his life to find his child, and would do no 
 more work until success crowned his efforts. During 
 the time he was searching for his son, he heard of the 
 abduction of my son, and being struck with the coinci- 
 dence, persevered in the search, thinking he might find 
 either Charley cr his own son. He spared no expense, 
 but advertised in the newspapers of the United States, 
 Canada, and Europe; and whenever he heard of a boy 
 being found he proceeded at once to the place, only to 
 be disappointed. He traveled through the Southern 
 and Eastern States, and visited several European coun 
 tries, but could hear no tidings of his son, until at last 
 the report reached him of the child at Chester, Illinois, 
 thought to be our little boy, and who really proved to 
 be his own lost Henry 
 
 On the return to St. Louis of the father and mother 
 with their son, great was the rejoicing of the friends and 
 
274 CHAKLKV • '^~- 
 
 neighbors. The children in the vicinity of their dwelling 
 were wild with joy; hundreds crowded in and around 
 the house, and persuaded the Httle returned hero to re- 
 late his story over and over again, until all knew it by 
 heart. Thus the interest which was awakened in the 
 search for our little boy resulted in the restoring of 
 Mr. Lachmueller's child, who had been absent two and 
 a half years, and had been trained to be a beggar, wan- 
 dering over the country in company with vagabonds, 
 who forced the child to obtain money that they might 
 indulge in their lazy and vicious habits. A picture of 
 little Henry Lachmueller, as he appeared when he was 
 rescued by the citizens uf Chester, Illinois, from the 
 villains who had stolen him. is given to illustrate* the 
 manner in which his abductors disfigured him. 
 
 Another instance in which a child was restored to 
 his proper guardian occurred in New York State. A 
 letter was received by the Mayor of Philadelphia from 
 a person residing in one of the counties of that State, 
 bordering on the Hudson river, which, like many 
 others, claimed positive knowledge of "the whereabouts 
 of Charley Ross," and asked that some one who knew 
 the child be sent to the place. Upon receipt of this 
 letter the following dispatch was sent from this city: 
 
 Letter received. Ple;ise give me the grounds for your belief. An- 
 swer. W. S. Stokley, Mayor. 
 
 To this telegram no answer was received ; but sev- 
 eral days after the following telegram came to hand : 
 
 Wm. S. Stokley, Mayor, Philadelphia.— A woman is her; going 
 to take him away. What must I do ? 
 
 To which reply was made : 
 
 See a Justice of the Peace and your District Attorney Be guided by 
 their advice. Telegraph results. W. S. Stokley, Mayor. 
 
LOST CHILDREN RESTORED. 2/5 
 
 In answer to this the following was received: 
 W. S. Stokley, Mayor. — Send detective at once. Answer. 
 To this was replied: 
 
 An officer will leave for your city on the midnight train. 
 
 W. S. Stokley, Mayor. 
 
 Captain Heins then telegraphed to Superintendent 
 Walling in New York: 
 
 A gentleman in professes to have important information as to 
 
 the ^'hereabouts of Charley Ross. Has been in correspondence with 
 the Mayor of this city. Send an officer there by the early train to-mor- 
 row morning. Let him say he has been sent by Mayor Stokley. 
 
 After the lapse of a few days the following letter was 
 received from Superintendent Walling : 
 
 Your telegram was received. I sent an officer forthwith to to 
 
 examine the child supposed to be Charley Ross. He was a boy about 
 seven years of age, and had been stolen from his father by the mother 
 
 on October 20th, 1872, and placed in care of until July 7th, 1873, 
 
 when he was transferred to another person. The father hearing of the 
 child has claimed him and taken him away. The boy, in consequence 
 of a domestic difficulty or quarrel, had been secretly taken away from his 
 father by his mother, and transferred to different persons, in different 
 places, thus eluding every effort of the father to find him, until he heard 
 that the child was supposed to be Charley Ross, when he went to the 
 place and forthwith recovered his son. 
 
 As an indication of the vigilance of the people, even 
 in the far distant states, the following instance is re- 
 lated : 
 
 During the early part of December, 1874, a strange 
 woman appeared in Black River Falls, Wisconsin, with 
 a child described as about four years old, and having 
 light hair — said to be a perfect likeness of the photo- 
 graph of Charley Ross, in possession of the sheriff of 
 the county. The woman kept herself closely veiled, 
 and gave her name as Lewis, which was found not to be 
 
276 CHAR LEV ROSS. 
 
 correct. She said she was going to visit her father, who 
 was ill of typhoid fever, and, for fear the child might 
 take the disease, desired to leave him until she re- 
 turned. Her actions were, however, sufficiently strange 
 to arouse suspicion among the people of the town. 
 After leaving the child, she returned to the place where 
 she had left him, but they did not recognize her, as she 
 was disguised. The people then concluded the child 
 must be the long-lost Charley Ross. The woman was 
 traced to her father's hbuse about twelve miles distant, 
 but her parents were ignorant of the fact that she had 
 brought a child to Black River Falls. She was arrested, 
 but refused to say anything, except that the child did 
 not belong to her. Communications were at once be- 
 gun with me about the matter, and also with the Pinker- 
 ton agency in Chicago. A picture with a full descrip- 
 tion of the child was requested to be sent to me. In a 
 short time the following letter enclosing a photograph 
 came to hand: 
 
 Black River Falls, Wisconsin, January 6th, 187s. 
 Mr. Ross. — Dear Sir: — Your favor of 13th ult. came to hand to-day. 
 I would say that an effort has been made to get a photograph of the 
 child ; but the artist was not skilled and the child was very uneasy, and 
 they failed to get a correct likeness. The child has been removed into 
 the country about twelve miles from this place. One of Pinkerton's 
 detectives was here to-day and has gone to see him. Should he prove 
 to be your Charley, you will hear from me by telegraph. 
 
 Respectfully yours, G. W. Baillet. 
 
 The description sent to me represents the 'child as 
 having blue eyes, and the picture bore no resemblance 
 to our little boy. This case has been selected from a 
 large number to show that whenever strangers, whose 
 actions were m the least degree suspicious, came into 
 
 I 
 
LOST CHILDREN RESTORED. 27/ 
 
 any of the villages throughout the country with a small 
 child, they were closely watched ; and although many 
 times persons influenced by an excited imagination 
 were mistaken in their judgments, yet they evinced an 
 earnest desire to aid us in recovering Charley. As 
 before stated, the feeling in this exciting case has not 
 been confined to our own country. I will now intro- 
 duce a very interesting correspondence which comes 
 from Europe. 
 
 WuRZBURG, Bavaria, February 14, ihjs- 
 Mr. Ross. — Dear Sir: — As a stranger, permit me to address you. 
 I have seen it announced in the papers that your child was lost, and I 
 believe, from the description I have seen of him, that I know where 
 he is and who has him. The child I saw answers the description 
 exactly ; he is four to four and one-half years old ; has half-brown eyes, 
 flaxen hair, and can speak several languages. I am acquainted with the 
 American who has him, and can, if you telegraph me in return, imme- 
 diately inquire more minutely into the matter. As the man intends 
 leaving shortly, it would be best to act promptly. Better still if you 
 would come in person; but telegraph without delay, as he is surely your 
 Charley, for the American has as much as told me so. 
 I hope to hear from you soon, 
 
 Edward Mossner, 
 Machine Foreman, with C. Thaler, in Wurzburg, Bavaria. 
 P. S. — I should like to have telegraphed as it is of importance ; but it 
 is not advisable ; for if he should learn of the same, he has expressed 
 himself that he would shoot himself and the child, if he should ever be 
 compelled to give him up. He takes good care of him, and loves him 
 as well as his life. That he is your child is not susceptible of the 
 slightest doubt, for he personally informed me that the child was brought 
 to his house ^d no one showed himself afterwards. But even if no one 
 inquired for him, is it nott<6Uspicious that he should have fled from 
 America to Germany ? It is urgent that you act at once, as he intends to 
 depart ; but I will take pains not to lose trace of him. I rely upon 
 your judgment whether it would not be advisable to enter legal proceed- 
 ings by telegraph to keep the child. 
 
 Yours, E. Mossner. 
 
2/8 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 The above letter is written in German, and, as will 
 be observed, the writer speaks most positively that 
 the child he saw was our Charley. But I had re- 
 ceived so many letters, etc., stating the same thing, that 
 I determined to try by means of correspondence to test 
 if possible the correctness of my correspondent's con- 
 clusions. By inquiring I obtained the name and resi- 
 dence of the United States Consul living nearest to 
 Wurzburg. To him was sent the following letter by 
 the Mayor of this city: 
 
 Philadelphia, March 4th, 187 s- 
 Mr. James W. Wii^on, U. S. Consul, Nuremberg, Germany. — 
 Dear Sir : — A letter has been received by Mr. Christian K. Ross, of 
 this city, from Edward Mossner, Machine Foreman, with C. Thaler, in 
 Wurzburg, Bavaria, stating that he (Mossner) believes that Mr. Ross's 
 little son Charley, who was abducted from his home, July i, 1874, is 
 in that city with an American. 
 
 The letter Mossner writes is very indefinite ; yet there is sufficient in 
 it to warrant me to examine into the matter. Will you plexse see Mr. 
 Mossner, who will point out the child to you, and by comparing the 
 enclosed photograph and investigating the matter, you may be able to 
 determine whether he is Mr. Ross's child. Your early attention will 
 oblige. Respectfully yours, 
 
 W. S. Stokley, Mayor, 
 
 To this the following reply was received : 
 
 U. S. Consulate, Nuremberg, March 23, i8yS' 
 
 To His Honor, Mr. Wm. S. Stokley, Mayor of Philadelphia. 
 — Dear Sir : — Your communication of the 4th inst. and circular relative 
 to the abducted boy, Charley Ross, was duly received on the 21st 
 inst. I at once called on my Vice Consul, Mr. Moritt Geiershofer, 
 who, by the way, is a patriotic citizen of Philadelphia, and told him I 
 had a chance for him to show his humanity and good feeling for old 
 Philadelphia ; and that I wanted him to go with me to Wurzburg and 
 probe the matter to the bottom. He was keenly anxious to do his mite 
 for Philadelphia and her distinguished citizen, Mr. Ross. So at ten 
 o'clock the next morning we were on our way to Wurzburg, where we 
 
LOST CHILDREN RESTORED. 279 
 
 arrived at 1 1 A. M. Our first step was to hunt up the man, E Mossner. 
 We found him sick at his house, out in the suburbs of the city. We 
 found his whole family, consisting of wife, one son and three daughters, 
 all grown, and quite excited, and a little too positive that the boy in 
 question was none other than Charley Ross. They had received Mr. 
 Ross's letter, circular, etc., etc. We thoroughly examined the family, 
 and left them with the impression that we were on the right track. And 
 I can assure you we both felt that it woidd be the happiest day of our 
 lives, if we could be able to send you a telegram to the effect that we 
 had secured the long-lost child. But, like all others in this case, we 
 were doomed to disappointment. 
 
 We proceeded to the Burgomaster (Mayor) and the Commissioner of 
 Police. They both, at once, pronounced the whole thing a swindle on 
 the part of the Mossner family. They said that their heads were turned 
 at the prospect of making a penny. The Commissioner of Police pro- 
 duced the proceedings in case of Kuderman and the American child — 
 from which it appeared that the man Kuderman arrived in Hamburg, 
 from San Francisco, with the child, as early as May, 1874. He (Kuder- 
 man) swore that the child was illegitimate, and had been left at his house 
 by a Bavarian servant girl — that he had brought the child over to the 
 gi-andparents, who reside in Kempton, Bavaria; that they refused to 
 receive it; that he then came to Wurzburg; and subsequently the sisters 
 of the mother of the child came and demanded it, and on his refusing, a 
 suit was brought in court, where the above facts were developed, and 
 the man was allowed to retain the child. Subsequently, some six months 
 ago, some one, thinking he might be the abductor of Charley Ross, 
 had him arrested with the child and examined. He was again dis- 
 charged, it being satisfactorily proven that the child could not be 
 Charley Ross, who was lost July ist, 1874. 
 
 When we were satisfied from the legal proceedings that the boy could 
 not be Mr. Ross's child, still we requested that the man and child be 
 brought before us to be examined by us separately. This was done. 
 This boy is a beautiful child of about four years of age, and in many 
 respects resembled the description of the Ross boy. But he had no 
 ;' cowlick," no " dimples," and his eyes are very beautiful bright blue — 
 so distinctly blue you would notice it across the room. I took him in 
 my lap and asked him if his name was not Charley; he replied " No; 
 my name is Theodore Ehrman." I asked him his father's name; he 
 replied, "Kuderman." I asked him if he was born in Philadelphia ; be 
 replied « in San Francisco." I then told him I had a picture for him. 
 
280 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 and asked him if he could tell who it was. He replied in German. 
 Das ist fin sehr schones Madchen (that is a very handsome little girl). 
 He seemed to take the greatest fancy for his little girl, and did not like 
 to part with it. His mouth and ears were apparently smaller than those 
 of the photograph. This boy in Wurzburg is a very precocious and 
 beautiful child. 
 
 The man Kuderman seemed to be a very shrewd but honest man, tell- 
 ing a straightforward story, etc. But there seemed to be some mystery 
 in this case. He is believed to be receiving money from some source 
 for the support of himself, wife and child. The child is kept clean and 
 dressed very nicely. While we were satisfied that the boy here is not 
 the one we wanted, we were also of the opinion that his was some unde- 
 veloi>ed, hidden history. He seems to be an extraordinarily fine child, 
 and is evidently of a higher order of parentage than reported by the 
 man Kuderman. 
 
 Of course we were profoundly disappointed, though it was a satisfac- 
 tion that an opportunity had been given us of doing our mite in this 
 most extraordinary case. 
 
 In closing, I beg you to give our heartfelt sympathy to the afflicted 
 parents of the lost child. With much respect, I am, sir, 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 James M. W^ii^on, U. S. Consul, 
 
 On receipt of this letter from Mr. Wilson, I imme- 
 diately wrote to him, th£mking him for the great interest 
 he and his vice-consul had taken,^nd for the very satis- 
 factory and thorough manner in which they had inves- 
 tigated the case of the Wurzburg child, at the same time 
 saying that the child could not possibly be my little 
 boy, as this one has blue eyes, while my son's are of a 
 decided broivn or Jiazel. My letter in reply to Mr. Wil- 
 son's failed to reach him, and November 8th, 1875, he 
 wrote a second time to the Mayor, a few extracts from 
 which will still further show the great interest he took 
 to fully satisfy himself and us about the child who had 
 been in W^urzburg. 
 
 He says : 
 

 
 
 
 1 . . 
 
 i 1 
 
 1' . ^^^^^^^mfj/ 
 
 1 
 
 ( 
 
 1 
 
 \ 
 
 » 
 
 % 
 
 , J » J * J J 
 
 WuRZBKRG Child, Traced ky the' Ci'iiTiirr "STAtEs ^oivsm.." 
 
LOST CHILDREN RESTORED. 28 1 
 
 While, as mentioned in my letter of 25th. of March, the facts seemed 
 to be against the little boy found by me being Charley Ross, I have 
 not been able to divest myself of the belief that he might turn out to be 
 the right child after all. So I addressed a note to a German friend of 
 mine living near the man Kuderman, and he promptly replied : " The 
 birds have flown ; they left on the 29th of April, leaving suddenly with- 
 out consulting any one, and leaving unexpired rent, which had been paid 
 in advance." He further wrote : " A woman living next door told me 
 that a few days after their departure, a young American called and 
 seemed much excited to find these people had left," etc., etc. My friend 
 said these people went to Frankfort on the Main. Mr. Wilson contin- 
 ues by saying that he at once wrote to our Consul-General at Frankfort, 
 to find out if such people were in or had been in Frankfort. The Police 
 authorities informed the Consul that they were not and had not been 
 there. Subsequently I addressed myself to the Mayor and Chief of 
 Police of Wurzburg, and requested them, if possible, to trace the people, 
 since my suspicious had been strengthened that this boy was the 
 abducted boy, Charley Ross. In about three weeks the Mayor wrote 
 me that the man, woman and child had been traced to the little village 
 of Bornheim, near Frankfort. I proceeded to Frankfort, and taking Mr. 
 Webster, our Consul-General, we went to Bornheim and had an inter- 
 view with the Burgomaster and his one policeman. The policeman had 
 a sister living in the same house. To be brief, I told the Burgomaster I 
 must have a photograph of that child, without exciting the suspicion of 
 the people in whose possession it was. We sent for a photographer and 
 the policeman took him to the house, ostensibly to have the picture of his 
 sister's little boy taken, and by a little strategy they succeeded in getting 
 the woman to let the child be taken. It worked like a chanxi. The 
 artist, while taking the other child, told the woman having charge of my 
 Charley, that he admired her little son, and would take his picture and 
 make her a present of it. She consented to his taking one for her only, 
 he, of course, keeping the negative. It gives me pleasure to be able to 
 send the copies herewith. If it is Mr. Ross's child, he will know it, 
 doubtless; and if the right child beyond peradventure, let him telegraph 
 to me direct, and I will undertake to take him to Philadelphia, etc., etc, 
 God knows I hope for the parents' sake it may turn out to be the right 
 child, etc. James M. Wilson, U. S. Consul. 
 
 Again Mr. Wilson writes December lO, 1875, refer- 
 ring to his former letters to the Mayor, and says : 
 
282 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 Not having heard a word from any source, and full time having 
 elapsed, I think it possible that my letters have miscarried or fallen into 
 wrong hands; therefore, I will send this to your personal address and 
 enclose photograph of my little waif. In my last letter to the Mayor I 
 gave full particulars of the present whereabouts of the child. However, 
 if my letter was duly received, I am not surprised that it has not been 
 answered, for I am aware it is but among many hundred hope-deferring 
 letters you have received — letters so full of faith on the part of the 
 authors and yet destined to give additional sorrow to your already over- 
 burdened heart. 
 
 While I have almost abandoned hope, so far as the child here is con- 
 cerned, I feel it to be my duty to send you this letter and photograph. 
 Please inform me, by return mail, if this is not your child, and return to 
 me the photograph, as 1 wish to retain it as a svuvciiir of my labors in 
 the interests of a common humanity, etc, etc. 1 have the honor to be, 
 dear sir, with deep sympathy, 
 
 Your obedient servant. 
 
 Signed, James M. Wilson, U. S. Consul. 
 
 On the 23d of November I replied to the letter 
 which the Mayor received as follows : 
 
 Philadelphia, Narvanber 2j, 1873. 
 
 James M. Wilson, Esq., U. S. Consui., Nurrmukrg, Germany. — 
 Dear Sir : — His Honor, Mayor Stokley, desires me to acknowledge the 
 receipt of your favor of the 8th inst., with enclosures of photographs. 
 
 I take pleasure in doing so, not that the child which you have so 
 persistently followed up is my little Charley, but because you have 
 taken so great interest as to retrace the Wurzburg child,, so as to be fully 
 assured that no mistake had been made. 
 
 I replied to yours of March 25th, saying that the Wurzburg child could 
 not be mine; he having blue eyes, while my little boy's are brmvn or 
 hnzfl. The pictures just received confirm me that he is not Charley. 
 I am glad, however, to have the picture, as that settles the matter beyond 
 a doubt. 
 
 As yet I am entirely in the dark as to what has become of the child ; 
 but since the publication of the letters I received from one of the abduc- 
 tors, a renewed impetus has been given the search ; and I am daily in 
 receipt of so many letters, reporting children astray or in bad hands, that 
 I trust I shall yet be able to come across the right one, etc. 
 
 The suspense and anxiety are terrible ; but one comfort we have — that is. 
 
LOST CHILDREN RESTORED. 283 
 
 we have the universal sympathy of the civilized world, particularly since 
 the true and only version of the whole matter is understood — kidnapping 
 of the child for a ransom. 
 
 I judge from what you write that you expect to visit your native land 
 during our Centennial year. If so, I should be very glad to call on you, 
 and thank you in person for your kindness and interest. In the mean 
 time accept my thanks. I am most respectfully yours, 
 
 Christian K. Ross. 
 
 On the same date as the last letter, Mr. Wilson writes 
 again : 
 
 U. S. Consulate, Nuremberg, Germany, December 10, iSy^, 
 Mr. C. K. Ross. — Dear Sir: — After my letter of this A. M. was 
 mailed, your esteemed letter of the 23d ult. came to hand. I cannot 
 honestly say that I am pleased to learn definitely that this handsome and 
 bright little fellow is not your long-lost Charley; for I had fondly 
 hoped that he would prove to be the right child, and that I might 
 become instrumental, under Providence, in restoring that child to its 
 heart-stricken parents. But it seems that it is not to be. In the mean- 
 time I am pleased to see that you still have faith and hope, which 
 " springs eternal in the human breast." You say, " I replied to yours 
 of March 25th, saying that the Wurzburg child could not be mine, etc., 
 etc." That letter I never received. In the meantime there can be no 
 harm in my still having a grain of faith left that this child here may 
 eventually turn out to be the right one after all. I propose to keep him 
 within tracing distance for a little time longer, etc., etc. With lively 
 sympathy, I am, dear sir, yours, 
 
 James M. Wilson, U. S. Consul. 
 
 I have found pleasure in giving this case so large a 
 space in this history, partly on account of the great de- 
 gree of interest manifested, and the prompt and cheer- 
 ful service rendered by Mr. Wilson, but more especially 
 because of the generous sympathy and the uniform spirit 
 of kindness which breathes forth in these letters. It is 
 truly encouraging to .find in a stranger such kind words 
 and acts, which tend to alleviate suffering and give grace 
 and dignity to our common manhood. Had the child 
 
284 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 been our Charley, gladly would he have crossed the 
 o'cean with the prize. Of this I am well convinced, for 
 no one could write so touchingly who would not have 
 claimed and enjoyed the privilege of restoring the long- 
 lost child to the arms of his affectionate parents. 
 
 The picture of the little boy who was so persistently 
 followed up I have had copied. The only name by 
 which he is known to us is that of the " Wurzburg child." 
 
 While so many persons were truly enlisted to aid in 
 discovering the child, the vultures of society, taking ad- 
 vantage of the excitement that prevailed, endeavored to 
 prey on us by concocting different schemes to extort 
 money. A few notable instances will be related, to show 
 the heartlessness of the wretches who undertook to ex- 
 cite false hopes, with the view of turning their infamous 
 lies to profitable account, by asserting that they were 
 possessed of information as to where Charley was con- 
 cealed. The first case is that of a man who desired to 
 procure a reward in advance for information which he 
 professed to have. The correspondence is as follows: 
 
 [A.] 
 
 St. Louis, Dec. ^j, 1874. — Mr. Ross — Dear Sir: — You offer a 
 reward for information that will lead to the recovery of Charley Ross. 
 I know where he is, and will tell you. I would have told you before, 
 but was afraid to; but since Douglass is dead I can tell you without fear. 
 Last September I became acquainted accidentally with Joe Douglass and 
 Bill Morris or Mosier (he called himself Morris then), and found out 
 that they had Charley Ross hidden away ; and they threatened to kill me 
 if I betrayed them, but promised to pay me well to keep quiet. Now 
 if you will give me $500 I will promise to deliver Charley into your 
 hands within three days from the time I receive the money ; or if you 
 doubt me or my ability to do so, I will go to Philadelphia, and take you 
 to the place where he is now hidden, if you will send me money enough 
 to pay my expenses and take me there, say about one hundred dollars ; 
 
LOST CHILDREN RESTORED. 285 
 
 then after you get the boy you can pay the rest. I will pledge you my 
 life that I can do this, and would have done so before, only I was in fear 
 of my life, and it was only yesterday that I learned that Douglass was 
 dead. If you will send the money, I will do all that I have promised. 
 Address James Cannon, care W. S. Wylie, No. 1743 North Ninth street, 
 St. Louis, Mo. 
 
 P. S. I am living six miles in the country, and Mr. Wylie is a friend, 
 but knows nothing about this. If you send money by registered letter 
 or money order, send it in Mr. Wylie's name. James Cannon. 
 
 A reply was forwarded to this letter, saying that, as 
 he was a stranger, before any money could be advanced 
 for the information which he professed to have, we de- 
 sired to have some responsible reference as to who he 
 was, and if he proved to be a proper person there 
 would be no trouble about his getting the money he 
 wanted. To which the following answer was received : 
 
 [B.] 
 
 St. Louis, Jan. 4, iSjS- — Mr. Ross — Dear Sir: — Yours received. 
 My friend, Mr. Wylie, handed me your letter this morning. I am veiy 
 sorry that you could not place confidence enough in me to accept my offer. 
 Now, I will make another one. You want me to furnish you reference. 
 That I cannot do. I am a poor man, a perfect stranger here, and un- 
 known to any one except a few as poor and unknown as myself, Mr. 
 Wylie being the only man whom I know. If I could give you reference 
 I would do so willingly; but I cannot. So, my course is plain. If you 
 will not accept my former offer I cannot go to Philadelphia, for the sim- 
 ple reason that I have no money to take me there, and no friends from 
 whom I could borrow. So, if you are not willing to send me what I 
 asked, I will have to try and obtain some work until I can earn money 
 enough to take me to Philadelphia. I will wait ten days for an answer 
 to this ; then if I do not get satisfactoiy answer I shall go to work and try 
 and earn the money. I have in my possession written directions where 
 to find the boy. Copies of these I will leave in charge of Mr. Wylie, so 
 if anything should happen to me he will have the papers. They are 
 written in cipher, so I have no fear of trusting him with them, for the 
 secret of the key is known only to Douglass, Morris and myself. I had no 
 hand in the stealing of the child. I became acquainted with Douglass 
 and learned the secret, and to save myself I helped to remove him from 
 
286 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 the place where he was then hidden to the place where he is now con- 
 cealed. These papers which I have were written by Douglass to enable 
 me to find the boy in case it became necessary to remove him. He is 
 still in the place where he was in November, and will remain there vmtil 
 the party who h;\s charge of him is ordered to produce him. He is in 
 charge of an old deaf negro woman who can neither read nor write, and 
 who never heard of Charley Ross, and is in such a place that no one 
 would ever think of looking for him in that place; I will tell you your son 
 is well, and seems to be contented. It is in my power to restore him to 
 you, but I will not have anything to do with a second party. If we can 
 come to no satisfactory agreement, you can have the papers containing 
 the explicit directions where to find him and the key to read them by, 
 for the sum mentioned in my former letter. If you will not send me 
 money enough to pay my way to Philadelphia, you can appoint some 
 one to act for you, and I will do the same, keeping myself in the back- 
 ground, and will give up these papers (along with the key), >vhich will 
 enable you to find your son without further trouble. Five hundred dol- 
 lars is a small matter comixored with your son; but with all due respect 
 for your feelings as a father, this is the best I can do. Please think of 
 this, and I hope you will accept one or the other of my oflTers, viz., either 
 send me the sum I named and I will go to Philadelphia, or appoint some 
 one to receive the papers and pay for them. You can a<ldress as liefore, 
 in care of W. S. Wylie, No. 1743 North Ninth street. If 1 do not hear 
 from you in ten days I will do as I mentioned above, go to work till I 
 can earn money enough to take me to Philadelphia. But the sooner I 
 get money, the sooner you get the boy. I hope it will be to your interest 
 to accept my offer. It will do no good to question Mr. Wylie, for he 
 knows nothing about this affair, and will not unless you reject my offer; 
 then I shall give him the papers for safe-keeping, telling him at the same 
 time what they are, without giving him the key to the cipher. Now, my 
 dear sir, you can act as you deem best ; but if there is anything like 
 treacheiy in your manner of dealing with me, I shall keep out of sight and 
 you will learn no more from me. But if $500 is no object, remember that 
 for that sum you can find your son. If you send funds, please send as 
 directed in my last. Now, hoping soon to receive a favorable reply, I 
 remain very truly yours, Ja.mes Cannon. 
 
 This letter on its receipt was regarded as a scheme 
 to swindle, and both letters were sent to a friend in St. 
 Louis, with a request that he would have the matter 
 
LOST CHILDREN RESTORED. 28/ 
 
 investigated by the police authorities of that city. Cap- 
 tain O'Connor, chief of detectives, undertook to find 
 Cannon, and after some trouble he secured his arrest, 
 and took possession of all documents and letters found 
 in his desk. The report of the Captain is as follows, 
 also the letter in cipher to which Cannon refers in his 
 second letter with the translation : 
 
 Detective Office, Four Courts, Jan. i8, 187 j. — Major L. Harri- 
 gan, Chief of Police: — Relative to letters purporting to have been written 
 by one James Cannon from this city to the father of the boy Charley 
 Ross, at Philadelphia, which letters are hereunto annexed and marked 
 respectively A and B, I have the honor to report as follows : — On Satur- 
 day afternoon last, in company with Detective Tracy, I went in pursuit 
 of the man Camion. After some trouble we succeeded in finding the 
 trail of the man Wylie. Following him up, we located him on a small 
 flat boat on the bank of the river, foot of Lebaume street, where he was 
 living with a man named Wilson, both of whom we found to be absent 
 across the river. I directed special officer Barney Willow, Fourth Dis- 
 trict, to watch the boat, arrest both men and secure all letters found with 
 them. At eleven P. M. Officer Willow arrested both men, and found a 
 large number of letters directed to W. S. Wylie at points in Arkansas 
 and Missouri. In a desk belonging to Wylie, after careful search, I 
 found the directions in cipher which are spoken of in letter marked B. 
 Calling to my assistance Officer Williams, of the Third District, an ex- 
 pert in cipher-reading, we obtained the secret of the mysterious docu- 
 ment, which is also annexed and marked C. Its translation is also an- 
 nexed and marked D. By comparing the writing in the letters A and 
 B and in the cipher letter with the ordinary chirography of the man 
 Wylie, but little doubt can exist that Cannon and Wylie are one and the 
 same person ; that Wylie is the inventor and engineer of the whole thing, 
 which is nothing less than an outrageous attempt to perpetrate a swindle 
 upon Mr. Ross. Very respectfully, 
 
 Dan. O'Connor, Chief of Detectives. 
 
 [C] 
 
 cipher letter. 
 
 Lgn Sxg ra abme jb yrun kmoo keb r w jmroonrvb ywjln an Igxcpqb 
 
 Knab bx vxdn gry r anum qxc bquan mr & nib rxwa ax Igyb gxe Ijw 
 
 owm gw Ij anrb Knlx vua wnlon aajg bx & noxdr grv xb rw Ijan xv jwg 
 
288 CHAKLEV ROSS. 
 
 jllrumb bx ca en ny g Kn Scppwc ro Oxqxc ernn qzdn bx Iztu cqy & pn 
 XV qw Kcb Xw gx&n uroii dxwb ojru ca j&vm mxwh uxan Iqnan m r & 
 nl brxwa Ignw qxr nnj dnJxin K xjh px bx bqn qnbnu bgtn bgn Irbqb 
 qjrvm & xym Inah Xv lx|n oxwax rb. wx & bg bruw qxc Ixyn bx bqn 
 G & enw bxm lym bqn G & & nw exjm jwm oxunxe rb ex& jKxcb 
 henucn rwna bc&w wnrlx|nb & rpbb x& unob brun xxc Ixyn bx bqn 
 on&& g G c & w bx bqn unob bqn on & & g jwm bnny xw cy bqn ab & 
 nyb bnuw qxc yg aa vex bxj ma bytn bqn bqr & m Xun jum oxunxe rb 
 Xun Vxvn bnur gxc Qron j & crumm Ij krw Ijm bqn y j bg Kg bqn Ij 
 kum rb y ny ma r w b x bqn a g y v jum eruw bjtn gxc bx bqn gxcan 
 eqn & n bqn X xg va Kcb v w wx Ijan j & n qxc bx x cw>'na a avcnbqnvp 
 qj y n i v a bx ca bf^ n w qxc new mx bqn Knaqb uxc Gwerbq bqn Kx g. 
 
 K. MXCPVJA. 
 [D.] 
 TRANSLATION OF CIPHER. 
 The boy is still at Pine Bluff, but in a different place. We thought 
 best to move him. I send you these directions so that you can find him 
 in case it becomes necessary to remove him, or in case of any accident 
 to us. We may be jugged. If so, you will have to lake charge of him ; 
 but on your life don't fail us, and don't lose the»e directions. When you 
 leave the boat go to the hotel; take the right-hand road west of the 
 hotel ; follow it north till you come to the Warren road ; take the War- 
 ren road and follow it for about twelve miles; turn neither right nor 
 left till you come to the ferry ; turn to the left at the lerry, and keep on 
 the straight road till you pass two roads, take the third one and follow it 
 one mile till you come to a ruined cabin ; take the path by the cabin, it 
 leads into the swamp, and will lake you lo the house where the boy is. 
 But in no case are you to go unless something happens to us ; then you 
 will do the best you can with the boy. B. Douglass, P 
 
 This attempted swindle was unsuccessful, and al- 
 though the scoundrel was in the power of the authori- 
 ties, having obtained no money, he could not be held, 
 and after being kept in prison a few days, was dis- 
 charged. 
 
 Another attempt of a similar kind was made; but 
 this fellow was actuated by a different motive. He wrote 
 the following letter : 
 
LOST CHILDREN RESTORED. 289 
 
 New York, March 4, 187^' 
 C. K. Ross, Esq. — Dear Sir: — Something has come under my notice 
 which leads me to believe that I can find your child, provided that I am 
 given the means and authority to act. / am a seafaring man. I trust 
 to your honor to keep this letter a secret until you see me. I am not 
 giving you a vain hope, I am pretty sure. Answer immediately and let 
 me know if I shall go to see you, or if you will provide the means for 
 me to act. I am, dear sir, Yours truly, 
 
 A. S. JOMES, N. Y. 
 (Please consider this letter confidential.) 
 
 The same day Jones's letter reached me, I received 
 one from Bergen's Point, New Jersey, requesting me to 
 meet the writer in New York. I telegraphed to Hen- 
 derson to meet me at a hotel in New York the same 
 evening, and to the person at Bergen's* Point the next 
 morning at the same place. Henderson called, but the 
 train being delayed, he left the hotel before I arrived. 
 In the morning I arranged with a detective officer of 
 New York, and Captain Wood of Philadelphia, who had 
 been sent to look after a child reported in New York, 
 to go with me to find Jones. The detectives remained 
 in the neighbcTrhood, while I went into the place, which 
 was a gaudily furnished drinking- house. Very soon 
 after I entered the room Jones came in — a man about 
 twenty-eight to thirty years of age, neatly dressed, quiet 
 in his manner, with no appearance of intemperate habits. 
 At first he impressed me rather favorably; after intro- 
 ducing myself, we went to the back part of the saloon 
 and showing him the letter which l^had written, I told 
 him I was ready to hear what information he had rela- 
 tive to my little boy. Finding that he hesitated about 
 telling, I said to him he need fear nothing, I was alone, 
 and he should be protected from injury; he should not 
 be molested by officers, and should receive the reward 
 13 
 
290 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 of five thousand dollars if he gave information which 
 would lead to the discovery of the child. After consid- 
 erable parleying, he stated that he was a seafaring man, 
 and had just arrived in New York from Cienfuegos. On 
 the previous Monday night, while on the ferry from 
 Brooklyn, he chanced to be standing near two men 
 who were pretty drunk, and overheard one of the men 
 say to the other, *' How about the Ross child? It's a bad 
 job ; we ought to give the kid up." They spoke of Nova 
 Scotia, and of the child being near Summerville. This 
 was the substance of what, by close questioning, I ob- 
 tained from him, and he declared it was all he had 
 heard. He said he had never been to Nova Scotia, and 
 did not know whether there was a town named Sum- 
 merville in the province. I asked if he knew the men, 
 or either of them ; he said he knew one of them, and 
 he was a very bad fellow. I asked if he could see him 
 again. "Yes," he said, "if he looked for him." I told 
 him that there was so little in what he had told me I 
 could not form an opinion, and arranged with him to 
 see the man with whom he said he was acquainted, 
 and had heard talk on the ferry boat, and appointed 
 another meeting with him in the afternoon. 
 
 At the appointed hour, in company with a different 
 officer, I again went to the saloon, and found Jones wait- 
 ing for me. In reply to my question, whether he had 
 seen his man, he said: "Yes, but this is not the place to 
 talk : we will go elsewhere ; wait a few minutes." I stood 
 with my back to the front door, and, after a pause, he 
 said, " Now I am ready/' As I turned I saw a person 
 couching down in the corner of the room with his hat 
 partly drawn over his eyes, appearing as though he did 
 
LOST CHILDREN RESTORED. 29 1 
 
 not wish to be recognized. We passed him, and as we 
 were walking on the street Jones said, " Did you notice 
 that man behind the door of the saloon as we passed 
 out?" I said, "I saw some one who appeared to me to 
 be trying to conceal himself." He replied, " That is 
 the man who gave me the information." I asked him 
 to go with me to my hotel, and there we could talk 
 without being interfered with; but he declined, and 
 proposed going to a beer-garden in the neighborhood, 
 where he could talk without being overheard. 
 
 Arriving at the garden we took seats at a small table; 
 the officers came in very soon after us, and seated them- 
 selves on the other side of the garden. My suspicions 
 were now aroused that something was wrong; and, in 
 order to draw my companion out, I reiterated my former 
 promises, provided he told the truth, and his information 
 should result in recovering my child. He said he 
 would not accept more than one thousand dollars under 
 any circumstances, and did not want anything until I 
 had possession of my son. " Let me know now what 
 you have learned since this morning," I said to him. 
 He began by saying that "years ago he had committed 
 a very bad act in company with the man who gave him 
 this information relative to my child, and was obliged 
 to go to sea to escape punishment : when in port he was 
 in the power of this man, who was the only person who 
 knew of his guilt; also if he knew that he was now com- 
 municating with me he would certainly kill him." I 
 told him it was not necessary he should be known; 
 what I wanted was to get my child, and after he gave 
 me the information which would secure him, he could 
 go where he pleased with the money. After a long 
 
292 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 and earnest conversation all I elicited from him was, 
 that about five months ago the child was taken to Prince 
 Edward's Island, British Provinces, and put out to 
 board, and he could go to the place, or within a half 
 mile of the house, and would go with me, and after I 
 had the child I should give him one thousand dollars, 
 and try to get him some other employment than follow- 
 ing the sea, away from New York, as he wanted to break 
 with his associates in that city, who, whenever he came 
 into port, found him and led him deeper into crime. 
 *' Now Jones," I said, " I have no assurance that what 
 you say is the truth, and don't feel warranted in under- 
 taking such a journey on your mere word. Were 
 you ever on Prince Edward's Island?" "Once a vessel 
 on which I was stopped at Cape Carmiento for water, 
 but I never went on the island," he said. " How could 
 you go so near to the house in which the child is said 
 to be ?" " The description I have is so plain I could 
 easily go there," he replied. 
 
 I told him I doubted his whole story, and until he 
 gave me better evidence of its truthfulness I could not 
 tell what I should do. He said, " I will not talk any 
 more with you." "Why, you came here to tell me all 
 you knew, and now you hold back; you are trifling with 
 me, and I will not let you escape, and must know what 
 your purposes are." He emphatically declined saying 
 anything more at that time, and appointed another 
 meeting at my hotel at eight o'clock the same night, 
 when he said he would tell everything, and also state 
 his plan of investigating the matter. He said he 
 boarded opposite the saloon in which we had met, and 
 had a wife living in Boston. He said, " My family have 
 
LOST CHILDREN RESTORED. 293 
 
 all discarded me on account of my bad conduct, and I 
 want to reform. Mr. Ross, I'll see you to-night, but 
 will not talk with you any more at this time." 
 
 Finding the fellow was stubborn, I let him go, believ- 
 ing if he really had any information he would come to 
 the hotel, and if he had a scheme he would also come, 
 as he had not yet accomplished his designs. As he 
 left me I told him I should have a friend with me in my 
 room, who would hear what was said, but would not 
 interfere in any way to harm or disturb him. He con- 
 sentecj, and went off, the officers following him, and 
 finding that he went to a sailor boarding-house opposite 
 the saloon, as he had said. 
 
 About half past eight o'clock Jones came to the hotel, 
 and with Officer Wood we went up to my room. I sent 
 for a Gazetteer, and locked the door, putting the key in 
 my pocket, determined to find out if possible what this 
 fellow was after. In the presence of Mr. Wood I reiter- 
 ated the promises I had made to him during the day, 
 and stated what Jones had told me, and that his coming 
 to-night was for the purpose of letting me know every- 
 thing he had learned in relation to the child and his 
 whereabouts. Wood assured him protection, and by 
 entreaty and appeals, in fact in every way, tried to in- 
 duce him to make a clean breast of all he professed to 
 know. After parleying for an hour, he said, " Let me 
 write a telegram to my wife." In this he asked her if 
 she knew whether certain persons were still living m 
 Alberton, Prince Edward's Island. Handing it to me, 
 he asked to have it sent to Boston. Turning to the 
 Gazetteer, I found that Alberton is one of the chief towns 
 of the island. " Then your wife knows people on the 
 
294 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 island ?" I said. " She is from the island," he replied. 
 " And yet, you say, you never were there except to 
 touch at the said cape." " No — stop — don't send that 
 dispatch: you write one that I will dictate. Address 
 George Robinson, Alberton, Prince Edward's Island. 
 Ask him if George Howard or George Wells lives there 
 now." Mr. Wood asked him what connection that had 
 with the case, and, after considerable delay, he replied: 
 "If they live there, I will be better satisfied that I am 
 right, as the child had been put to board with both of 
 them, but was not now with either of them." " You seem 
 to know people there," I said. " Yes, these people — my 
 wife's relatives live there, and through them I became 
 acquainted with these persons." I promised to send 
 the message, and asked him to tell us what we came 
 together to hear — the whole history of the child. He 
 replied that he would not until I received an answer to 
 the telegram. 
 
 It was now near midnight, Saturday, and we had not 
 yet found out what the fellow was after; he had not 
 asked for any money, and would not say anything more 
 that night ; but promised to see me again on Monday 
 morning, and in the meantime would again find his 
 informant, and get further information. Baffled and 
 provoked by the fellow's apparent secretiveness, we con- 
 cluded to let him go, knowing that he could easily be 
 reached should he attempt to get away. We were now 
 inclined to believed he had a plan by which to get to 
 Prince Edward's Island, but there seemed something 
 else which he barely hinted at, which we were not able 
 to find out. Although I had but little faith in the fel- 
 low's story, yet not wishing to let anything pass without 
 
LOST CHILDREN RESTORED. 295 
 
 a thorough investigation — and more particularly this, 
 because in one of the abductors' letters it was stated 
 they had been to the British Provinces — I took the 
 telegram to the office ; but there being no station in 
 Alberton, I wrote to Mr. Robinson, asking him if he 
 knew Jones, and the other persons named in the dis- 
 patch, etc., etc., and asked for an answer from the nearest 
 telegraph office. 
 
 On Monday morning, by arrangement, Superintend- 
 ent Walling came to the hotel, and at ten o'clock, the 
 appointed hour, Jones made his appearance. After in- 
 troducing Mr. Walling as a friend, I again stated our 
 previous conversation, and said we were now ready to 
 hear from liinL He asked if there had been a reply to 
 his telegram. I explained how it was not possible to 
 get an answer. " Well, now I will tell you all I know," 
 he said. He was an Irishman by birth, and when he 
 came to the United States he joined the 7th New Hamp- 
 shire regiment, and there became acquainted with Jim 
 Boyd, who taught him something about seamanship: 
 when the call was made for sailors, he with Boyd, a 
 man named John F. Pool, and several others of the 
 same regiment, were transferred to the navy. After 
 their discharge from the navy Boyd and Pool enticed 
 him to commit crimes, and to avoid arrest he went to 
 sea; whenever he returned Pool found him out, and 
 induced him to join in other crimes, threatening him 
 with exposure if he declined. He thus had him in his 
 power. This Pool, he said, was one of the men who 
 talked on the ferry boat about Charley Ross, and pro- 
 posed to him to go to Prince Edward's Island, and 
 transfer the child to Canada. Pool said the child was 
 
296 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 at Goodman's hotel, twelve miles from Sunnyside, in 
 care of a man named Sinclair, and now he was ready to 
 go with me, or any one else, and get him ; afterwards 
 he would expect to get one thousand dollars. He said 
 that was all he had to say. 
 
 Superintendent Walling up to this time said nothing. 
 Now, rising from the sofa on which he was seated, 
 and looking Jones full in the face, he said, ** Do you 
 know me, Mr. Jones?" he replied "No." "Never saw 
 me before?" "No." " I want you to go with me." The 
 Superintendent took him to police headquarters, and 
 said to him, *' Now, Jones, if this story you have been 
 telling is false, say so, and I will let you walk out of this 
 office. Do not put Mr. Ross to any further trouble 
 and expense; if you have been lying, I shall find out 
 whether it is true or false before the day is over." He 
 declared it was the truth. He was put in charge of an 
 officer, and a telegram sent to one of the district station 
 houses to have Pool, who was well known, brought to 
 the Central office. In the meantime a telegraphic dis- 
 patch was sent to a magistrate of Prince Edward's Island 
 to investigate the matter and report 
 
 Pool, an uneducated but very shrewd Irishman, was 
 brought to the office in the evening, and underwent 
 a searching examination. Said he was a runner for 
 United States Navy, enlisting men; had been convicted 
 of burglary in Trenton, New Jersey, served part of his 
 time ; since then was an honest man, except he would 
 drink, and by night he was generally pretty well set up. 
 Said he had heard people talk about Charley Ross, 
 but could not read, and like enough he had talked about 
 the boy himself in the taverns; never knew of a reward 
 
LOST CHILDREN RESTORED. 29/ 
 
 having been offered for the child ; never knew Mosher 
 or Douglas; was in the army in the 7th New Hamp- 
 shire regiment; had been transferred to the navy with 
 three or four other men, Boyd, an Italian, and a man 
 called Jones; this last fellow was college-bred, smart. 
 "Now, Pool," the Superintendent said, "tell all you 
 know about Charley Ross." " Oh, indeed, Superin- 
 tendent, I don't know anything, only what I hear others 
 say." "Were you ever on Prince Edward's Island?" 
 "No." "Whom do you know there?" "No one." 
 " Didn't you talk with some one on the ferry boat on 
 last Monday night about Charley Ross?" "Very 
 likely I did — I was pretty drunk that night, and I don't 
 know what I said. Oh, Superintendent," he said, 
 scratching his head, " I begin to see into this thing. 
 That rascal, Jones, wants to give me trouble; I won- 
 dered what he came after me yesterday for, and asked 
 me to come to a saloon, and when I came there he 
 didn't even treat; I had to pay for the drinks; and, be- 
 sides, I gave him a great beating about five months ago, 
 and now, for revenge, he has me brought here on the 
 Charley Ross affair. I'll find him to-night, and give 
 him the soundest drubbing he ever had." 
 
 After thoroughly examining Pool, we were satisfied he 
 knew nothing, and let him go. He went away mutter- 
 ing vengeance against the college-bred scoundrel, who, 
 as he said, had him arrested in broad daylight, when all 
 his friends could see him walking with an officer. The 
 Superintendent then said, " Mr. Ross, I wish you had 
 given Jones five or ten dollars, I could then put him 
 below ; but we have no charge on which to hold him, 
 and will have to let him go also."" This fellow wanted 
 13* 
 
298 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 to satisfy his revenge on Pool for having received a 
 beating from him, by getting Pool locked up; and also 
 wanted to get to Prince Edward's Island, and then 
 give me the slip. I did not hear if Pool found him, 
 but think Jones would keep very clear of him. In 
 about a week I received a letter from the magistrate 
 on Prince Edward's Island, saying he could not find 
 Sinclair, and that there was nothing in the report. 
 This swindler kept me in New York three days, and 
 put me to trouble and expense, without any gain to 
 himself 
 
 While on this visit to New York I went to see three 
 children, each one of whom was reported as likely to 
 be my little boy. There was only one of them who 
 bore any resemblance to Charley, and he evidently 
 belonged to the person who had him in charge. One 
 of the others appeared to be an American child, in an 
 Italian family; and the third was a child whose parents 
 had died, and a poor, warm-hearted Irish woman had 
 taken him with the intention of providing for him. 
 
 The following telegram was received by the Mayor 
 in reference to a child who was on a vessel which was 
 ice-bound at Barnegat Inlet, New Jersey : 
 
 Barnegat, February ^, iSfS' 
 Mayor of Philadelphia. — Man, woman and three children on 
 board a sloop at Barnegat Inlet. One of the children answers every 
 description of Charley Ross. Will you send a detective ? 
 
 Signed, . 
 
 Efforts were at once made through the telegraph to 
 get a description of the child; but in consequence of 
 the sloop lying in the inlet ice-bound, she could not be 
 reached from that side of the bay, and my brother and 
 detective McKibbin went to examine into the matter. 
 
LOST CHILDREN RESTORED. 299 
 
 Their drive of twenty-four miles through the sleet and 
 ice during the night, was far from pleasant. On the 
 following day, arriving at the United States signal 
 station, the Sergeant in command volunteered to ac- 
 company them on board the vessel. They found a man, 
 his wife and three children — one a boy about three 
 years old, a beautiful child — but not my Charley. The 
 man had ventured in his small craft in mid-winter, with 
 his family, to make a voyage from New Bedford, Mas- 
 sachusetts, to Florida, and was very nearly wrecked, 
 and had put into the inlet for repairs. While on this 
 trip my brother learned that there was a scattered popu- 
 lation who lived among the highlands and pines of 
 Monmouth county, New Jersey, and along the shores 
 of Raritan Bay, and on the rivers and creeks which flow 
 into it, down to near New Brunswick, many of whom 
 were unable to read, and few taking a newspaper. In 
 some of these isolated places persons had little commu- 
 nication with their neighbors, and there were spots in 
 which a child might be kept without a likelihood of 
 detection. This information, together with the fact that 
 two of the abductors' letters were posted in New Bruns- 
 wick, determined us to make a thorough search through 
 these localities, in the hope of getting information which 
 might prove of value. Detective McKibbin and my- 
 self went to Red Bank, on the Shrewsbury river, near 
 the lower extremity of the highlands, and were there 
 joined by a former resident of Monmouth county, who 
 volunteered to accompany us. At Red Bank we called 
 on the person whose store Mosher and Douglas robbed 
 about four years ago, and for which Mosher was ar- 
 rested and lodged in jail in Freehold, New Jersey. It 
 
300 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 was immediately after his escape from this prison that 
 he came to Philadelphia to live. 
 
 From this person we learned that two small vessels 
 had been lying for several days on the river, very close 
 to the shore, not however an unusual thing. During 
 the last night they were on the river the store was en- 
 tered through the cellar, and a large amount of dry 
 goods carried off. The proprietor on looking about in 
 the morning discovered that both vessels had gone 
 away. He chartered a steam-tug and followed in the 
 direction of Staten Island and Long Island, overtook 
 one of the boats, and on searching her discovered that 
 the goods were not on board ; but the delay occasioned 
 by overhauling the wrong vessel, gave sufficient time 
 for the guilty parties to escape. The men, Mosher and 
 Douglas, were strangers in the village; ho one seemed 
 to know them ; and Mosher returned to Red Bank the 
 following morning, and remained several days, no per- 
 son supposing him to be the burglar. In the case of 
 my child's abduction, he returned to his home on the 
 evening of the 3d of July — thus repeating the same 
 plan adopted in the robbery. After a few weeks the 
 vessel was found, and finally the owner of the vessel, 
 which led to Mosher's arrest and confinement in Free- 
 hold jail. Having learned these points, our next object 
 was to find out if any of his associates, or any other 
 suspicious persons, lived in the neighborhood. We 
 were informed of two thieves who were believed to be 
 acquainted with him, both of whom had been convicted 
 of burglary^ and were now at large. We next engaged 
 as a guide a person thoroughly acquainted with the 
 Highlands. During the night the weather became in- 
 
LOST CHILDREN RESTORED. . 3OI 
 
 tensely cold, the thermometer fell to 6° below zero, and 
 the wind blew a perfect hurricane from the north-west. 
 A carriage was in waiting for us early in the morning; 
 we went about six miles to a dense thicket of pines, 
 where we were told there lived a woman with a small 
 child, who had been brought to her to board a few 
 months before. The child was not Charley, and the 
 woman said his boarding was paid regularly by some 
 one she did not know. Returning to Red Bank, we 
 learned that the property known as the Highlands of 
 New Jersey is owned by three gentlemen, who are 
 very careful not to allow persons to build houses in the 
 gorges or valleys, and the inhabitants live mainly on 
 the coast. They obtain a livelihood chiefly by catch- 
 ing clams. The houses are generally in clusters, and 
 the weather being so extremely cold, the people were 
 all in doors, giving us the advantage of seeing all the 
 children at home and making all the inquiries we 
 desired. 
 
 This search occupied two days, without resulting in 
 anything of moment; but we met with numbers of per- 
 sons who had never heard of the abduction of Charlev 
 Ross. 
 
 We then drove to Keyport, following the courses of 
 the rivers and inlets; making inquiries at the different 
 houses, stores, etc., to find out if any strange child had 
 been brought into the neighborhood. We were again 
 told of the two suspicious persons before referred to, 
 and it was said that one of them had at his house a 
 child which was not his own. On arriving at the vil- 
 lage where they resided, we procured the assistance of 
 an officer and went through both houses. In one there 
 
302 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 was a little girl about five years old, who did not be- 
 long to the family. We here learned that between 
 Keyport and the next village there was a large foreign 
 population, who lived in small houses scattered through 
 the woods and along unfrequented roads. Securing 
 the services of a guide thoroughly familiar with every 
 acre of the ground, we started in the morning to walk, 
 since the pilot insisted we should have to go off the 
 road so often that we would not be able to make any 
 time with a horse and wagon. 
 
 During the preceding afternoon it had rained very 
 heavily, and in the night the wind changed to the 
 north-west, the weather again becoming intensely cold, 
 freezing a sheet of ice all over the roads. We made 
 our way as best we could, slipping and sliding along 
 the road through the woods, among briars and bram- 
 bles, first on one side of the path, then on the other, 
 going into almost every house, talking with the people 
 and looking at their children. We found very few 
 persons who had not heard of the taking of Charley 
 Ross. Generally the people were very kind when they 
 understood what we were seeking; and in some in- 
 stances seemed very anxious to give us all the informa- 
 tion they possibly could, and expressed true sympathy 
 with the hope that we would succeed in finding the 
 child. 
 
 At one house, in a very secluded place, the mother 
 seemed to be afraid that we would take her children 
 away; and as long as we remained near the house, she 
 would not permit the children to approach us or allow 
 us to look at them, although we assured her all we 
 hoped for was tliat we miiTlit hear of a strange child 
 
LOST CHILDREN RESTORED. 3O3 
 
 having been brought into that country to board. But 
 she was too much alarmed to talk with us at all. At 
 the next house we spoke of her strange conduct, and 
 the people told us she was all right, and had no child- 
 ren but her own, but was very timid. About one 
 o'clock we reached the next village, pretty tired after a 
 walk of about twelve miles over the ice, failing to getj 
 any trace of Charley. We learned that Mosher and 
 Douglas had, during the fall of 1874, been in one of the 
 creeks that flow into the bay. The person who gave 
 us the information knew both the men, and talked with 
 them, and had them watched nearly all night, supposing 
 they had come to the creek to steal his oysters. 
 
 From Little Washington, the village to which we 
 had walked, we drove to New Brunswick. On calling 
 upon the Chief of Police of that city, he proffered to 
 aid us in the further prosecution of the search, and 
 arranged with a former U. S. Marshal to go with us the 
 following day to search along South Creek on both 
 sides, and through the forests, wherever there were any 
 dwelling-houses. The next day the country towards 
 South and Perth Amboy was examined. Thus this 
 extended search was made, we having been absent eight 
 days without finding anything to shed light on the 
 subject; and the only trace we discovered of the ab- 
 ductors was that they had been in a small vessel in one 
 of the creeks of the Raritan bay. 
 
 Our experience has taught us that it is the easiest 
 possible thing to be mistaken in identity, and we are 
 almost ready to conclude that there is very little pros- 
 pect of any stranger being able to recognize our little 
 boy by looking at a picture. In nearly every instance 
 
304 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 where persons have reported a child which they sup- 
 posed was mine, it is stated that the pictures they have 
 seen are exactly like the child they write about; and in 
 many cases it has been difficult to convince persons 
 that they were in error. One of the most remarkable 
 instances of mistaken identity, not only in a child, but 
 also in that of a man, is as follows: 
 
 Brush's Mills, New York, April 22 ^ 187J. 
 
 To THE Parents of Little Charley Ross. — Last Saturday there 
 was a very strange appearing man came into our village ; he had a little 
 boy with him about six years old. The man called himself a clock 
 tinker. He did not seem to be the boy's father. The child would not 
 tell his name. He had hazel eyes, flaxen hair cut very short ; should 
 think it would curl if allowed to grow. They stayed in our village until 
 Monday, and went into several houses ; at each place the man told a 
 different story. He said he was going west, and spoke of Charley 
 Ross several times; said he had come very near being arrested; persons 
 thought he had Charley Ross with him. 
 
 Thinking this information would be of some use to you is the reason 
 I write. I have thought so much about it I cannot rest. If your child 
 has been restored, let me know. 
 
 If you have any idea that this child is yours, and will begin a search 
 immediately, I think he could be found in Northern New York, etc., etc. 
 Signed, , Brush Mills. 
 
 To this letter I immediately replied, enclosing a 
 circular describing Charley, and also his photograph, 
 and asked the writer to describe more particularly both 
 the child and the man ; if possible, to say where they 
 came from, and in fact to write everything she knew or 
 could find out about them ; also, if she could get a 
 picture of the child and send it to me at the earliest 
 moment. 
 
 May 8th I received a letter from the same person, 
 saying : 
 
 Three weeks have elapsed since I saw the child; but will descril)e 
 him as well as I can. He had flaxen hair, high forehead, brown 
 
LOST CHILDREN RESTORED. 3O5 
 
 eyes ; when spoken to would place one little arm over his eyes. The 
 man stayed on a back street in the village over Sunday. A number of 
 persons went to see the child. As soon as they began to talk about 
 Charley Ross, the man would take the boy and go out of the house 
 and if any person looked at the child, he would get mad. I asked the 
 little fellow his name ; he said he did not know. Asked him who his 
 papa was ; he shook his head and said, " Don't know." The child is 
 kept in such fear that he dare not tell. On Monday two men went to 
 arrest the man ; the woman at whose house he stayed said he had gone 
 away. Inquiry was made ; but no one had seen him go away. 
 
 If the man had not mistrusted that he would have been arrested, he 
 would not have left as he did. There is no doubt but the boy is your 
 son. The man who has the child is a vicious, ugly-looking man, has 
 every mark of a villain, has been wounded through his shoulder, scars 
 on his face and wrists, looked as if he had been cut with a knife. He said 
 he had travelled since February last, and was in New York City last 
 winter, etc., etc. 
 
 How far he is from here now it is hard to tell ; but may not have got 
 far away, as the weather has been very cold since he left this place. If 
 he gets where nothing is said of Charley Ross, and can get liquor, he 
 would stay a week or more. Now, if you would take a part of the 
 money that is offered as a reward, you could find him. I think he is 
 still in this county. 
 
 Now I am certain that the child is little Charley Ross. May God 
 speed the train that will bring some one to find him. It has troubled 
 me much since I saw the child travelling with that brute of a man. 
 Had I not been certain about this being your child, I should never have 
 written to you. 
 
 Signed, , Brush's Mills. 
 
 To this letter I replied, and enclosed a photograph 
 of a person for whom search had been made without 
 being able to find him — and having, the same day on 
 which I received the above letter, received information 
 that the man we had been inquiring for had gone to 
 Vermont or Canada, I asked her to examine the pic- 
 ture I enclosed to her, and show it to other persons 
 who had seen the clock-tinker, and if it resembled him 
 to telegraph me and I would leave by the next train for 
 
306 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 Brush's Mills. Three days afterwards I received the 
 
 following telegram, dated 
 
 Brush's Mills, May 14, 1875. 
 The photograph is the same as the man who was here with the child. 
 
 This seemed almost conclusive that at last the right 
 trace had been discovered, and, without delay, the same 
 night. Lieutenant Beale was detailed to accompany me 
 to look the parties up. We took the midnight train 
 for New York, and at eight o'clock, A. M., next day, 
 left via Hudson railroad for St. Albans, Vermont, arriv- 
 ing there at six o'clock, A. M., the following morning 
 (Sunday). We were compelled to remain in St. Albans 
 until Monday morning, no trains being run on Sunday. 
 St. Albans is one of the prettiest towns I have ever seen ; 
 beautifully located, regularly laid out, and well built. 
 There are many very handsome stores in the town, and 
 beautiful residences in the vicinity. Monday, left St. 
 Albans for Brush's Mills, ninety-four miles distant, and 
 about four miles from the Canada line. We arrived 
 there about noon, and were received at the station by 
 the husband of the lady who had been corresponding 
 with me. We went directly to his house, being anxious 
 to find the clock-tinker and the child as soon as 
 possible. 
 
 The lady spoke very confidently that the child was 
 my Charley, and that the picture I had sent her was 
 surely that of the man. I asked her what led her in 
 the first place to think the child was mine; she said, 
 " I had heard of your loss." " Had you seen a likeness, 
 or had you seen a description of my little boy, before 
 receiving the one I sent to you ?" I asked. " I had not, 
 but one of the neighbors had." On getting it, I found 
 
LOST CHILDREN RESTORED. 307 
 
 it to be one of Pinkerton's circulars, with a lithograph 
 likeness and a full description of our child. My faith 
 now began to waver. "The man treated the child 
 cruelly and threatened to kill him, and acted as though 
 he did not belong to him," she said. After a little 
 further conversation I asked her, " Where did the man 
 go when he left your house?" She replied, "To the 
 next neighbor's." I said, "We will go there, and get 
 their impressions of the matter." These people were 
 more enthusiastic than the others had been — all agreed 
 that the child was afraid to talk, and could be no other 
 than my Charley. I now proposed to see the people 
 with whom they had stayed over Sunday. Before we 
 arrived at the house, it became known in the village 
 what we had come for; and very soon we were joined 
 by a goodly company of men, women and children. 
 The house at which the man and child had stayed was 
 occupied by an old lady and her grown-up son. I asked 
 them to tell me what they knew of these strangers. 
 The old lady said they came to her house on Satur- 
 day afternoon, and the man wanted to mend her clock, 
 which he proposed to do if she would keep him and 
 his child over Sunday. She said she pitied the child, 
 and wanted her clock repaired, and allowed them to 
 stay. She had talked with the little boy while the man 
 was out, and said to nie, " Mr. Ross, he cannot be your 
 child : why, he must be eight years old, and has short 
 stiff hair." The man had told her that the child's 
 mother had died when he was a few months old, and 
 he had the mother's picture with him. 
 
 Our doubts were now increased, but having heard 
 that there had been two boxes at the express office, 
 
308 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 marked N. B. Leatham, Brush's Mills, which had not 
 been called for, we suspected possibly tliey were his, 
 and on asking the old lady about them, she replied, 
 ** He spoke about the boxes, and had ordered them to be 
 sent back to Chateaugay, about twenty-four miles from 
 Brush's Mills, nearer to St. Albans." We concluded 
 that the easiest way to find the parties was to look up 
 the boxes, though the citizens endeavored to persuade 
 us to scour the country for the man and child: we re- 
 turned to Chateaugay. While waiting for the train quite 
 a large company of men, women and children had gath- 
 ered at the station, and talked quietly among themselves. 
 Some of the men said, " We don't believe there ever 
 was a child stolen; think the story was got up to sell 
 newspapers ; it makes a good story for that." As the 
 train approached I turned to them, and said, " Gende- 
 men, you surely don't suppose that I would have come 
 away up here from Philadelphia merely to get up a sen- 
 sation for the newspapers. I assure you, if you are dis- 
 posed to look up the man and child that has been 
 around here, and the child proves to be mine, you shall 
 have five thousand dollars reward for your trouble. If 
 we don't succeed in tracing the parties somewhere, we 
 will return and scour the whole country until we find 
 them." 
 
 Arriving at Chateaugay we found the boxes in the 
 express office; and on asking the hotel proprietor, if 
 he had seen the clock-tinker and his boy, he replied, 
 they had been about the village, and stayed over night 
 at his house ; his name was Leatham, and the clock- 
 tinker had told him to write the child's name on the 
 register as Charley Ross, saying the children in the 
 
LOST CHILDREN RESTORED. 3O9 
 
 village kept calling him by that name, and he should 
 do so also; "but, Mr. Ross," the inn-keeper added, "he 
 is not your son; he is fully eight years old." While we 
 were talking over the matter, a gentleman, who over- 
 heard our conversation, said, " That fellow is in prison 
 in Malone ; he was put in for ten days, for being drunk 
 and trying to break open a door, and his time will ex- 
 pire this afternoon. The child is at the constable's 
 house, about seven miles from here." The landlord 
 drove us to see the boy ; and as we approached the 
 house we observed three or four children playing in the 
 front yard. The largest of them was pointed out as the 
 reputed Charley Ross. I replied, with some feeling 
 of chagrin and disappointment, " Why, I cannot see what 
 people mean; they suffer themselves to be deceived by 
 becoming excited, and do not permit their judgment to 
 act." The child was certainly eight years old, of a dark 
 complexion, sharp features, rough and coarse hair, and 
 the whole appearance of his face totally different from 
 any picture I ever saw of Charley. In talking with 
 him, he said his name was Harry Leatham ; he came 
 from Canada. 
 
 We left the child, feeling that with the exercise of a 
 little judgment we should have been spared great labor 
 and disappointment. As we returned we met the child's 
 father on the road, for he evidently was his father, 
 the resemblance being striking. He was stopped and 
 asked his name; at first he gave a false name, but 
 afterwards said his true name was Napoleon Bonaparte 
 Leatham. Lieutenant Beale asked him to take off his 
 hat. There was but little resemblance in him to the 
 picture I had sent to the lady, but which she had tele- 
 
310 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 graphed to me was an exact likeness of him. When 
 asked why he had his child registered Charley Ross, 
 he said he did it when he was drunk, and the children 
 on the street had called him by that name. The fellow 
 was much alarmed, turned pale, and trembled so that 
 he was obliged to hold on to the wheel of the wagon to 
 steady himself. Wc left him with an injunction that in 
 his wanderings he should never use the name of my little 
 boy. The conclusion we arrived at was, that about ten 
 days before the fellow had got to Brush's Mills, he had 
 registered the child as Charley Ross, and when he ar- 
 rived there the people believed, he certainly was my 
 child, and would not permit themselves to change their 
 belief. Even after I arrived home, one or two letters 
 were sent to the Mayor, saying that I did not certainly 
 know my own child. I know the liability of strangess 
 being deceived in attempting to identify a full-grown 
 person from a picture or a description, and the difficulty 
 is far greater in that of a child; and I have learned by 
 experience not to rely on any statement of identity, 
 however positively it may be made, but as quietly and 
 as promptly as possible to get definite information to 
 place the matter beyond doubt. 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 INTERESTING CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN — INTERVIEW 
 WITH A SHOWMAN. 
 
 S long as it was believed that the abductors 
 were living, and likely to prove enemies to 
 society, no reward was offered for the restora- 
 tion of my child, which was not conditioned upon the 
 arrest of the kidnappers. It was felt necessary for the 
 safety of the homes in which little children are, that the 
 villains, who had introduced into the country the atro- 
 cious crime of child stealing, should be punished, so 
 that the deed would not be repeated. They were ter- 
 ribly punished — suddenly and violently their lives were 
 forfeited while in the act of committing a less heinous 
 offense. The villains were therefore off the record, and 
 we believing that it was then right and proper, a reward, 
 as stated in a previous chapter, was offered for the res- 
 toration of the child. 
 
 The time specified in the offer of that reward expired 
 on the 2d of January, without resulting in anything of 
 practical benefit. A number of anonymous letters were 
 received from persons professing to have possession of 
 Charley, or claiming to know where he was secreted; 
 answers to which were made through the newspapers, 
 but no response was in any case ever received. 
 
 With the death of Mosher and Douglas, the hope of 
 a speedy return of our stolen child was raised to the 
 
 (3") 
 
312 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 highest pitch. Indeed, it seemed almost a certainty, 
 and we awaited his coming in almost breathless sus- 
 pense. The quivering between hope and fear, the agon- 
 izing doubts, as moment after moment went slowly by, 
 became almost beyond endurance, and the strain seemed 
 more than human strength could bear. To be brought 
 seemingly so near to the recovery of our dear little boy, 
 and still to be" left to excruciating uncertainty, is terri- 
 ble. Yet with the uncertainty that hung over the fate 
 of the child, vigorous efforts continued to be made to 
 discover the place of his concealment. Among other 
 measures that were adopted, in the hope of leading to 
 that result, was that of preparing a circular letter, with 
 a photographic picture of Charley attached on the 
 upper margin. This letter is as follows: 
 
 Dear Sir. — The aljfiuction of Charles Brewster Ross from Ger- 
 mantown, on July 1st, 1874, has awakened universal sympathy and 
 much active effort in all parts of the country. 
 
 Since the killing of the burglars Mosher and Douglas, (who were, 
 without doubt, the alxiuctors of the child,) at Bay Ridge, Long Island, 
 on December 14th, 1874, a reward of ^5,ocx> has been offered for his 
 return, but thus far without result. 
 
 The object of this communication is to ask you personally to interest 
 yourself in the search for the missing child, and to induce, if possible, 
 the constables connected with your office to examine thoroughly all 
 secluded places, caves, cabins, suspicious houses, vessels, canal-boaLs, 
 and any other localities in your jurisdiction where it might be possible 
 to conceal a child. 
 
 Here follow descriptions of the child, the abductors, 
 the horse, wagon and boat used by them, the latter 
 found at Bay Ridge ; after which are given facts ob- 
 tained from letters written by the abductors, and from 
 other sources. 
 
 After leaving Palmer and Richmond Streets, Philadelphia, about six 
 
CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN. 3I3 
 
 o'clock, P. M., July ist, the abductors drove toward the city of Trenton, 
 N. J., through which they said they passed on the night of July 2d, and 
 on Bridge Street dropped the boy's hat — a broad-rimmed unbleached 
 Panama, with black ribbon, and without binding. After this, they may 
 have driven toward some one of the streams of water emptying into 
 Raritan or Newark Bay, or possibly as far as Newark, but this is veiy 
 uncertain. The abductors returned to Philadelphia July 3d, where they 
 mailed letters during the month. In August, letters were mailed from 
 New York City, and occasionally from other points, as Rondout, and 
 subsequently from New Haven, New Brunswick, New York, and Phila- 
 delphia, down to November 20th. 
 
 There is good reason to believe that these men were in a row-boat on 
 the Hudson, at and near Rondout, for two days about August 27th. 
 
 A letter from them, dated September 23d, and i^ost-marked New 
 Haven, stated that Charley had been suffering from stoppage of urine, 
 and that medicine had been obtained by his custodians, which relieved 
 him. (inquiry of physicians or druggists in your neighborhood, with 
 reference to this statement, might lead to a clue.) 
 
 The abductors probably made the alterations to the boat, above 
 referred to, on the Hackensack River, about October 12th. 
 
 It is not known precisely when they began living on the water, or 
 whether they ever had the boy on the boat. They may have delivered 
 him to confederates after first leaving Philadelphia. 
 
 N. B. — Information as to the route taken by the abductors after leav- 
 ing Philadelphia with the boy, is derived entirely from their letters, and 
 hence may be wholly incorrect; they may have gone in an entirely 
 different direction. 
 
 In view of the enormity and heartlessness of this crime, and the incal- 
 culable suffering it has caused and is still causing the parents and other 
 relatives of the missing boy, I appeal to you for aid. The protracted 
 and terrible uncertainty experienced by the parents of the child as to his 
 fate cannot be described. To be assured even of his death would create 
 in them a feeling of resignation ; but not to know whether he is living 
 or dead — whether, if living, he is kindly cared for or the reverse — o 
 whether he is sick or in health — constantly oppresses them with a tor- 
 turing anxiety that is well nigh unendurable. But it is needless to 
 dwell on this point. I am convinced that your sympathies are awakened 
 in behalf of this family, and on that account believe that you will render 
 all the assistance in your power. 
 
 In addition to the mode of action already suggested, would it be too 
 14 
 
314 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 much to ask of you to disseminate judiciously the facts set forth in this 
 letter, and to use your utmost exertions to induce as many persons as 
 possible to join in the proposed search, and in the investigation of such 
 circumstances in your town or neighborhood as may appear likely to 
 lead to the whereabouts of the child at any time since his abduction. 
 
 A reward of $5,000 will be paid to any person who will return the 
 boy, or who may give information leading to his recovery. 
 
 Any information you may obtain should be sent to the undersigned, 
 or to Geo. W. Walling, Superintendent of Police, 300 Mulberry Street, 
 New York City. Respectfully, Youis, 
 
 W. S. Stokley, 
 
 January 26th, 187S' Mayor of Philadelphia, 
 
 These circulars, numbering about 3000, were sent to 
 the justices of the peace in all the towns and villages 
 in Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Jersey, in Long 
 Island, and in the counties in the State of New York 
 bordering on the Hudson river. They were also sent 
 to evciy Methodist minister, and to a large number of 
 the Catholic clergy in the State of New Jersey, with a 
 special request to those who visited the most secluded 
 parts of the State, to read it to their congregations and 
 make an appeal to the people to interest them in the 
 search for the stolen child. 
 
 The writing of so many letters, and addressing so 
 large a number of circulars, involved an immense 
 amount of labor; and while nothing so far has resulted 
 from it, yet so many responses have come back full of 
 the liveliest sympathy, and expressing the most earnest 
 desire to aid in the cause of humanity, that we do not 
 feel that our time and labor have been wholly lost, and 
 are not without hope that this effort may yet be the 
 means of unravelling this profound secret. 
 
 In examining the laws of our State relating to kid- 
 napping, it was found that the offense was defined to 
 be a misdemeanor, and that no punishment was pro- 
 
CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN. 315 
 
 vided adequate to the crime of stealing and concealing 
 a child for the purpose of extorting money. As no 
 case of kidnapping for that object had ever occurred in 
 our country, its commission seems never to have been 
 anticipated. A supplement was now added to the 
 former act of Assembly, making the crime a felony, 
 and imposing severe penalties on this offense. While 
 the bill was pending- in the Legislature, I wrote to Sen- 
 ator Dunkel of this city, who offered the bill to the 
 Senate, for a copy, and also for copies of any other 
 papers relating to it. His reply to my letter expresses 
 so much good feeling that I take pleasure in giving it 
 publicity at this time: 
 
 Senate Chamber, Harrisburg, January 18, 187^. 
 
 Mr. C. K. Ross. — Dear Sir : — Upon my arrival here from Philadel- 
 phia this evening I received yours of the i6th inst. 
 
 I will send you a printed copy of the bill probably to-morrow or 
 Wednesday. It is now before the Senate Judiciary Committee and will 
 be reported to-morrow; at least so I am informed by the Chairman 
 of the Committee (Mr. Strang). 
 
 I shall be pleased to forward you anything bearing on the subject, 
 and shall be only too glad if my bill will be the means of accomplishing 
 that which so many other means have failed to do, viz. : The return of 
 your stolen boy to your distressed home. I am not a father, still I can 
 understand, in some degree, the amount of suffering endured by yourself 
 and wife. Had I known that your place of business was so near to my 
 ofiice I should certainly have called on you, and explained in detail the 
 provisions of the bill. 
 
 I think it will pass both Houses by a unanimous vote before another 
 week goes by. I shall be in the city on Friday evening and will be 
 pleased to call on you or have you call on me, should you find it con- 
 venient to do so. 
 
 Hoping, dear sir, that the darkest hours in your long days of suffering 
 are passed, and that your home may soon be brightened by the return of 
 your darling, I have the honor to be 
 
 Your very obedient servant, 
 
 A. K. Dunkel. 
 
3l6 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 The law was passed unanimously by both branches 
 of the Legislature, and approved by the Governor of 
 the State, February 25, 1875. 
 
 On the same day the Mayor of the City issued the 
 following Proclamation : 
 
 Mayor's Office, City of Philadelphia, February 2j, iSjs- 
 
 To all whom it may concern, I hereby give notice that the Legislature 
 of Pennsylvania has passed an act which this day received the approval 
 of the Governor, entitled, "A supplement to the act approved March 
 31st, 1869, entitled an act to consolidate, revise and amend the penal 
 laws of this Commonwealth, further defining the offense of kidnapping, 
 and affixing additional penalties thereto." 
 
 Said act provides. First : That if any person shall maliciously, either 
 by force or fraud, lead, take or carry away, or decoy, or entice away, 
 any child under the age of ten years, from its parent or parents, or any 
 other person having the lawful charge or care of such child or the 
 possession of such child, with the intent to extort money or any valua- 
 ble thing from the parent or any other person, for the restoration of such 
 child, every such person shall be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction 
 thereof shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding ten thousand dol- 
 lars and to undergo an imprisonment, by separate and solitary confine- 
 ment at labor, for a period not exceeding twenty-five years. 
 
 Second, If any person, within this Commonwealth, shall knowingly 
 conceal, harbor or detain, or assist in concealing, harboring or detaining 
 any such child, so taken, carried away or enticed as aforesaid, either 
 within or without this Commonwealth, every such person shall be guilty 
 of a felony, and upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine not 
 exceeding five thousand dollars, and to undergo an imprisonment, by 
 separate and solitary confinement at labor, not exceeding fifteen years. 
 And, 
 
 Third, It holds out to any person or persons now having in their 
 possession any child so taken or carried away, the following inducements 
 to bring it into this State and surrender it : Provided, That this act shall 
 not apply to the detaining or concealing of any child taken or carried 
 away before the passage of this act, where the person or persons so 
 harboring or concealing shall, within thirty days after the passage of this 
 act, surrender up such child to the custody of the nearest magistrate or 
 
CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN. 317 
 
 justice of the peace, or to the sheriff of any county within this Common- 
 wealth. 
 
 This immunity will expire on the 25th day of March, 1875. 
 
 William S. Stokley, 
 Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. 
 
 To the foregoing proclamation I added the follow- 
 ing : 
 
 The above act having been passed by the Legislature of the State 
 of Pennsylvania and been approved by the Governor, is now in full force. 
 
 The last clause applies to the recovery of my son Charles Brewster 
 Ross, abducted from the vicinity of my residence, Germantown, Penn- 
 sylvania, on the 1st of July, 1874. 
 
 I am satisfied that both of the abductors were killed at Bay Ridge, 
 Long Island, on the morning of December 14th, 1874. And now, in 
 addition to the immunity from punishment guaranteed by the above law, 
 I will give satisfactory assurance to any person having custody of the 
 child, or who shall be the medium through whom he shall be restored 
 to me, that I will pay whatever sum of money is required, up to ^5,000, 
 for expenses or otherwise in bringing about his restoration. 
 
 Christian K. Ross. 
 
 The Mayor's proclamation, with my proposition, was 
 published in all the leading newspapers of the principal 
 cities in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, and 
 was copied by nearly all the papers throughout the 
 Middle and Eastern States, thus giving it the widest 
 publicity. 
 
 This immunity from punishment for thirty days, so 
 freely granted by our Legislature, to any person having 
 the custody of the child, and who would restore him 
 within the specified time, added to the inducement of 
 the reward offered, once more stimulated our expecta- 
 tions to the highest pitch, that Charley would soon 
 be returned. Anxiously did we wait for the arrival 
 of every mail, and nervously open every letter, hoping 
 that the gladsome intelligence would be communicated 
 
3l8 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 from some quarter that the stolen one had been recov- 
 ered. Day after day passed away, yet no intelligence of 
 the child was received; and, as the limited time in which 
 the last clause of the recent act of the Legislature held 
 good was about to expire, we began to fear that nothing 
 but disappointment would result from this extraordin- 
 ary effort to solve the mystery. Truly, when the 25th 
 day of March — the last of the thirty days — ^passed away 
 without getting any intelligence of our darling child, 
 our hearts were sick, and for the time we were almost 
 ready to abandon all hope of ever again seeing him, or 
 of knowing what had become him. 
 
 It seemed that everything that ingenuity, persever- 
 ance, energy, official, and individual co-operation could 
 do to restore the child, had been done. The two prin- 
 cipals in the heartless, cruel abduction had paid the pen- 
 alty of another crime with their lives; but their violent 
 and sudden death only obscured the secret, and in- 
 creased the difficulty of the search; yet there was 
 reserved for us a still more bitter draught to drink — 
 prepared by the fiendish cruelty of those with whom 
 the abductors entrusted the child, and who continued 
 to suppress the knowledge of his fate. It is even more 
 savagely wicked than the original crime itself. 
 
 Yet, with the uncertainty which enshrouds the case, 
 we have always felt that it would be wrong ever to say 
 that all hope is abandoned ; for hope will cling to every 
 straw that the doubt of an unknown fate continues to 
 throw on the stream of time ; and with energy, some- 
 times flagging and again buoyant, we resumed the 
 search, and examined everything reported to us which 
 seemed to have any connection with the case, not know- 
 
CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN. 3I9 
 
 ing at what time, or in what way, the hard problem 
 would be solved. It may be reserved for some Provi- 
 dence to discover the child, just such as disclosed 
 the whereabouts of the brigands; and while we con- 
 tinue to watch closely all that transpires near at hand, 
 we do not neglect to examine everything reported at 
 a distance. We cannot tell what apparently trifling 
 thing may lead us to the result so much desired. 
 Providence in the accomplishment of His purposes 
 works in wonderfully diversified ways, and oftentimes 
 selects the most unlikely and unpromising instru- 
 ments to develop His inscrutable designs. 
 
 Our time and attention, from this period to the pre- 
 sent time, has been chiefly occupied in tracing children in 
 different parts of the country, who were supposed to be 
 Charley Ross; and scarcely a day passes without a 
 report of one or more children who are thought to be 
 the missing child. By the immense number of pictures 
 of different kinds which have been distributed through- 
 out the country, Charley's face has become so familiar 
 that whenever there is a child who bears a slight resem- 
 blance to it, in charge of persons not well known, or to 
 whom any suspicious circumstances are attached, we 
 hear of him either by telegraph or by letter. 
 
 Among the most difficult to trace satisfactorily, are 
 children who have assumed, or to whom has been given, 
 the name of Charley Ross. Many instances of this 
 kind have occurred, not only in the large cities, but in 
 far distant places. Singular as it may seem, even little 
 children in our city have heard so much about Char- 
 ley Ross, that whenever they see another child resem- 
 bling the picture which they so well know, they are 
 
320 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 ready to call out, " There is Charley Ross." An in 
 stance of this kind came under my notice a short time 
 ago: a lady in passing through one of the small streets 
 of the city observed a little fellow about the age of 
 Charley, with long flaxen curls, full round face, and 
 brown eyes, and heard him called "Charley Ross." 
 At once she assumed that he was my little son, and 
 reported where he could be seen. On going to the 
 house I found the people had recently moved into the 
 neighborhood, and, while talking with the mother, a 
 little fellow ran by me, followed by a troop of other 
 children, singing out at the top of their voices, "Char- 
 ley Ross ! Charley Ross ! " The child's mother looked 
 confused, and said, " Those children annoy us very 
 much; they will call our little boy Charley Ross; and 
 frequently when I am with the child on the street, I 
 have been asked if the little boy with me is not the 
 missing child. His middle name is Ross, and we usu- 
 ally call him by that name." I told her the child 
 resembled my little boy slightly, and to prevent her 
 being annoyed again by persons asking her questions 
 about the child, I gave her a certificate, stating that I 
 had seen her child and that he was not my son. 
 
 A short time ago two little children, a boy and girl, 
 who had wandered from their homes and were picked 
 up on the street at night, were brought to a station- 
 house; an officer asked the boy, "What's your name?" 
 He replied, " Charley Ross." Turning to the girl, he 
 asked her, " What is your name ?" She replied, " Char- 
 ley Ross too." Whether these children supposed all 
 lost children must be called Charley Ross, or whether 
 they thought that by assuming the name they would 
 
CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN. 32 1 
 
 secure kind treatment from the officer, I do not know. 
 These cases in the cities were soon disposed of; not so, 
 however, those occuring in the country. A case of this 
 kind, which I will now relate, occupied much labor and 
 correspondence before the lady having possession of 
 the child — reported to us by herself — could be con- 
 vinced that he was not our little boy. Indeed, we are 
 still unable to understand how the child could answer 
 correctly so many questions, and speak of things con- 
 nected with our home, with which none were acquainted 
 except members of our family. By permission of the 
 lady a few extracts from her letters are given, without 
 however mentioning her name or place of residence. 
 The first letter I received from her, is dated October 20, 
 
 1875.- 
 
 Christian K. Ross. — Dear Sir: — Pardon the liberty of this intrusion, 
 if an intrusion it proves to be. I obtained out of a public institution 
 yesterday, a little boy whose name is Charley Ross. He seems so 
 bewildered and is so frightened that he hardly knows who are his right 
 parents. He says he has travelled a great deal. Since he has been 
 with me I have gained his confidence, and he has told me the whole 
 story of his having been kidnapped ; about riding in a wagon, and his 
 brother Walter striking one of the men on his nose or mouth. He was 
 committed to the institution under the name of Charley Ross, July 18, 
 1875, etc. He was put into the institution nominally for striking a little 
 girl with a stone ; but the magistrate says it was really done to take the 
 child from the influence of a bad woman who had him in charge. His 
 hair is light and soft, and cut very short ; but he says when he was with 
 his right mother he had long curls; he also says he is eight years old, 
 but is small for that age. When he was taken from home his mother was 
 sick and away from home. There are a great many more facts I could 
 but will not now mention. Now, Mr. Ross, if you think the above 
 sufficient to convince you that he is your child, come to see him ; if not, 
 say nothing about it, as he is such a sweet, interesting child I would like 
 
 to keep him. Signed, . 
 
 14* 
 
322 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 While there are many things stated in this letter 
 which seemed to indicate that the child was really our 
 Charley, yet there are others said which made it look 
 impossible. Of the former, his name Charley Ross ; 
 the story that he was kidnapped ; that he was taken 
 away in a wagon with his brother Walter ; he is de- 
 scribed as having hair of a light color, soft and curly ; 
 when he was taken from his home, his mother was sick 
 and away. On receipt of this letter I wrote the lady 
 asking her to send me a picture, and find out from the 
 child all he could tell of his life ; and also gave her 
 questions to ask him to test his memory. I received a 
 reply dated the 29th of October, 1865, from which I 
 make a few extracts, principally of such things as the 
 child said which were correct : 
 
 Mr. C. K. Ross. — Dear Sir : — Your favor of the 25th inst. was duly 
 received and contents noted. I have done as you requested, in regard 
 to questioning CHARLEY, as far as possible; but it is exceedingly diffi- 
 cult to get him to say anything about Philadelphia — he seems to dread to 
 think of it, and I can only get him to speak of it when he is earnestly 
 playing in the house. I gave him a box of toys with churches, trees, 
 houses, horses, men, etc., etc., and to-day he built Philadelphia where 
 he lived, and showed my daughter and me every thing about his home, 
 and |)ersonated his brothers, sisters, etc. He says : " Here is Uncle Joe ; 
 there is me going up to him to get candy. There is Walter and Annie, 
 with a yellow dress on; there is Aunt Lewis and Cousin Frank walking 
 on the railroad ; and here are all the trees, with chickens on them and 
 me throwing at them ; in the back yard is Uncle Joe and all his horses ; 
 the house is the second from the corner of the street, on the old lane 
 that's been there twenty years — Washington Lane." I asked him, when 
 alone, who gave him candy at Uncle Joe's. He said " Why, he did him- 
 self." • When asked, « How did yougo to Philadelphia?" he replied, "On 
 the Philadelphia train, and sometimes in an omnibus." He speaks of a 
 Sophia, sometimes as his sister and at other times as his cousin. He 
 says he was in a Catholic school at one time, and his name was Rossey 
 there. 
 
CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN. 323 
 
 The lady then writes of the child as talking about a 
 circus and circus people; of his being in a cave where 
 men were chained; and closes by saying : 
 
 The picture I send you is a cheap thing taken in a hurry. If you 
 wish, I'll have a bust picture taken. The picture you sent me of 
 y our child resembles him a great deal more than the one I send you. 
 
 The first evening he came we thought he had blue eyes, on account 
 of having such a fair skin ; but, on looking again, he has dark soft brown 
 eyes, and a beautiful, clear complexion. We discovered, before receiv- 
 ing your description of Charley, that his hair was darker at the roots ; 
 but thought that it was because it had been colored. He is timid, shy 
 with strangers. Now, Mr. Ross, if there is anything in this letter that 
 would justify your coming to see the child, please let me know before 
 you come so that I can prepare him to see you, for I know he will be 
 very much frightened, etc., etc. Charley is well and as happy as the 
 day is long, and says he wants to stay with me until he is a man. 
 Yours respectfully, 
 Signed, . 
 
 Although the picture sent was a tin type and a very 
 poor one, yet, at a glance, we all decided that the child 
 was not our Charley. Still there were so many things 
 stated which are correct, that we wrote again to the 
 lady we were unable to understand how the child 
 could tell names so correctly, and relate things which 
 no one outside of the family could possibly know ; and 
 asked her to send us a photograph as soon as it could 
 be taken, and also to write of any other points in the 
 child's conversation which might bear on his identity. 
 In the last letter the child speaks of his Uncle Joe, his 
 .'lunt Lewis, his cousin Frank, his sister Sophia, of 
 Washington Lane ; and what seemed to us more strik- 
 ing than all else, he says, while playing with some toys, 
 •' Here are all the trees, with chickens on them and me 
 throwing at them." During the summer in which 
 Charley was stolen a brood of chickens selected one 
 
324 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 of the evergreens in front of the house as a roosting- 
 place, and the children were in the habit of throwing 
 sticks and stones at them to drive them away. And 
 again he speaks of his Uncle Joe being in the back yard 
 with all his horses, also perfectly correct. 
 
 As stated above, I have made selections from the 
 letters of such things as seemed to indicate that the 
 child was our little boy. Many other things which he 
 said were not correct, yet there was enough stated cor- 
 rectly to make us extremely cautious as to our decision. 
 
 I wrote again to the lady, and explained that all the 
 family concurred in the belief that the child in whom 
 she was interested was not ours ; but we were unable 
 to account for the correctness of much of the story, and 
 gave her some more questions to ask him. 
 
 On the 17th of November, 1875, she wrote as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 Mr. C. K. Ross. — Dear Sir: — Your favor of the 8th inst. was 
 received. I have tried twice, since writing my last letter to you, to get 
 a good picture, but am not wholly successful. The inclosed are the best 
 I have ; but are not perfect as they might be, etc., etc. In answer to 
 the question you asked, Charley said, ** His ma was away from home 
 sick, and one of his sisters was with her ;" but he does not say where 
 they were. I would like you to come to a conclusion about it, for it 
 makes me feel uneasy about him; for if he is your child, he may be talfen 
 away from me. 
 
 Mr. Ross, you may think I am working for the reward ; but, sir, my 
 motive is a much higher and nobler one. If he is your child I shall be 
 at liberty to tell you how I gained possession of him, as you, no doubt, 
 think it strange that I should write you immediately after getting him. 
 If he is yours, it will be a providential thing if I can restore him to you ; 
 for the ways of Providence are wise. Even should he prove not to.be, 
 as I think he is, 'tis truly a most remarkable case, etc., etc. 
 Yours respectfully. 
 Signed, . 
 
CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN. 32$ 
 
 On receipt of the photographs sent to us, we were 
 fully convinced the child was not ours, and wrote the 
 lady to that effect ; at the same tirfie saying it was cer- 
 tainly the most remarkable case that had been brought 
 to our notice. Subsequently we received several letters 
 from the same person, giving additional conversations 
 she had with the child. In one of her letters she stated 
 she was still inclined to believe the child with her was 
 ours; and, in order to satisfy her, a letter was written 
 to a gentleman residing in the same city, asking him 
 to investigate the matter; photographs of Mrs. Ross, 
 Walter, and myself, were also sent to him, to find out 
 whether the child could recognize any of the pictures 
 when placed among a number of others ; but he failed 
 to identify any one of them. It was also ascertained 
 that the boy was more than eight years old. 
 
 This was certainly a very wonderful case; so many 
 sayings of the child might have been those of Charley; 
 his description corresponded so nearly with that of our 
 little boy, and the place from which the lady had ob- 
 tained him, all led us to believe that at length we had 
 found our missing child; but as soon as the first picture 
 reached us, we were satisfied that it was not so. 
 
 Of the many children I have seen, no one bears so 
 striking a resemblance to our little boy as a boy found 
 near Schuyler Falls, New York. I am not surprised 
 that the persons in the neighborhood were enthusiastic 
 in the belief that they really had Charley, and I truly 
 sympathized with them in their disappointment, when 
 they were convinced they were wrong. The following 
 letter was written to the Mayor, in substance almost 
 identical with hundreds of others which have been 
 received : 
 
326 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 Schuyler Falls, August 3^ iSyS' 
 Hon. W. S. Stokley.— Z>^ar Sir:—\ know of a child who answers 
 the description of Charle^ Brewster Ross, son of C. K. Ross. The 
 child's hair, eyes, skin and age, in fact the whole appearance is the same. 
 The people who claim this child are a man and woman. The man has 
 the appearance of a half-breed Indian, and the woman is of a dark com- 
 plexion. 
 
 They give conflicting accounts of where they came from. The man 
 said from one place, the woman from another. I am satisfied this child 
 is Charley Ross. Address, 
 
 James Kelly or Charles Kelly, 
 SchuyUr FallSy Clinton Co,^ N. Y. 
 
 In addition to this letter the following note was re- 
 ceived by Mrs. Ross : 
 
 Mrs. Ross. — Dear Madam. — Please come yourself to see the child 
 
 near Schuyler Falls. A mother will know her child where other persons 
 
 will not ; and a child will be very likely to know its mother. I am a 
 
 stranger to you, but feel deeply with you in the loss of your darling boy. 
 
 Signed, A Mother. 
 
 Schuyler Falls is a small village in northern New 
 York, about thirteen miles west from Plattsburg, the 
 nearest telegraph station. Efforts were made to get 
 further information by means of the Western Union 
 Telegraph. Mr. Kelly, the writer of the letter to the 
 Mayor, was brought to the telegraph office in Platts- 
 burg, and a conversation entered into with him, without, 
 however, leading to satisfactory results. The child 
 could not be brought to Plattsburg, and there seemed 
 no other way of deciding the matter than to go and see 
 the boy. I went to New York the same night, and 
 took the first train for Plattsburg on the following morn- 
 ing, via the Hudson River railroad. On my arrival at 
 White Hall, at the foot of Lake Champlain, I found 
 that my visit was anticipated, the people having heard 
 of the boy at Schuyler Falls, supposed to be my Char- 
 
CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN. ' 32/ 
 
 LEY. The same interest was manifested here as had 
 been elsewhere, when it became known what was the 
 object of my mission. I arrived in Plattsburg about 
 four o'clock in the morning, and found Mr. Kelly wait- 
 ing for me. After driving about three hours we ap- 
 proached the house where the child was. It is in an 
 isolated place, about two miles from the village of 
 Schuyler Falls, well adapted for the concealment of 
 any person or thing ; near the house was a small field 
 of corn in which the little boy was playing. I called to 
 him; as soon as he heard a strange voice he ran towards 
 the house. Quickly the thought passed through my 
 mind that the little fellow looked very much like my 
 Charley. On entering the house, I said to the woman, 
 " I have come to see this child. He looks very much 
 like my Charley, but is not he." I took the child 
 up, caressed him, and tried to induce him to talk, but 
 he would not say anything. In every respect, except 
 his expression and in the formation of the lower part 
 of his face, he resembled our little boy. His complex- 
 ion, light curly hair, brown eyes, size and roundness of 
 form, all closely resembled Charley's, and I could not 
 refrain from taking him in my arms. The woman said 
 he was her child, and that she came from the interior 
 of the State of New York, and her husband from Canada. 
 While talking with the woman, the father came into the 
 house — a French Canadian, with a decided mark of 
 Indian blood. He was astonished to see so many per- 
 sons; for very soon after I got into the house, the 
 farmers living in the neighborhood came in numbers to 
 hear my decision regarding the identity of the child. 
 They all were greatly disappointed, and said they had 
 
328 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 hoped he was my son, not only for my sake, but also 
 for the child's, who was having a very miserable home. 
 The woman said that two gentlemen from Burlington, 
 Vermont, had been to see the child the day before, and 
 told her of a child who was stolen, and that her little 
 boy looked like the picture of Charley Ross. I told 
 her if they returned she could say to them I had seen 
 the boy, and he was not mine; and kissing the little 
 fellow I left, feeling that the people who had been so 
 enthusiastic in this case were not at all to be criticised 
 for the mistake. 
 
 I have already stated that several convicts proposed 
 to give information relative to Charley, on condition 
 that they should be released from confinement I 
 will now relate a case in which a prisoner attempted to 
 raise money by claiming to know where the child was 
 secreted. 
 
 Early in October last, a well-known gentleman of 
 this city called at my office accompanied by a gentle- 
 man whom he introduced to me as an officer of high 
 rank in the Union army during the late war. The 
 officer said that while in the army he had occasion to 
 employ some of his men as spies, that one of these 
 men named Clark since the close of the war had for 
 some offense been imprisoned in a penitentiary in 
 the State of New York, and that while in prison he 
 was put in a cell with another prisoner by the name 
 of Jones, who confided to him that he was one of the 
 party engaged in taking Charley Ross; was with 
 Mosher and Douglas at the time they attempted the 
 burglary on Long Island, but had escaped; that since 
 their death Charley Ross had been in his keeping, 
 
CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN. 329 
 
 and was at that time in charge of a relative of his who 
 did not want to get into trouble ; but as soon as his 
 time expired he intended to see Mr. Ross and arrange 
 to give up the child and get what reward he could. 
 Clark endeavored to find out where the child was con- 
 cealed, but failed to get the information. As soon as 
 Clark's term of imprisonment expired, he went to the 
 city where his former commander, my informant, re- 
 sided ; but meeting with a soldier named Watson, who 
 had acted with him during the war in the capacity of a 
 spy, he told him what he had heard in the penitentiary 
 from Jones. Clark and Watson after consultation 
 concluded to lay the matter before their General (for 
 that was his rank) and act under his instructions. 
 The General became interested in the story, sent both 
 the men to the State of New York to find Jones, with 
 instructions to use every effort to discover the where- 
 abouts of the child. They learned that Jones after 
 his release from the penitentiary had gone to a neigh- 
 boring city, and had been imprisoned there under the 
 vagrant act; but becoming sick while in jail, the 
 authorities released him on condition that he would 
 leave the place within twenty-four hours. He went to 
 a small city near by, joined a confederate, and the same 
 night was captured in attempting a burglary, and he 
 was then in jail awaiting his trial. Clark and Watson 
 having traced Jones to the jail, went to see him ; he 
 reiterated his story to both of them, and said that he 
 intended to get money enough by robbing the store, in 
 which attempt he was taken, to pay his expenses to 
 Philadelphia to see Mr. Ross. He would not at that 
 time make any further statement, but appointed a 
 meeting with them the following day. 
 
330 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 During the time Clark and Watson were in jail they 
 learned that letters written by a woman were brought 
 to Jones, and post-marked at a village in northern 
 New York. They also heard that a woman had 
 visited him, and at once concluded she was the relative 
 who had charge of tlie child. On the following day they 
 called to fill their engagement with Jones, but he still 
 refused to say anything more. They now reported all 
 they had learned to the General, who sent Watson 
 alone to work up the case and find the woman — with 
 instructions as soon as he found her and the child 
 to telegraph in cipher to him. In tlie meantime Jones 
 being tried for attempted burglary, convicted and sen- 
 tenced to one year's imprisonment in the penitentiary, 
 was thus put out of the way of communicating with 
 any one alone, unless by special permit. However, 
 Watson thought as he was now sentenced, he would 
 make another effort to get the secret from him, but was 
 unable to secure a private interview with him. Foiled 
 in. this, Watson now began inquiry along the borders 
 of northern New York for the woman who had visited 
 the prison, and after some delay traced a woman with 
 a child who had come from Canada, and located in a 
 town in the State of Vermont. Having found her, 
 Watson, now convinced that he had the right woman, 
 and that the child with her was certainly Charley 
 Ross, telegraphed to the General in cipher: "Good 
 news, come on, bring some one to identify." It was at 
 this stage of the investigation that he came to me, and 
 requested me to accompany the parties for the purpose 
 of identification. The story in some points was con- 
 firmed by letters from the sheriff and warden of two of 
 
CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN. 33 1 
 
 the prisons in which Jones had been, and there seemed 
 enough in it to require further investigation. It was 
 thought best that I should go and examine into it. 
 
 After two days' travel we arrived in the town where 
 the womafi and child were staying, and were met by 
 Watson at the depot. During the conversation we had 
 with him, he said something of there being a concert 
 that evening, at which the child would sing. " What 
 do you say?" said I, "a concert ! My child cannot sing 
 — there is a mistake. However, since I am here, I will 
 see the child." After walking to the outskirts of the 
 town, as we approached a cluster of cottages we ob- 
 served a woman and a child on the side-walk, dressed 
 as though they were going to a public place of amuse- 
 ment; and, addressing a gentleman who was walking 
 with me, I said, "That is no doubt the child; he is 
 entirely too large for my little boy." My friend, not 
 satisfied with my decision, spoke to the woman, who 
 immediately suspecting what had brought us to see 
 her — for Watson had been watching her house for sev- 
 eral days, and she had heard that she was suspected of 
 having the stolen child — became greatly excited, and 
 threatened my friend for daring to intimate that the child 
 was Charley Ross. A crowd now began to collect, 
 and we beat a hasty retreat, leaving the field to the lady 
 and her child. 
 
 On arriving at the hotel, I questioned Watson about 
 his false clue. He said he was mistaken, and had fol- 
 lowed the wrong woman, but was certain he was on the 
 right track, and if he could get a private interview with 
 Jones in the penitentiary, he had no doubt that Jones 
 would divulge the whole matter. I did not feel willing 
 
332 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 to let the matter rest here, and sent Watson out of the 
 town to avoid being arrested, as the woman had threat- 
 ened ; and arranged to send him a pass from some one 
 in authority to have a private interview with Jones. 
 Feeling that I ought not to leave the place without see- 
 ing the lady who had been so annoyed by our looking 
 at her child, I went to the hall before the time of begin- 
 ning the concert, and sent my name in with a request 
 that she would allow me to explain the object of my visit. 
 An interview being granted, I began to apologize for 
 interrupting them; when I was stopped by several 
 young women, who, with the mother of the child — all 
 talking at one time — greeted me with such a volley of 
 words that under ordinary circumstances I should have 
 gladly escaped ; but feeling they had some cause for 
 offense, I heard them through, and then asked their 
 pardon for any annoyance I had caused them, and left 
 the town the same night. 
 
 We stopped at the capital of the State, and obtained 
 from the attorney general the pass into the penitentiary, 
 sent it to Watson, and returned home to await further 
 developments. A day or two after our return, Watson 
 also came back, and said he had failed to get anything 
 more from Jones, except that he gave him the name 
 and address of the attorney who had defended him at 
 his last trial. Having determined I would find out the 
 truth of this story, if it was at all possible, I went per- 
 sonally to see this attorney, who resides in the State of 
 New York. After introducing myself, I asked if he 
 was counsel for Jones who had been recently convicted 
 for attempted burglary, and was now serving his time 
 in tlie penitentiary. He replied that he had defended 
 
CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN. 333 
 
 him. I then told him what I had heard : that Jones had 
 spoken to Clark, his fellow prisoner, and also to Wat- 
 son, of having possession of my son. He replied, " Mr. 
 Ross, I know all about that; I claim that Jones would 
 have got five years instead of one, if I had not been em- 
 ployed in the case. When in our jail, he sent for me to 
 defend him. I asked how he expected to pay me? He 
 replied, "There were two men here yesterday, to whom 
 I told that I knew all about Charley Ross, where he 
 is, and who had him ; and I had intended to see Mr. 
 Ross to make an exchange, giving up the child for the 
 reward, but was picked up too soon. One of these 
 men was in prison in the same cell with me a short 
 time ago, to whom I told the same story, and he 
 has brought another person who has money to buy me 
 out, and they will be here to-day; and I expect to get 
 six or eight hundred dollars for locating the child, and 
 will give this money to you for your fee, if you will 
 defend me in this case." 
 
 The attorney said to me that he did not think that 
 proposition altogether legitimate, and he tried to find 
 out from Jones if there was any truth in his story. He 
 said to Jones, "There is a reward offered for the child, 
 and if what you say is true, tell me where he is and I 
 will get him, restore him to his parents, and divide the 
 reward between you and your mother, after reserving 
 my fee for defending you;" and added to me, "I con- 
 sidered that legitimate, Mr. Ross." The fellow confessed 
 it was all a lie, and he knew nothing; but expected to get 
 money out of some one, and as he was now in a tight 
 place, he thought he would make it out of the person 
 who had been brought to the jail by his fellow-prisoner. 
 
334 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 The attorney was satisfied that the scoundrel had been 
 lying, and said, "Mr. Ross, you would have heard from 
 me six weeks ago, if there had been any truth in what 
 the fellow said, and I would have made out of it what 
 I could. The woman who called at the prison was his 
 mother, a very respectable woman. My fee was paid 
 by his mother and brother; he was sentenced to one 
 year, and I think will not live many months. If you 
 would like to talk with him, I will go with you to the 
 penitentiary, if you pay my expenses and give me a fair 
 compensation for my time and services. You see, sir, 
 I am a man of business, and don't wholly depend on 
 the law. I have just returned from a county fair, where 
 I have some fine cattle on exhibition, and I have a farm 
 outside of the city; I am also engaged in the iron busi- 
 ness. My time is well taken up, but still I will go 
 with you of course, if you pay me; but I think I did 
 everything to get the rascal to tell the truth, and don't 
 believe you will gain anything by the trip." I thought 
 that a person who had so sharp an eye to business, 
 when there was a prospect of getting his fee in a way he 
 called legitimate, had got the truth out of Jones, and 
 told him I would rest satisfied that the whole story was 
 false. 
 
 When on this trip, as the train about noon ap- 
 proached Rutland, Vermont, I observed that a circus 
 and menagerie company were exhibiting, and a person 
 in the car remarked that they had a wax figure of 
 Charley Ross on exhibition. Learning that we would 
 have to wait in Rutland about two hours for the train 
 which was to take us to our destination, I proposed to my 
 friends to visit the wax figure. After dining, we went 
 
CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN. 335 
 
 in the direction of the show. Large crowds of people, 
 on foot, on horseback, and in wagons, were wending 
 their way in the same direction. After entering the 
 tent, our object was first to see the wax image, which 
 was in the wagon nearest the door. The wagon or 
 cage was divided into two compartments, in the first 
 of which was a representation of what was called the 
 " Intemperate Family;" in the other was what the pro- 
 prietor called the "The Ross Family," consisting of 
 five persons. The figure called Charley was that of 
 a very handsome child, of about his age and size, with 
 long flaxen hair, which looked as if it had been curled, 
 but was flowing when we saw it. He had dark brown 
 eyes and features rather sharp, was dressed in a linen 
 suit, and was standing on a pedestal in front of a small 
 table, with one arm resting on it. He was represented 
 as being about to speak to a little girl, supposed to be 
 his eldest sister, who was seated on a small chair at 
 the end of the table. At one end of the table near the 
 little girl was the figure of a lady supposed to repre- 
 sent Mrs. Ross. She had a sad countenance, and was 
 dressed in a light green silk dress, trimmed in the ex- 
 treme of fashion. At the other end of the table was a 
 figure of a man with florid complexion, large moustache 
 of a dark color, with a clean-shaven face, apparently 
 about thirty-five years of age, supposed to be myself. 
 By the side of the man there was a little boy about 
 three years old, dressed in a sailor suit and mounted 
 on a hobby-horse. The representation of Charley, in 
 which I was most interested, was not a likeness of him. 
 It lacked his roundness of features, and the expression 
 of the face was entirely different from his. 
 
336 CHARLEY ROSS, 
 
 On the pedestal on which the figure of Charley 
 was standing there was pasted a placard as follows : 
 
 THE ROSS FAMILY. 
 I will give to any one who will restore to me the lost child, Charley 
 B. Ross, or who will give me any information which will lead to his 
 recovery, the sum of ^2,000. [Signed by the Proprietor.] 
 
 After looking at the group a few minutes, we walked 
 round the circle of wagons, in which were other wax 
 figures and animals, and then returned to the van 
 which contained " The Ross Family," and found the 
 space so crowded that it was difficult to get near. 
 
 The friend who accompanied me suggested that we 
 should take different positions, and hear the remarks 
 made by the visitors. A gentleman and lady came 
 near to where I stood, and looking at the group a few 
 moments, the man said to the lady, pointing to the 
 figure of Charley : " That's Charley Ross." The 
 lady replied, ** Ain't he handsome ; how much he 
 looks like his father." The child had dark brown 
 eyes, while mine in the figure were very light blue. 
 Another man and woman with two children approached; 
 the man, called the attention of his wife to the group, 
 and raised his children up, telling them, "That little 
 boy is Charley Ross, who was stolen from his home, 
 and has not been found." And with great emphasis he 
 continued, " I should know that child if I ever saw 
 him anywhere." Many other remarks were made by 
 different persons which seemed to us ludicrous ; yet 
 they showed the sympathy and kind feelings of the 
 people. 
 
 Having heard when in Burlington, Vermont, a few 
 months before this time, that Smith's circus had a wax 
 
CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN. 337 
 
 figure of Charley and had distributed printed handbills 
 describing him, and setting forth that the boy's parents 
 had offered ;^5,000 reward for his recovery, and the 
 ladies of Philadelphia would give ^3,000 more, and 
 tliat Smith himself would add ^2,000, I went to the 
 doorkeeper and asked if they also distributed circulars ? 
 he answered, " No." I asked him if many persons 
 came to see this group. He replied, " Many persons 
 who would not go to a circus come to see Charley 
 Ross ;" and while talking to the doorkeeper, 1 overheard 
 a person calling the proprietor of the show by name. 
 At once I turned to my friend, who was still interested 
 in the remarks made by the crowd, and told him that 
 I would talk with the proprietor. He replied, " I know 
 him, and will introduce you to him." He introduced 
 me by the name which I had assumed, Mr. Robinson. 
 After a few casual remarks between the proprietor and 
 my friend, I said to the proprietor : 
 
 " I see you have a wax representation of the Ross 
 family ?" He said : 
 
 **Yes." 
 
 " Is it attractive ?" I asked. 
 
 " Oh, yes, the space around the wagon is generally 
 crowded, as you see it is now. Many persons come to 
 see Charley Ross who would not go to a circus." 
 
 "Then it must be profitable?" 
 
 "Yes, more so than any other thing. It's no ex- 
 pense to me." 
 
 "Is the likeness of Charley regarded as a good 
 one?" 
 
 "Yes, it is taken from a picture." 
 
 "Where did you get the picture?" 
 15 
 
338 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 " From the family." 
 
 " I see you have also the father and mother, and two 
 other children; are they good representations? 
 
 "Yes, I know Mr. and Mrs. Ross well. My winter 
 quarters are only about one mile from their residence, 
 and I have seen them often, and have been to their 
 house." 
 
 "How about the other children in the group?" 
 
 " Oh, they have other children besides Charley, and 
 those are good likenesses of two of the other children." 
 
 " How about Charley's hair ? I always heard that 
 when it was long it curled easily, while the hair on that 
 figure is straight." 
 
 " Well, you see, it's a damp day ; and, although the 
 hair was curled, we cannot without a great deal of 
 trouble keep the curls in." 
 
 After continuing the conversation a while, I could 
 not restrain myself longer from telling him who I was, 
 and nodded to my friend, who was so ashamed at the 
 trap in which the proprietor was caught, that he sig- 
 nified to me not to do it. I again asked the showman 
 a number of other questions, and his replies involved 
 him in greater straits. I then turned, and looking him 
 full in the face, said; 
 
 "Do you think I look likethe man you have repre- 
 sented in the cage?" 
 
 After taking a fair look at me, he replied: 
 
 "No." 
 
 " Well, sir, I am the father of Charley Ross," at the 
 same time handing him a photograph likeness of Char- 
 ley. My friend also was obliged to confirm my state- 
 ment. The proprietor was so dumfounded that he 
 
CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN. . 339 
 
 could not say anything for a minute, and looked as 
 though he would like to hide himself if he could ; but 
 rallying, he said: 
 
 ** My goodness, you aint Charley Ross's father," and 
 taking both of my hands, said, " How I do sympathize 
 with you ! You saw that poster on the pedestal on which 
 the figure of your little boy stands ; well, I'll give ;^2000 
 for the information where your little boy is, and nothing 
 would please me better than to have a chance to pay it ; 
 and I don't think I do you any harm by making this 
 exhibition of yourself and family, but rather good; for, 
 I assure you, many people see this group who would 
 otherwise never have heard of the loss of the child; and 
 further, I would go many miles if I could serve you." 
 
 The picture from which the wax model was made, 
 he said, he obtained from the Mayor of our city, in 
 whose office he said he was introduced to me. I told 
 him he had the representation of a very pretty child, 
 but there was no resemblance in it to my little boy. 
 He said it was the best he could get, and that Smith's 
 figure was made in the same mould. I then asked him 
 how he got the rest of the family? 
 
 "Well," said he, "Mr. Ross, I'll tell jou, but I would 
 not care to have it known. We used to have a represen- 
 tation of an intemperate and of a temperate family in 
 that van, separated by a partition ; and when we got the 
 figure of Charley, we let the intemperate family stand, 
 and changed the label of the other from the " Temper- 
 ate Family" to "The Ross Family," and put the 
 figure of Charley in front as you see it. That's the 
 way we arranged it." I was a little taken aback my- 
 self at this explanation ; but the man evidently sympa- 
 
340 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 thized deeply with me, and at the same time had an 
 eye open to business, for as I was leaving him, he said : 
 " Now Mr. Ross, when that boy's found I want you to 
 let me have him to exhibit. He will draw better than 
 anything I can get. I'll give you a thousand dollars a 
 week for him for thirty weeks." I told him I was not 
 considering that now. My object was to get possession 
 of the boy, and the purpose of my visit was to see a child 
 reported to be Charley ; but I had but little hope of 
 success. I bade him good bye, and he called out again, 
 ** Remember, ^30,000 for thirty weeks exhibition." He 
 told me in tlie conversation that while in Canada he 
 picked up two tramps who had a child which he sup- 
 posed was my little boy, and had taken them a long 
 distance before he was satisfied that he was wrong, thus 
 showing his interest and earnest desire to aid us in re- 
 covering Charley. I left him, feeling very kindly 
 towards him. 
 
 It is not an unusual thing to receive letters and tele- 
 grams similar to the following: "Send me some person 
 who can identify Charley Ross, quick;" and for some 
 time after the abduction we were quick to respond, 
 either by going or sending to the place from which the 
 dispatch or letter came; but we soon learned that it 
 was very easy for persons to be mistaken in identity, 
 and getting so many calls to go here and there, it be- 
 came necessary to adopt some other method of tracing 
 children. The telegraph, as I have already stated, be- 
 ing at our service gratuitously, wherever we could we 
 investigated cases by means of it, and generally have 
 been successful in arriving at a satisfactory conclusion, 
 as already related. One of tlie most exciting cases 
 
 i 
 
CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN. 34! 
 
 publicly known of a child reported to be Charley, was 
 of a boy found in a railroad car and taken to St. Albans, 
 Vermont. Although we were satisfied he was not 
 Charley, upon our first information of him, yet it was 
 difficult to convince the people of St. Albans and other 
 places that our judgment was correct. I first heard of 
 this boy while in the cars on my way to New York. 
 In reading the morning paper my eye rested on a tele- 
 gram from St. Albans, saying that there was a child in 
 that place who gave his name as Charley Ross, and 
 said he was stolen from Philadelphia. On reaching 
 New York I went to the Western Union Telegraph 
 office, and through the kindness of the Superintendent 
 was put in direct communication with the operator in 
 St. Albans, asking for a description of the child, and re- 
 ceived the following answer: "The child is about forty 
 inches in height, has light curly hair, quite long; slim 
 frame and features, right eye a little crossed, wears blue 
 sailor's shirt and pants, and rough, heavy, long boots; 
 evidently seven years old, sound teeth, and lips resem- 
 bling the Ross boy's, blue eyes'* I then asked, " Can 
 he give the name of either of his brothers or sisters?" 
 Answer, "Mary and Freddie." I answered, "Wrong, 
 Charley's eyes are brown;" and I supposed it was ended 
 there. Two or three days afterwards, I received two 
 letters from St. Albans, one from a citizen, the other 
 from the sheriff of the county, each covering a photo- 
 graph of the boy. A few extracts from both letters are 
 given : 
 
 St. Albans, Vermont, December 30, 187^. 
 Mr. C. K. Ross. — Sir: — Enclosed you will find photograph of a 
 boy, found on night express train from Boston to Montreal, who is sup- 
 posed by many persons to be your lost Charley. He is, as you will 
 
342 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 sec, a bright intelligent lad, judged to be about seven years old, though 
 some think him older. The boy says his name is Charley Ross, and 
 he was taken from his parents in Philadelphia about two years ago. 
 When in Philadelphia he lived in a large light-colored brick house, 
 with brown trimmings ; that he had a brother Eddie and a sister Mary ; 
 he said the house next to his father's was occupied by a Mr. McDaniels; 
 says he has cousins by the name of Harry, Walter and Stoughton. His 
 grandfather's name was Archie Ross ; he attended school on Windsor 
 street, and his teacher's name was Grant ; his Sunday-school teacher's 
 name was Cope. She learnt him the following hymn: "Jesus loves me, 
 that I know," etc. ; that he was taken away in a carriage ; that his 
 brother was in a carriage with him : they rode to a store where they got 
 candy and marbles ; then they went to a cemetery where his brother 
 was left out of the wagon and he wanted to go with him, but the mea 
 said they would whip him. He says his mother's horse is called Polly, 
 and speaks about a Dr. Dunton. He gives a remarkable account of him- 
 self and his story is straight. He is here in custody, and if you think this 
 is worthy of your notice, telegraph to me at once. Mr. Rugg, the gentle- 
 man with whom the boy is now, is very confident that he is your little 
 boy, and says his eyes are not blue but hazel. 
 
 D. J. MORRELL, Sheriff, 
 St. Albans^ Vermont, 
 P. S. — The above is substantially as the boy has given the story to us. 
 
 D. J. M. 
 
 The other letter says : 
 
 There is a boy in St. Albans who says his name is Charley Ross. 
 He was taken to Governor Smith's house, and an album given him to 
 look over. He identified a boy by the name of Willie Stanton, which 
 was correct, etc., etc. There are many things which he says that have 
 been substantiated. Many of the people are anxious you should come 
 to St. Albans, and will pay all your expenses whether he proves to be 
 your boy or not. If you have not started before this reaches you, please 
 telegraph that you are coming, etc., etc. 
 
 There is a difference of opinion about the color of his eyes ; they are 
 dark hazel ; persons also differ in respect to his age. I will only add a 
 few words. The people sympathize very much with you and your wife, 
 and do not want to let this child get away until you have been here and 
 given your opinion. Hoping that you will come immediately, etc. 
 I am yours truly, 
 
 Signed, . 
 
CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN. 343 
 
 Other letters were received at the same time from 
 citizens in St. Albans, giving reports of what the boy 
 said of his past life, in one of which it was said that he 
 could write, and gave the name of some of his school- 
 mates. 
 
 Before any of these letters reached me, I received the 
 following telegrams, dated 
 
 St. Albans, Vermont. 
 Christian K. Ross.— Come to St. Albans to identify boy. Railroad 
 fare will be paid. New satisfactory developments. Make your home 
 at Weldon House free of expense. Answer. 
 
 Signed, Proprietor of Weldon House. 
 
 St. Albans, January i^ 1876, 
 C. K. Ross. — ^The boy has dark hazel eyes ; come on as soon as pos- 
 sible ; your expenses will all be paid. 
 
 Signed, LAVENDER. 
 
 And on the next day the following : 
 
 C. K. Ross. — Have you received Sheriff Morrell's letter ; if so are you 
 coming? Your boy is here sure. People much excited. Arrive, if pos- 
 sible, on early morning train. Come immediately to my room. One 
 seventy-six unnoticed. Signed, Lavender. 
 
 I had not received the sheriff's letter containing the 
 photograph at the time the above telegrams were sent 
 to me, and replied I would await the arrival of the pic- 
 ture, and then telegraph what I would do. But the 
 people were so intensely in earnest that another dis- 
 patch was sent, insisting I must come to St. Albans by 
 the next train. I now concluded I would talk to the 
 child, and ask him some questions by telegraph, and 
 requested the sheriff to bring him into the telegraph 
 office in St. Albans. I asked: 
 
 "What is your name?" answer: 
 
 " Charley Ross." 
 
 " Your brother's name ?" 
 
344 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 "Eddie;" — gave names of his cousins as Walter and 
 Harry. 
 
 "On what street or lane did you Hve?" 
 
 " West Albion." 
 
 "How were you taken from home?" 
 
 " In a carriage." 
 
 " Who was taken with you ?" 
 
 "My brother." 
 
 "What is your eldest sister's name**" 
 
 "Mary." 
 
 Th^ conversation was kept up until I was satisfied 
 Dcyond a doubt that he was not my little boy. The 
 only answer to the few questions given above that is 
 correct is, that he was taken away in a carriage. I then 
 telegraphed that the child was certainly not my Char- 
 ley. In answer to which the following dispatch was 
 received: "All leading citizens had the boy to dinner 
 and tea, etc. Thcyjiave conversed with him, and all 
 sincerely believe he is your son ; there is a great ex- 
 citement, and nothing will satisfy them until Mr. Ross 
 sees him." 
 
 They further stated "that the boy had pointed out a 
 photograph of Willie Stanton, son of Mr. M. Hall Stan- 
 ton, of Philadelphia, in an album, and called him by 
 name. Mr. Stanton is a friend of Governor Smith's, 
 where the child was when he saw the photograph." 
 Mr. Stanton being a resident of this city, he was 
 brought to the telegraph oflRce to explain if possible 
 the puzzle. He said that he knew Governor Smith 
 well, and his family had been visiting in the neighbor- 
 hood of St. Albans for several months during last 
 summer, but he could not tell how the child knew his 
 
CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN. 345 
 
 son ; but promised when the picture came to hand, 
 that he would take it and ask his Httle boy if he could 
 tell who the child was. Mr. Stanton also telegraphed 
 to Governor Smith, but received no information differ- 
 ing from that already in our possession. The Gover- 
 nor closed his dispatches by saying, " We will pay Mr. 
 Ross's expenses if he will come up and solve this vexed 
 question." The following morning after all this tele- 
 graphing, which was carried on nearly the whole of the 
 preceding day, I received the sheriff's letter with the 
 photograph, and telegraphed to him that the child was 
 not my Charley, and Mr. Stanton's son did not recog- 
 nize the picture, and did not know who the boy was. 
 At the same time I wrote the following letter : 
 
 Philadelphia, January 4, 1876. 
 D. J. MoRRELL, Esq., Sheriff of St. Albans, Vermont. — Dear 
 Sir: — I received your favor of 30th ult. with enclosure of the photo- 
 graph of the child in your charge. The picture has not the faintest 
 resemblance to my little son Charley ; besides, he is much too old. 
 My little boy is five years eight months to-day. Some few things 
 the boy has told are correct, but could be learned from circulars 01 
 newspapers ; such as " Miss Cope, his Sunday-school teacher," and 
 " Dr. Dunton, our family physician." Generally, however, his answers 
 are far out of the way. My little boy never lived in the city proper. 
 We live seven miles out in the country, in a sparsely-settled part. He did 
 not know any boys in Philadelphia; never went to school. Knew only 
 a part of his alphabet ; could not write. In fact, he was a little fellow, 
 wearing dresses when he was taken away, July the 1st, 1874. He has 
 no brother called Eddie, or sister named Mary. We do not live in a 
 brick house, but a stone plastered house ; did not have any hired girl 
 named Lizzie. I have no idea that my Charley could give a connected 
 account of travel; he is too young. I sent for Mr. M. Hall Stanton to 
 come to the telegraph office yesterday, and gave him the picture to show 
 to his son W^illie, with the hope that we might trace something connected 
 with this child who is with you. He returned it this morning saying his 
 boy could not tell who he was. Willie Stanton had no school teacher 
 15^ 
 
34^ CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 named Miss Grant, and he does not know any of the boys named, etc.; 
 so I am unable to give you any information where the child belongs. 
 
 It is not an unusual thing for children who are astray to call them- 
 selves Charley Ross. I have had a number of instances of the kind, 
 and they are the most difficult to handle, because persons reporting them 
 will not be convinced that I would know my little boy after so long an 
 absence. I take more pains to investigate such cases, and do not give 
 them up until I am fully convinced I am right, which has been done in 
 this instance. 
 
 Thanking you and the citizens who have taken such an interest in this 
 matter, for their expressions of sympathy and kindness, I could only 
 wish their suspicions were correct, and this long and great mystery was 
 solved by the return of my little Charley. 
 
 I am most respectfully yours, 
 
 Christian K. Ross. 
 
 To the gentleman who wrote and telej^raphed me to 
 come to St. Albans, and make my home at his house 
 during my stay in the place, after giving the reasons 
 why I was satisfied the child who had caused so great 
 an excitement was not my son, I said : 
 
 This is not the first case that has baffled the skill of strangers to 
 fathom. I have one that is much more remarkable, where a child not 
 only calls himself Charley Ross, but answers many questions rightly, 
 and rglates quite a number of things which we might suppose no one 
 could know anything about, except members of my own family or those 
 very intimate with it : and yet, when fully investigated, proved to be 
 wrong. Experience has taught me, in the past eighteen months, not to 
 jump at conclusions too hastily, but to examine first. I then do not 
 feci disappointed so greatly (which has thus far been my lot). 
 
 The child you have has either read or heard read the Pinkerton cir- 
 culars which were issued last summer a year (1874) in which questions 
 were asked and the answers given, that strangers might more readily find 
 out from any child they might deem suspicious if he was really mine, 
 etc., etc. I have written to you fully, as well as to the Sheriff, to satisfy 
 those who were so deeply interested why I have not been to St. Albans 
 to identify the child. I considered it would be a useless expense of both 
 time and money. I think, however, that the child with you has been to 
 Philadelphia, and being observant, has picked up some knowledge of 4 
 
CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN. 34/ 
 
 places, etc., which with the assumption of the name of Charley Ross 
 has deceived those who have been interested in the case. Hoping you 
 may get the truth and find out where the boy belongs, 
 
 I am yours truly. Christian K. Ross. 
 
 Notwithstanding the most rigid examination by dif- 
 ferent persons in St. Albans, the boy maintained that 
 he was Charley Ross and no one else. He was re- 
 clothed and feted by the kind citizens; and although 
 the reasons which I gave that he could not be my 
 child were unanswerable, yet many persons clung to 
 the belief that I was mistaken ; and not until the child 
 was on his way to Milford, New Hampshire, where his 
 mother lived, did he confess that he had been imposing 
 on the people. His name proved to be Jimmy 
 Blanchard. Many persons at the time criticised my 
 course in not going to St. Albans and personally ex- 
 amining the boy. I also received not a few letters 
 from persons in different places who attempted to argue 
 that the boy was mine, stating that I would not know 
 him after so long an absence. Mr. Stanton's family, 
 with his little boy Willie, had been to Milford for^a 
 few days at a military encampment, and the Blanchard 
 boy heard from Willie Stanton v/hat he knew of places 
 in and around Philadelphia, and his fertile imagination 
 supplied the rest. 
 
 While I was sorry that the people of St. Albans had 
 been imposed on, yet the kind treatment bestowed on 
 the little deceiver was evidence of what my own child 
 would have received had he fallen into their generous 
 hands. 
 
 Among the first questions we have asked, whenever 
 a child was reported, who was thought to be Charley, 
 
348 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 has been, "What is the color of the eyes?" and out of 
 the large number of children who have been traced, 
 who have a light or fair complexion, and light hair, but 
 few have dark eyes; generally they are blue or bluish 
 gray. This test frequently has been the only one on 
 which our decisions have been based ; yet we have found 
 that it is not altogether safe to rely on the judgment of 
 persons in this respect. Men are generally very unre- 
 liable in distinguishing shades of color. In many in- 
 stances when several men have given their opinion as 
 to color of the eyes of a child who was standing before 
 them, they have differed; and even the same person has, 
 at a different time, given a different opinion; and when 
 that is the only test within our reach, we ask that a 
 woman may examine the child's eyes, and have found 
 her decision much more likely to be correct 
 
 I remember an instance in which a man reported a 
 child, of whose idenity with Charley Ross he was cer- 
 tain, and when asked about the color of his eyes, an- 
 swered so decidedly wrong that we supposed the mat- 
 ter was settled; but soon he changed his opinion as to 
 the color, and the subsequent tracing of the child in- 
 volved considerable labor and expense. The following 
 telegram was received at the Mayor's office in this case: 
 
 Monroe, Michigan, September ^^ ■'^7J. 
 Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. — Charley Ross is alive, 
 and is in this state. M. Miller. 
 
 This dispatch was taken to Mr. Robinson, Manager 
 of the Western Union Telegraph Company, and he 
 asked the operator at Monroe, Michigan, 
 
 "Who is M. Miller? Where is the child mentioned by him? What 
 the color of his eyes 
 
CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN. 349 
 
 To which the following reply was sent : 
 
 Monroe, Michigan. 
 Miller is here; says child's eyes are blue. 
 
 To which Mr. Robinson answered : 
 
 Thanks for kindness ; Charley Ross has hazel or brown eyes. The 
 child Miller refers to is wrong. 
 
 We ^supposed that it was decided ; but very soon 
 Mr. Miller returned to the office in Monroe, and sent 
 the following dispatch : 
 
 Monroe, Michigan, September, iS^S- 
 Miller has just been in; says the boy "has brown eyes, and is undoubt' 
 edly Charley Ross. He pounded his fist on the desk, and says with 
 emphasis that he is not mistaken. Signed, Operator. 
 
 The next question that was asked was : 
 
 Where is the child ? Can you see it or get it in our office ? Ross 
 family cannot leave the city now. RoBiNSON. 
 
 The answer to the above is as follows : 
 
 Monroe, Michigan, September ii. 
 Miller wont tell anything ; wants Ross to come or send some one. 
 He is quite positive the clue is right. Signed, OPERATOR. 
 
 A reply was sent : 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 Out of the question for any of the Ross family to leave the city at this 
 time. Is it not possible to have the child brought to our office ? 
 
 Robinson. 
 Answer: 
 
 Monroe, Michigan. 
 Man thinks Ross should come immediately, or child will be removed. 
 
 Signed, Operator. 
 
 To Monroe, Michigan : 
 
 Philadelphia, September ii, 187S' 
 I will submit correspondence to Mr'. Ross, who is at court, and answer. 
 Afraid clue is wrong. Ross cannot leave Philadelphia now. Why 
 wont Miller give particulars ? Try and get them, and answer. 
 
 Robinson. 
 At this time the Superintendent of the Telegraph 
 
350 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 Company at Detroit was informed of what was going 
 over the wires at Monroe, Michigan, and Philadel- 
 phia, and sent the following message to Mr. Merrihew, 
 Superintendent in Philadelphia : 
 
 Detroit, MicmcAN, September a, 187S' 
 James Merrihew, Superintendent W. U. Telegraph Company, 
 Philadelphia. — Our operator at Monroe reports that Miller, the man 
 who has been in correspondence with the Ross family, is confident that 
 Charley is in Monroe. Miller, when in our office, declared confidently 
 that he was not mistaken. It is worthy of further investigation. If I 
 can render Mr. Ross any assistance, call on me. C. Fox, 
 
 Superintendent fV, U. Telegraph Co, 
 
 To which Mr. Merrihew replied : 
 
 Philadelphia, September 2} 
 C. Fox, Superintendent W. U. Telegraph Company, Detroit, 
 Michigan.— My chief clerk, William B. Gill, and Manager Robinson's 
 brother, are in the West somewhere. I will endeavor to find them, and 
 request them to visit Monroe and investigate the matter. It is impossi- 
 ble for any one of the Ross family to leave the city at this time. An 
 important trial is pending which requires their presence. 
 
 J. Merrihew, Superintendent. 
 
 The next thing that was required was to find Messrs. 
 Gill and Robinson, and the following message was sent 
 to Chicago, 111.: 
 
 Philadelphia, September 12, 187s. 
 Joseph W. Robinson, care of H. C. Maynard, Manager, Chicago, 
 III. — We have a report of a child at Monroe, Michigan, answering the 
 description of Charley Ross. Ross family can't leave Philadelphia 
 until after Westervelt trial. Will you and Mr. Gill put off your Denver 
 trip, and run down to Monroe, investigate the case and report result by 
 telegraph ? H. C. Robinson, Manager, 
 
 To which the following reply was sent: 
 
 Chicago, III., September i2y iSys- 
 H. C. Robinson, Philadelphia. — Your brother and I will go. Has 
 Mr. Ross any instructions ? We start to-night. 
 
 Wm. B. Gill. 
 
CASES OF TRACED CHILDREN. 35 1 
 
 Mr. Merrihew replied as follows : 
 
 Philadelphia, September 12^ 187S' 
 W. B. Gill, Chicago, III. — See the child. Mr. Ross says Char- 
 ley's eyes are hazel — no approach to blue or gray, might readily be 
 taken for brown. Question the child and report the answers. 
 
 J. Merrihew, Superintendent. 
 
 On arriving in Monroe, Michigan, Mr. Gill sent the 
 following telegram : 
 
 Monroe, Michigan, September 13, i?>7S' 
 
 H. Robinson, Philadelphia. — Arrived all right. Boy is about 
 twenty miles back in this country — we'll hire wagon and drive over; 
 tell Mr. Ross. W. B. Gill. 
 
 After seeing the child they returned to .Ypsilanti, 
 the nearest telegraph station, and sent the following 
 
 message : 
 
 Ypsilanti, Michigan, September 14, 187$- 
 H. C. Robinson, Philadelphia. — Child is wrong sure. We went 
 to school-house to-day, and Mr. Gill did the questioning. There are 
 matters to be investigated at Detroit ; will telegraph again from there. 
 
 Joseph Robinson. 
 
 When they arrived in Detroit, they examined into 
 the matter which was connected with the case in that 
 city, and sent the following message • 
 
 Detroit, Michigan, September 18, 187J. 
 H. C. Robinson, Philadelphia. — We stopped over here and find 
 out that the child near Monroe is a foundling ; was taken from Children's 
 Home at Detroit. It is not Uhakley Ross. 
 
 Joseph Robinson. 
 
 Messrs. Gill and Robinson further reported, after their 
 return to Philadelphia, that on arriving in Monroe they 
 acquainted the City Marshal with the object of their 
 visit, who kindly consented to aid them in looking for 
 and examining the child. They found Miller, the per- 
 son who sent the first information, and learned that he 
 really knew nothing, except what he heard from his 
 
352 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 daughter. She was then visited, and her story was that 
 a child in the Belleville School, who was a stranger, 
 bore so striking a resemblance to the pictures of Char- 
 ley Ross, as to warrant the belief that he was really 
 the stolen child. 
 
 The gentlemen visited the school, and after question- 
 ing the boy a few moments, they were convinced he 
 was not Charley Ross; and also found out that 
 he was called Jimmy Angell, and that he was the 
 adopted son of a family of that name living about four 
 miles from Belleville, and his home, while attending 
 school, was with his adopted grand-parents, who reside 
 in that village. They also learned that the child had 
 been taken from the Detroit Home of the Friendless. 
 
 At Detroit the statement of Mr. AngcU was confirmed 
 by the record of the institution and by the matron. 
 The child in question had been found in Mr. J. W. Fris- 
 bee's yard, December 28, 1869. He was then appa- 
 rently about three weeks old, and Mr. Frisbee sent him 
 to the Home, where he was registered under the name 
 of James W. Frisbee, and on the 28th of January, 1870, 
 he was given to Mr. Angell, who lives near Monroe. 
 Here the matter ended, and all the certainty which Mr. 
 Miller expressed as to this child being my little boy 
 was reduced, when he was questioned, to a very slen- 
 der thread. I have given the telegraphic correspond- 
 ence in this case in full, believing it will be interesting 
 to the public to know in what way we endeavor to in- 
 vestigate cases by the facilities afforded us in the use 
 of the telegraph wires. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 A MYSTERY NOT CLEARED UP — CHILDREN TRACED IN 
 THE UNITED STATES AND NOVA SCOTIA. 
 
 MONG the later incidents connected with the 
 search for my httle son, none caused greater 
 public excitement for a short time than the 
 following letters, the first of which was received on the 
 4th of September, 1875. It is here given : 
 
 Mr. Ross. 
 
 If you will find the address of william or "Walter Baker, and let me 
 know through the paper, you shall have you son. Baker is the only 
 man who hands I will trust it in. You boy is alive, but will take time 
 for to get him. Advertise for Walter or William Baker, who wonce 
 lived at George's Station, S. C. I think he is in Philadelphia. I want 
 this thing settled soon, for I am worried to deth about it. I want to 
 leave the country and I want you to have you boy, as our game is now 
 gone up. I did not take him, but was to have a shair in the money. 
 I know where he is and you shall have him in 5 weeks — no sooner 
 — and no money. Westervell don't know where he is. Nor does Mrs. 
 Mosher. I am the only one. I want to get out of it the best I can. 
 
 Don't publish this, but hold quiet and find Baker, and believe me I 
 know. When you have found the address of Baker put this in the 
 pursnel column of the Ledger. 
 
 One of the 4. I have found him. 
 
 Don't show this to the newspaper men, for I want it quiet, and 1 
 work fast now. I pity you much. I OF the 4. 
 
 To find Mr. Baker (the person mentioned in this let- 
 ter) I inserted, in the personal column of the Ptiblic 
 Ledger y the following advertisement: 
 
354 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 Wdl Walter or Wmiam Baker, late of George*s Station, S. C, send 
 me his address? C. K. Ross, 
 
 306 Market Street. 
 
 The publication of this advertisement brought Mr. 
 Baker to my place of business promptly the next morn- 
 ing. After introducing himself, he inquired what I 
 wanted with him. Holding up the anonymous letter 
 at a distance, so that he could see the hand-writing, I 
 asked, " Do you recognize that writing ?" "Why, that 
 looks like Nelse Booth's," he replied "WTio is Nelse 
 Booth ?'• I asked. "A man who about two years ago 
 worked with me in South Carolina," he replied. On 
 further questioning, he stated that he became ac- 
 quainted with Booth while in the army, and after the 
 war had met him at George's Station, South Carolina, 
 where he obtained employment for him, but had not 
 seen him or heard from him for a period of eighteen 
 months. Baker did not regard Booth as the right 
 kind of a man, as he had proposed to him one or t^'O 
 enterprises which he could not conscientiously approve. 
 He also said that Booth called himself Nelse Laurie, 
 also Sprague. I told him the contents of the letter. 
 He seemed surprised, and declared he knew nothing 
 about the matter. Obtaining Baker's address, I put 
 the following in the personal colunm of the Ledger on 
 the 7th of September : 
 
 One of the four. I have foimd him. 
 
 The same morning I received the following letter: 
 
 Mr. Ross:-^ 
 
 Yoa sfaoold have let me know hb address throvgh the Ledger. I 
 have ererfthiag ready when I know where he is. Let me know in the 
 59Bar|Mt his Post office or the name and number of the street. Yoa can 
 pot h in tiie ** Starbeam** colmnn or the ** FefSonaT* cobonn. Yon are 
 
A MYSTERY NOT CLEARED UP. 35$ 
 
 delaying me. Hurry up and keep quiet Let your nodce be this 
 way: — 
 
 ♦ ♦ W. B., P.O., 
 
 or the number of the street. Pill the blank with the name or number 
 of the street or city. Thb must be closed to-morrow, for I must get this 
 man. I will give a full account to [him] but to no one else. So make 
 haste. * * 
 
 In answer to which I published in the evening paper 
 the same day — i 
 
 Walter Baker, No. 1 619 Market Street, Philadelphia. 
 
 This advertisement was received at the newspaper 
 office too late for classification, and appeared only in 
 the last edition in an obscure comer, so that I had dif- 
 ficulty in finding it Nevertheless Baker came to see 
 me early next morning, to know why I had published 
 his name and address. I explained it to him, and ex- 
 pressed surprise that he should have seen the adver- 
 tisement He stated that his attention had been called 
 to it by a person who knew him. I told him I suj>- 
 posed he would get a communication of some kind, 
 and that I desired to see it as soon as he received it 
 In the meantime, I went to the telegraph office to 
 learn something of Baker and Booth, the professed 
 writer of the letters. I found that Baker had lived at 
 George's Station, and that nothing objectionable was 
 known of him while in that place, and that Laurie 
 under the name of Booth had also resided there a 
 short time, and but little was known of him. Baker's 
 description and his story of him were confirmed. After 
 leaving George's Station he had written several letters 
 to Baker and one to another person, in which he signed 
 his name Nelse Laurie, and said he had written Baker 
 several times and got no reply, and inquired whether 
 
356 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 he was still in the place. Subsequently by letters I re- 
 ceived full descriptions and history of both Baker and 
 Booth while they lived in George's Station. Our sus- 
 picions were now aroused that this was another 
 scheme to practice a deception of some kind, and we 
 awaited further developments. Very soon after leaving 
 me, the same day on which my last advertisement 
 appeared, Baker returned with a letter which he said 
 he found at his hotel, written by the same person who 
 had been writing to me, and whom he declared to be 
 Nelse Booth. The letter is as follows : 
 
 Baker :— 
 
 I said if Mr. Ross let me know where you was I would tell where 
 Charley Ross was. So I will. Baker. You have been a good friend to 
 me and give me good advice when we was down South. You kept me 
 out of a scrape and set me up for to get home. Now, if you will follow 
 my advice you shall have the honor of finding Charley Ross, as I had a 
 hand in stealing him. I want you, and no one but you, to go. If you 
 don't go, as I say, you, nor Mr. Ross either, will ever get him. I will 
 know all about it if you go. 
 
 Charley Ross is in England. Go first to Liverpool, then to Brad« 
 ford. He is somewhere between there and York. He was placed in 
 the hands of a family who now is in there somewhere. Thare people 
 who calls them gipsies, but thare not gipsies. But thare traveling with 
 a wagon where I say. You must go there very careful!, or you will not 
 get him. You had better travel as a tramp and overhaul every band ol 
 gipsies you find in October. 
 
 After he was taken we all got skeared and he was left in my cair. 
 I did not want to kill him, as Bill mosher did, for I was in enough sin, 
 and wanted to get out of what I was in. But I am not out of it yet, and 
 I will never be contented until the boy is home again. So for God's 
 sake try your best to get him. 
 
 His hair is cut off close, his skin is dark from being in the sun, and 
 his front teeth is out. This family thinks he is my son, and I told them 
 his mother wanted to get him and to be very careful not to let any body 
 iave him, never, or deih would be their doom. The family was in 
 York State when I gave it to them. The head man's name is Gusto, 
 
A MYSTERY NOT CLEARED UP. 35/ 
 
 and I heard from him by letter in July or August, I forget which, Mr. 
 Ross and you is all I want to know anything about it. 
 
 This what 1 sign is not my name, but by it you will know who I am. 
 The letter I got from Gusto was rote at Bradford, and he said he was 
 going to New Hilton, by the way of York. Nelse Boothe. 
 
 I now told Baker that Booth, alias Laurie, must be 
 found, and to clear himself of complicity in this affair, 
 he must put us in the way of getting him. He said he 
 would do anything required of him to help us in the 
 case; he did not want to go to England, and would not 
 go, neither did he want any money; it was all a mys- 
 tery to him, and he could not understand why he had 
 been written to about the matter. In the presence of 
 Baker, I prepared the following personal, and signed it 
 with his initials : 
 
 Should like to have a personal interview with you. W. T. B. 
 
 He was instructed at the same time to make a dili- 
 gent search for Booth, and report to me if he succeeded 
 in finding him. The publication of the above promptly 
 brought the following response addressed to Baker: 
 
 I seen your notice to-day in Star. I won't come and see you. You 
 are putting a job up on me. I won't write no more, so that ends it. 
 You will find the boy where I say, and by the time you get this I will 
 be in York [meaning New York, probably]. I got money and you 
 can't catch me in no trap. Do as I say and you will succeed. Some 
 detective has put you up to this. What I have said is true, so help me 
 God. 
 
 You can't know any more if you see me, for I don't know. You want 
 to see me only for to cop me. You will never see me again. So good- 
 by bye. I didn't think you would try that game after I told all. I am 
 the only one who knows where he is. Nelse B. 
 
 This note was also brought to me upon its receipt 
 On the following day. Baker told me that on his way 
 home the evening before he was hailed by a man and 
 
35 S CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 woman, both entire strangers to him. The man said, 
 " You are Mr. Baker, formerly of South Carolina, I be- 
 lieve. A person wishes to see you at tlie West Phila- 
 delphia depot to-morrow morning at seven o'clock. Will 
 you be there ?" Baker replied that he would, and asked 
 the name of the person. The stranger told him he 
 would recognize the man at once, and refused to an- 
 swer any questions. He said he sent for me to be 
 there also, but I did not receive the message in time. 
 Baker went at the hour named, and while looking for 
 the person who had so mysteriously summoned him, 
 his South Carolma acquaintance, Nelse Booth, alias 
 Laurie, grasped his hand, saying, " I am the man who 
 wants to see you, because you were my friend when I 
 needed one; I determined to tell the Charley Ross 
 affair to you, and to no one else." He reiterated what 
 was said in his letters, and told Baker to turn the in- 
 formation to good account in a pecuniary way. While 
 they were conversing the train moved off; the man 
 jumped aboard, bade him good bye, saying he was 
 going where it was useless to look for him. I now 
 accused Baker of being in collusion with some one in 
 an attempt to deceive me, which he positively denied. 
 I required him to give me the address of his friends, 
 and charged him not to change his residence without 
 informing me, saying that I should hold him responsi- 
 ble until this matter was wholly cleared up. At this 
 stage of the case I learned from a correspondent of a 
 newspaper in another city that he had information of 
 the matter, and ask him to suspend its publication for 
 a few days. Although little confidence was placed in 
 the story, yet it was thought best to request the au- 
 
A MYSTERY NOT CLEARED UP. 359 
 
 thorities in England to investigate the matter; and 
 without further delay I informed the commissioner of 
 police in London of the case, and asked him to have 
 it examined. 
 
 After the publication by the newspapers of the cor- 
 respondence Baker handed me the following letter 
 which although post-marked and mailed in Philadel- 
 phia, October the 8th, is dated New York, October the 
 9th. 
 
 New York, October 9. — Baker : You are a dam fool, and Ross is 
 crazy. Now you are in danger. I tliought you had more sense. Se 
 hear, you have almost lost your chance for getting the boy. What made 
 you give it away. You must now do as I say, or I will go for you, sure, 
 for God sake don't say anything to any one now, but work for me. I 
 want you to find Gusto, and then I will ensure you the boy. if you go 
 to Bradford, Eng., and make inquiries, you can find him easy. You 
 must be quiet about it when you find him, which is very easy to do. I 
 will have it fixt, for I will manage to get him a letter, and if I don't, you 
 go as I say, and show him this, this winter he will be about there or 
 York i know this, you must keep from Ross and everybody else. Here 
 is the secret: Gusto Englis name is Sam Hurbet, and by this name you 
 will find him, if he see this I think it will be all right, tell him this : the 
 child Boston gave you in New York is Charley Ross," and then tell him 
 who Charley Ross is, for he don't know. I ought to kill you, for you 
 have been trying you best to nab me. do as i say. dam you, and stop 
 you hunting for me. I want Ross to have his boy. you Leave next 
 week, and you can succeed, take this with you, and don't show it to a 
 living sole, but Gusto or Herbert, if you do, I will murder you. so 
 Beware Baker. From you know Who. 
 
 In answer to which the following personal appeared 
 in the Ledger of the 1 2th : 
 
 Boston. Send me an order on Herbert to deliver him to me. I will 
 go. ^ Signed, B. 
 
 This personal brought the following letter, inclosing 
 the order for the boy, which was received on the 14th, 
 postmarked Philadelphia : 
 
360 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 Baker, I seen you notice yesterday. I ges all right, i will not rite 
 any more, not one line, but I want Ross to have his boy, and you get 
 the reward, give this other pape to Sam Ilerbet, or gusto. You may 
 the help. I will hear all about it. When you get back. Nelse Booth. 
 
 if he can*t read, you read it to him, he will know all abot it. 
 
 The order addressed on an outside fold to " Sam 
 Herbert," is as follows : 
 
 New York, America, October 13, 1S7 S.—Sam Hurhet : Give to this 
 man Baker my little boy, which I gave you to keep for me last October, 
 in York State, America. I have sent him over for him. I have made 
 up with the old woman, and we all going to live to gither. I have had 
 a big stake, and I ges we can live all right. If I owe you anything send 
 me word by Baker and I will fix it. You know who I mean. Little 
 Charley Sprague, my son. Bake, is all ready to come to York Stale, so 
 don't detain him. Oblige, Hiram Sprague, your old friend, Boston. 
 
 Efforts were now made to find out if there had been 
 a man answering to the name of Gusto, who is repre- 
 sented to have been in South Carolina, and it was 
 found that a gipsey band under the leadership of such 
 a person had gone from Philadelphia to Savannah a 
 few years ago, and that he was known in the neighbor- 
 hood of George's Station ; but we failed to trace him 
 from that point. , Inquiries were made and registers 
 were searched in all the steamship offices in New 
 York, Baltimore and Philadelphia, whose vessels sail 
 to Savannah, but failed to discover that he came back 
 by either of the lines. Having now not only a more 
 limited area in which to look for the child, but also 
 the name of the person to whom Booth chimed that 
 he gave him, I again wrote to the Chief of Police in 
 London as well as to the constabulary in all the rid- 
 ings of Yorkshire, giving them all the information we 
 possessed, and asked them if possible to trace the 
 parties. How promptly, cheerfully and faithfully the 
 
A MYSTERY NOT CLEARED UP. 36 1 
 
 police of England worked in the case is best told by- 
 extracts from letters I have received, dated Chief 
 Constable's Office, Leeds. 
 The Chief writes as follows: 
 
 23th October, i^75' 
 Sir : — I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter inclosing pho- 
 tograph of your little boy who was stolen. In reply I have to state that 
 instructions have been issued to have the most searching inquiries made 
 in all quarters where a clue may possibly be obtained within the borough. 
 If anything should be heard of him I will telegraph you, and should I 
 be able to obtain any information about the man Gusto, I shall not fail 
 to communicate with you at once. 
 
 Owing to the large area of the borough, it will take some little time 
 to exhaust the inquiry ; but no time will be lost. 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 H. Henderson, Chief Constable, 
 Christian K. Ross, Esq., Philadelphia, U. S. A. 
 
 And again, dated Chief Constable's Office : 
 
 Wakefield, October 2^, /^/j*. 
 Dear Sir : — You were informed by my chief clerk that your letter of 
 of the 29th ultimo has been duly forwarded by the Metropolitan Police. 
 I have now to acknowledge the receipt of that of the 9th inst., which 
 disposed of the difficulty as to the time when Gusto would, as stated by 
 Booth, be travelling between Bradford and York. The most prompt 
 steps have been taken for the recovery of the child, and I trust that if 
 anywhere in Yorkshire, we may succeed in finding him. All the infor- 
 mation furnished up to the present time has been collected and printed, 
 and has been issued to the Police of this Riding as well as to the bor- 
 oughs. The North and East Riding Police have also been furnished 
 with copies, and photographs of the child follow by this night's post. 
 
 If we should be successful, every care shall be taken of the child, and 
 you shall be communicated with at once, etc., etc. I am, dear sir. 
 Yours faithfully, 
 
 Duncan McNeill, Chief Constable, 
 To C. K. Ross, Esq., Philadelphia, U. S. A. 
 
 Mr. McNeill writes again as follows : 
 
 Wakefield, October 26, iSfS* 
 Dear Sir: — In reply to your letter of the 13th inst., received this 
 16 
 
362 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 morning, I beg to inform you that the additional information given will 
 be issued by this evening's post, and if Gusto alias Sam Herbert >s in 
 this county, I hojie he may be found. It is difficult to understand why 
 Booth should give the boy to Gusto in place of taking steps indirectly to 
 secure the reward offered ; but in any case if Booth's whereabouts can- 
 not by any means, be discovered, the channel of communication through 
 Baker should be kept up, and the latter should be stimulated by hope of 
 a reward. I shall be obliged by your forwarding all information you can 
 collect, no matter how trivial," and should be glad also if anything more 
 precise can be discovered as to the habits and calling of Sam. Herbert, 
 with a description of him, if possible, etc., etc. I am, dear sir. 
 Yours faithfully, 
 
 Duncan McNeill, ChUf Constable, West Riding, 
 To C. K. Ross, Esq., Philadelphia, U. S. A 
 
 Again he writes : 
 
 Chief Constable's Office, Wakefield, October ji, iSjs* 
 
 Dear Sir : — On the 28th inst. certain information was received from 
 the Chief Constable of Leeds in reference to a child seen there on the 
 13th inst., and was issued to the Police of Riding and neighboring juris- 
 dictions on the same night. As, however, the Chief Constable of Leeds 
 mentioned having written to you, I think it right to tell you that the 
 woman and children alluded to by him have been found, and it has 
 been made clear after the most careful investigation that all the children 
 are her own ; nor do any of them answer the description given by you. 
 At present I cannot hear anything of Gusto alias Herbert; but continued 
 exertions shall be made with a view of discovering his whereabouts. 
 
 The likeness of your boy which has been circulated is evidently from 
 a drawing or photograph; will you please inform me when the original 
 Was taken ; will you also forward to me direct any information you may 
 procure, as, by so doing, much time will be saved. I am, dear sir, 
 Yours faithfully, 
 
 Duncan McNeill, Chief Constable. 
 
 Christian K. Ross, Philadelphia, 
 
 To the above letter I replied as follows: 
 
 Philadelphia, Niwember 16, iSyj. 
 
 Duncan McNeill, Esq., Chief Constable, W. R. Yorkshire. — 
 Dear Sir: — Your esteemed favor of the 31st ultimo is to hand. I enclose 
 you a copy of the original photograph of my little boy from which the 
 one I sent you some time ago was taken, after being magnified and 
 
A MYSTERY NOT CLEARED UP. 363 
 
 altered by an artist under instructions from Mrs. Ross. This was the 
 only one we had; Charley was two and a half years old at the time it 
 was taken. He was four years and two months when he was taken 
 from us, and now would be five years and four months old. 
 
 We did not consider the enlarged photograph perfect; his mouth 
 should be a little more closed. In taking the small picture I now send 
 you, his attention was attracted to some object, which caused him to be 
 excited and open his mouth; and we did not have that part of his face 
 altered for fear the artist should lose the general expression of the face. 
 Of course we expect he would be changed somewhat in his appearance 
 according to the treatment he has received since he was stolen ; but still 
 we think his general expression would remain. I have no further infor- 
 mation to communicate, except that I fear this supposed clue will termi- 
 nate, like so many others have, in a confidence game of some sort, as I 
 wrote the Commissioner of Police in my first letter. As yet we have 
 been unable to find out the object the parties had in view; and lest I 
 should fail of the right thing, I feel it my duty to investigate everything 
 that has any probability in it. Should I receive any further information, 
 you may be assured I will at once communicate it to you. 
 
 Mrs. Ross has had a very kind letter from a lady (I think Mrs. Bar- 
 clay) who resides in your neighborhood, and I think she said she was 
 acquainted with you or had been to see you in reference to our little 
 Charley. Should you see her, please give her our warmest thanks. 
 Thanking you for the interest you have manifested in our behalf, 
 
 I remain yours truly, Christian K. Ross. 
 
 Several other letters were received reporting that ac- 
 tive efforts continued to be made to discover the ob- 
 jects of their search, and the final report is as follows : 
 Chief Constable's Office, Wakefield, February g, 1876. 
 
 Dear Sir. — I had intended writing to you before, but had hoped I 
 might have something to communicate. I much regret to say that our 
 inquiries have so far been to no purpose ; and notwithstanding the active 
 cooperation given by the Police of the Northern counties, I have been 
 unable to find any reliable clue. It is true that once or twice information 
 reached me which I had hoped might be turned to good account; but on 
 working out these cases and closely sifting the statements made, we found 
 ourselves without any solid ground to carry us further. The publicity 
 given in America and, indeed, possibly on this side also, has been the 
 means of suggesting the names of Gusto and Herbert, which have been 
 
3^4 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 repeated without any real intention to deceive ; but I can find no good 
 reason to suspect that the first-mentioned name has ever been heard 
 here; and the second, tho' of course we find it occurring now and 
 then, has no individual bearing that we can discover on the question at 
 issue, as it is a name one would expect to find. I regret I cannot give 
 a more hopeful report; but at the same time I beg you will remember 
 that you may at all times depend upon the fullest assistance from this 
 office and indeed the English Police generally ; and if any further infor- 
 mation however trivial is received, I shall be glad if you will inform 
 me without delay. Mrs. Barclay does not reside in this neighborhood, 
 but I know her as a most kind-hearted person, who has taken a deep 
 interest »n this case. Her sister Mrs. Leatham lives here, and has also 
 been most anxious and kind. I return all your papers. We have ail 
 the information filed. Our officers will remain on the alert in case any 
 clue should be obtained. I am, dear sir, 
 
 Yours faithfully, 
 
 DiwcAN McNeill, 
 Chief OmstabU^ W, R. Yorkshire, 
 C. K. Ross, Esq., Philadelphia, U. S. A. 
 
 To the above letter the following rcplv was sent, 
 
 dated 
 
 Philadelphia, February -j, 1876. 
 
 Dear Sir. — Your favor of the 9th inst. with enclosures reached me a 
 few days ago. 
 
 I am very much obliged to you and the police generally of England 
 who have taken so much interest in tr)'ing to serve me, and am well sat- 
 isfied if the parties you have been looking after had been in your country 
 you would have found some traces of them. I now believe, as I have 
 for some time past, that there wa5 a scheme of some kind to blackmail 
 me ; but the parties were afraid to go on with it on account of the pub- 
 licity given to the matter. Many attempts of this kind have been made 
 before, however without success. 
 
 I know of nothing just now that I can ask you to look after; but 
 would thank you for the cheerfulness and promptitude with which you 
 investigated this supposed clue. 
 
 The mystery connected with the continued absence of my little son 
 still remams. I have no reliable information as to what has been done 
 with him ; whether he still lives or whether he is dead. The knowledge 
 ol the latter, if it is so, would be a relief to my wife and myself, as this 
 protracted suspeiise is very wearing on us. 
 
A MYSTERY NOT CLEARED UP. 365 
 
 Again, accept my thanks for your devotion and interest in the cause 
 of human suffering ; and believe me ever 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 Christian K. Ross. 
 Duncan McNeill, Esq., Chief Constable, W. R. Yorkshire, England, 
 
 One of the cases to which Mr. McNeill alludes in his 
 last letter, which for a time bade fair to end favorably, 
 was that the chief constable of the North Riding as- 
 certained that two gipsy wagons, one reported to be 
 marked " Herbert," and the other " Gusto," were at a 
 village near Middlesborough, and the gipsies were said 
 to have with them a child about the same age as our 
 Charley, who had a genteel appearance, and a com- 
 plexion very different from that of any of his compan- 
 ions, and who had a striking resemblance to the missing 
 child. Particular instructions were immediately issued 
 to every station within the jurisdiction of the constable 
 to be on the look-out. Very soon the party was found, 
 the child in a wagon by itself, while the ostensible 
 parents were selling their wares. Taking him to the 
 station-house, he was examined by the Superintendent, 
 who also compared the likeness of Charley Ross with 
 him, and was satisfied that he was not my son. The 
 man and woman with whom the child was found said 
 he was their grandchild, and gave the place in which 
 his father resided. The father was visited, and by his 
 statement confirmed the authorities that it was a case 
 of mistaken identity on the part of those reporting the 
 matter. It was also found that the wagons had not 
 been marked as represented. 
 
 The publication of this case in the newspapers of 
 England and Scotland awakened anew the interest in 
 
366 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 Great Britain, and many strangers wrote kind letters of 
 inquiry and sympathy, showing the deep feehng still 
 existing there for the recovery of the child, whenever 
 an occasion calls it forth. A few extracts from letters 
 received in the correspondence from South Carolina, 
 which abound in expression of the liveliest interest and 
 kindest feelings, cannot fail to be of interest. A gen- 
 tleman in St. George's writes under date of October, 
 1875: 
 
 Though in doubt, I have a trembling hope that there may be some- 
 thing in this which may yet lead to the discovery of your Utile Charley, 
 and his restoration to your hearts and arms sound and well, and it would 
 be a life-long satisfaction should I in any way be able to assist in bring- 
 ing about such a happy termination to this great trouble — this crushing 
 sorrow, etc. 
 
 Can I be of service to you in any way whatever in this matter ? Do 
 not hesitate to let me know either by mail or telegraph. In sincere 
 sympathy, I am yours very truly, M. W. Kenyon. 
 
 The same person writes again under date of Novem- 
 ber 6th: 
 
 Let me assure you, my dear sir, my interest in the recovery of your 
 little Charley is not of recent growth. There are thousands of hearts 
 throughout our land in sympathy with you, and the joy which would be 
 felt in your house could he be found, would send a thrill in sympathy 
 through thousands of other households that you would never know. 
 
 Again he writes, January 6th, 1876: 
 
 Your letter of the i6th of November, came duly to hand. We sin- 
 cerely thank you for the pictures enclosed of your two little boys. The 
 bright, intelligent countenance of Walter is much admired, but for his 
 great misfortune the picture of Charley awakens a deeper and more 
 tender interest. It is with no little regret that I am unable to add much 
 to the information already given in regard to this Booth mystery. I 
 would most willingly assist you in any way that I could, and can only 
 deplore my inability. I would be glad to know your opinion now in 
 regard to this matter, whether you still think it a heartless fabrication or 
 otherwise, etc. 
 
A MYSTERY NOT CLEARED UP. 36/ 
 
 We never discovered with certainty the object of the 
 parties who arranged this heartless scheme. That there 
 was such a person as Nelse Laurie, ahas Booth, was 
 satisfactorily ascertained ; but whether he wrote the 
 letters I received was not certainly found out. His 
 usual handwriting, a specimen of which we obtained, 
 was pronounced by experts not to correspond with the^ 
 writing of the letters addressed to me, and which Baker 
 said were written by Booth. As to the man Gusto, 
 alias Herbert, nothing more was learned of him, than 
 that he went with his wagons, women and children, 
 several years ago to Savannah, Georgia, on one of the 
 steam vessels running from this port. The only con- 
 clusion we could arrive at was, that the whole thing 
 was gotten up for the purpose of extortion, and who- 
 ever devised the plan had either not skill enough to 
 carry it out, or became alarmed on account of the sus- 
 picions which were expressed after the second letter 
 was received. It however occasioned much labor in 
 telegraphing and corresponding, before we were satis- 
 fied that thore was really nothing reliable in his story. 
 
 In no instance which we have investigated have so 
 many reports of the same child come to us from differ- 
 ent towns, as that of a child with a woman, who were 
 first made known to us from Thomaston, Connecticut. 
 In November, 1875, I received a letter, dated Thomas- 
 ton, in which the writer says : " There is a woman trav- 
 eling through the county with a child, evidently not 
 her own. The woman is described to be of dark com- 
 plexion, with dark hair and eyes; and the child is about 
 five years old, with light complexion, full face, rosy 
 cheeks, light hair, and very large dark eyes. Some- 
 
368 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 times he is dressed in girl's, at other times in boy's 
 clothing." The woman was said to tell different stories 
 about herself and the child, and the writer suspected 
 she had the stolen boy with her. A description and 
 photograph of Charley was sent on receipt of this 
 letter, with a request that the writer would obtain a 
 picture of the child, and send it to me. By return mail 
 I received a second letter, saying that the woman and 
 child had gone away, but would be followed. The next 
 day I received the following telegram, dated Thomas- 
 ton, Connecticut: 
 
 I have found the woman and child; no doubt your child. I shall re- 
 quire authority to arrest her. Signed. 
 
 The telegraph operator in Thomaston was requested 
 to find the person who sent the above telegram, and 
 bring him into the office in that place. After consider- 
 able delay he was found, but declined to give any fur- 
 ther information, or to act in the matter himself, unless 
 he had the proper authority. The following telegram 
 was now sent to the operator: 
 
 Send for the Mayor, Chief of Police, or Sheriff, and invite them, or 
 either of them, to the cQice. This matter is so important that we must 
 have the woman and child detained until the matter is thoroughly inves- 
 tigated. 
 
 When the Sheriff came to the telegraph office, the 
 operator was instructed to say to him that — 
 
 The Chief of Police of Philadelphia is in the office here, and says that 
 this matter has an important look ; that no harm can come of bringing 
 the child to the office, and detaining the woman and child until an in- 
 vestigation is made. We can tell in a very few moments if there is any- 
 thing in it, and if the woman is innocent she will cheerfully submit, and 
 if guilty she must. The Chief wants to know how long it will take to 
 bring the child to the telegraph office* 
 
A MYSTERY NOT CLEARED UP. 369 
 
 The Sheriff replied to the above, that he would go 
 after them, and return in about two and half hours. 
 On the return of the Sheriff he telegraphed : 
 
 The woman has gone with the boy ; I do not think him the Ross 
 boy; the majority of the people I have seen say the child's eyes are blue, 
 some say grey; and the woman, I think, is honest. She told the same 
 story in three different places at which I traced her. Have written full 
 particulars. Chatfield, Dep. Sheriff. 
 
 The Sheriff's letter, which came to hand the follow- 
 ing day, gave a full and satisfactory account of his in- 
 vestigation, and we supposed the matter was ended. 
 Not so, however ; on the same day I received a tele- 
 gram from Newtown, Connecticut, saying 
 
 I have the Thomaston woman and child. Answer quickly. 
 
 Bray. 
 
 The question was asked of Mr. Bray, " What is the 
 color of the child's eyes?" Answer: "Blue, or rather 
 grayish." To which I replied : " Release the parties ; 
 not my Charley;" and received the following reply: 
 
 Have released woman and boy ; description answers to Charley all 
 but the eyes — these change Jin children. Woman acted suspiciously f 
 ought to be investigated. Have written fully. Bray 
 
 Mr. Bray wrote as follows : 
 
 "While driving between the towns of Oxford and Southbury, I passed 
 a woman tramp, who had a small boy ; and on the following day, I met 
 the same woman and child. The boy's face was covered up with a veil; 
 as I passed them she gave the child a piece of apple, and as the veil was 
 raised, I noticed the complexion of the boy was light, as was also his 
 hair; while that of the woman was dark and swarthy. I found on 
 arriving at Birmingham that telegrams regarding the Thomaston woman 
 and boy had been passing, and concluded that the woman and child I 
 had seen were the same persons ; I immediately notified our Chief of 
 Police, and we started and overtook them. The woman's answers to 
 our questions are anything but straight. She said she was on her way 
 to Danbury, Connecticut, to her friends, but had forgotten their names, 
 16* 
 
370 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 etc. She is certainly a very suspicious character, and so far as appear- 
 ances go is not the mother of the child, which she claims to be. The 
 boy is a bright little fellow, I should judge about five years old, and has 
 eyes of a bluish gray, which might have been blue at one time. Had 
 there been a photographer in the town, I would have had his picture 
 taken and sent to you ; but if you will write to the Mayor of Danbury, he 
 will have one taken, and give all other information you desire, as the 
 woman will probably remain in the vicinity of Danbury for a day or two. 
 This is the Thomaston child, so that matter is settled. 
 
 Yours in sympathy, M. P. Bray. 
 
 The people in all the villages through which the 
 woman passed seemed now to be aroused, as letters 
 came almost daily from different places, describing the 
 parties. Although satisfied that the child was not 
 Charley, yet feeling a desire to have a picture of the 
 boy about whom so much excitement had been raised, 
 I wrote to an officer in Danbury to procure one for me, 
 and received the following reply, dated 
 
 Danbury, CoNNEcricirr, November 2g, 187^. 
 
 C. K. Ross, Esq. — Dear Sir: — Your letter came to hand last night, 
 the woman and child are here. I have examined the parties pretty well, 
 and took them to an artist and had their pictures taken, and enclosed 
 you have one of each. Had I thought for a moment that the child was 
 your dear boy^ I would have spared no expense in taking them into cus- 
 tody. I am not positive that this is the same woman and child that were 
 at Bethel and Newtown, but think they are. The boy is large for his 
 age, and dressed in girl's clothes ; he is smart and active ; his eyes are 
 decidedly blue. I attended to the matter at once, as I know just how 
 much suspense you are in all the time when these^tories reach you from 
 all parts of the country. Anything I can do to assist you I will do with 
 pleasure. Yours truly, 
 
 C. H. Crosby, Policeman of Danbury. 
 
 The correspondence which ensued in this case was 
 voluminous, and showed the intense interest the people 
 took in endeavoring to restore our little boy. One in- 
 stance only can be given. The following note was sent 
 to Captain Heins, dated 
 
A MYSTERY NOT CLEARED UP. 3/1 
 
 Stratford, Connecticut, November 2^^ iBjS' 
 Wm. R, Heins, Esq. — Deay Sir: — Have you a picture of Charley 
 Ross, which you can spare ? They seem to think he is about here. 
 Yours truly, L. H. Russell. 
 
 I replied to Mr. Russell's note, sending him a photo- 
 graph and asking him to let me know what informa- 
 tion they had; and received the following answer, 
 which is so expressive of kind feelings and sympathies, 
 that I take pleasure in giving it publicity : 
 
 Stratford, Connecticut, November 2<p, 187s. 
 
 Christian K. Ross, Esq. — Dear Sir: — Yours covering photograph 
 and description of little Charley, also yours of 27th inst., are at hand. 
 
 We have some children in our family of whom we think something, 
 and ever since the abduction of little Charley our sympathies have 
 gone out to you in the terrible bereavement; and you may rest assured 
 that if there is anything we can do in our small way to aid you in the 
 restoration of your little one it shall be most cheerfully done. 
 
 The woman who has been recently arrested in Newtown, and allowed 
 to depart, is, undoubtedly, the same one who passed through here last 
 summer with the little one, and who asked for something to eat at our 
 house. The child played l^p and down on the piazza and seemed happy, 
 and some little delicacies were given it, and it was noticed by my mother 
 that it was kept veiled. She spoke of it after their departure, and wished 
 we had a photograph of Charley Ross, so that we might know how he 
 looked, in the event that he should be discovered about here. The 
 woman does not live here, and I am under the impression she comes 
 from some town on the coast further east. As she is itinerant in her 
 habits, I don't know that I could put my hands on her just now, but I 
 will make inquiry of persons whom I think would be apt to know, and 
 report any developments. 
 
 This man Bray, who followed and arrested the woman, is not the man 
 to let her go, if he thought he had the slightest reason to detain her; 
 hence I think it doubtful if the child be the missing one. However, I 
 will try to get a photograph of the child for you, and if it is within the 
 range of possibilities will do it. 
 
 If at any time we can be of service to you, do not hesitate a moment 
 to command us. Very truly yours, L. H. Russell. 
 
 Again he writes, dated December ist, 1875 : 
 
372 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 Christian K. Ross. — Dear Sir : — The woman and child are now 
 at the New Haven Alms House. The warden says the child was bom 
 in Guilford, Connecticut ; is about six years old. I can get a photo- 
 graph of him if you wish. Awaiting your commands, 
 
 I am yours truly, L. H. KussELL. 
 
 The father of this child subsequently traced him to 
 the alms-house in New Haven, and made application 
 to get possession of him. 
 
 Another case which was brought to our notice, is 
 of more than ordinary interest, because the child has 
 been rescued from an irresponsible woman, and found 
 a home with kind and good people who propose to 
 nurture and train him up as their own child. In Sep- 
 tember, 187$, I received the following letter from Ten- 
 nessee : 
 
 Mr. C. K. Ross, Washington Lane, Germantown, Pa. — ^The 
 import of my letter is one of sadness to us. We have heard or rather 
 seen a circular in regard to a little lost boy, by name Charley 
 Brewster Ross; and there is at the time of this writing with us a 
 little boy answering the description exactly, except vaccination. This 
 child was left at my yard gate a month ago by a suspicious-looking 
 woman who professed to be his mother, but acted very unlike a mother. 
 When questioned as to who she was or where she came from, she gave 
 very unsatisfactory answers. Afterwards she walked oflf and left the 
 child. I took him in my house and supplied the place of a mother the 
 best I could. Although he has been with us so short a time, we are very 
 much attached to him, and will, under no consideration, give him up 
 unless he can be identified by his parents. The reward has induced 
 many to search for your child ; but the reward did not prompt me to 
 take this child, for at that time I had not heard of the long-lost Char- 
 ley Ross. Yesterday I saw the picture and circular of your child in 
 the hands of the sheriff of our county. Had I known of the loss of your 
 child I would have written you immediately. This child has accom- 
 panied me everywhere I went since he has been with me ; and I am 
 leady to make further explanations when I hear from you. Being in 
 very needy circumstances, I cannot telegraph to you or send a picture; 
 but should you desire a picture, if you will forward the money I will 
 
A MYSTERY NOT CLEARED UP. 373 
 
 send a full-sized photograph as soon as one can be taken. To speak 
 truthfully, I do not want to give the child up; but if he proves to be the 
 lost Charley, I would be glad to see him restored to his grief-stricken 
 parents. I am poor, and of course the money would alleviate my cir- 
 cumstances very much ; but money could not take him if he is not .the 
 lost child. As I deem this sufficient at this time, I will close. 
 
 Yours truly, Mrs. . 
 
 To this letter I replied, asking for further informa- 
 tion, and that a picture be sent me as soon as it could 
 be taken. The next letter I received was as follows, 
 dated Tennessee, October, 1875: 
 
 Mr. C, K. Ross. — Dear Sir : — In reply to your letter of the 8th inst. 
 I would say that I had started to have a photograph taken when your 
 letter reached me. But the sheriff has taken the advantage of me, and 
 doubtless forwarded you a picture with a letter and probably a news- 
 paper publication, which I am and was opposed to his doing. It was 
 my intention when I wrote to you to fully investigate the matter, and if 
 the child in my hands was yours, to restore him to the aggrieved parents. 
 It was not money that induced me to write ; but the excitement which 
 has been raised from the report that our little boy John Wilkins, as we 
 call him, is Charley Ross, has grown to a considerable pitch, so much 
 so that I am almost afraid some one will attempt to take him from me. 
 But the man who comes to take him by force must be doubly protected, 
 for the child is very near and dear to me. No one but the parent can 
 get him; the public is excited on the subject. That he is CHARLEY 
 Ross I am not, in the least, inclined to believe. I had the picture 
 taken ; the woman who left the child is an American, tolerably good- 
 looking and seemingly tolerably well-bred; has hazel eyes and black 
 hair, and says she lived in an adjoining county. She says her name is 
 Susan. As to her whereabouts I know not. She came here on the 2d 
 of this month, and said she heard the child had been taken from me ; 
 but she left me as much in the dark as ever, not telling me where she 
 lived or giving her name. I give this much information lest your hopes 
 may be excited only to be blighted, for I do not think our little boy is 
 your long-lost, much-loved Charley; although there may be some 
 resemblance, I am not at all inclined to think so, although many will 
 have it that way; that is too often the case when we really wish to 
 believe it. It is easy to persuade oneself to believe anything. This 
 child is certainly a very bright boy; he does not talk plainly; has dark 
 
374 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 eyes and flaxen hair, and may prove to be your Charley; but I will not 
 believe it until it is proven. I am the one interested, and wish to keep 
 him, and would rather not have so much excitement if it could be 
 avoided. Enclosed you will find a picture of little John Wilkins. 
 
 With my best wishes to you and with the hope that you may find your 
 treasure, 1 close. Yours most respectfully, Mrs. . 
 
 On receipt of the picture I wrote the lady that the 
 child was a bright-looking little fellow, but not our 
 Charley; but I was glad to know he was now in 
 charge of those who were interested in him and whose 
 purposes were to take good care of him ; and received 
 the following reply to my letter : 
 
 Tennessee, November ij, 1874, 
 
 Mr. C. K. Ross. — Dear Sir: — I hasten to reply to yours of 27th ult., 
 and readily give my consent that you can keep the picture I sent you. I am 
 glad that you wish to keep it ; my sympathy is so great for this little waif, 
 I think every one else ought to feel as I do. You speak of his being a 
 very bright little fellow j he certainly is an extraordinary child, having 
 the best disposition of any child I ever saw. He has no doubt been 
 trained and nurtured by doating parents. It is not possible the woman 
 who left him with me taught him what he knows ; he can tell three let- 
 ters of the alphabet, says he learned them on plank fences. He says he 
 has seen steam cars, but does not know how far from here ; says he slept 
 in the woods. He has a beautiful skin and hair, very sweet manners and 
 neat habits; and, really, I think him a little jewel. I am determined to 
 do the best I can for him ; my only fear is that I may not be able to 
 educate him as well as I could wish, but no opportunity will be neglected 
 so long as I live. If ever your little lOved Charley is restored, show 
 him the picture and tell him that it is the picture of a poor little boy who 
 had neither home nor friends. I would be exceedingly glad to hear 
 from you if your little Charley is restored to you, for no one would re- 
 joice more with you than myself. Thanks for the compliment in regard 
 to the kindness extended to the poor little waif committed by chance to 
 my care. 
 
 I close by saying that I am too glad to be able to keep little John 
 Wilkins with me, but sorry I could not relieve the long-burthened hearts 
 of little Charley's parents. 
 
 I am yours respectfully, Mrs. — ^ 
 
A MYSTERY NOT CLEARED UP. 375 
 
 The excitement in the neighborhood where this child 
 was discovered was very great; persons went many 
 miles to see him, when it became known that he was 
 supposed to be the missing child, thus showing the in- 
 terest which is felt for the recovery of the kidnapped 
 child in that far distant State. 
 
 The case of a child found in the Province of Nova 
 Scotia, British Possessions, claimed to be Charley 
 Ross, will now be given. Early in March, 1875, I re- 
 ceived the following letter, dated 
 
 Aylesford, Nova Scotia, February 2ph, i8yS' 
 
 Mr. Ross. — My Dear Sir : — With regard to your lost child, there is 
 a small boy in this county with a woman who pretends to tell fortunes. 
 The child is about four and a half years old, very bright, and says his 
 name is Charley Ross. They came from the United States in August 
 or first of last September. I have every reason to believe that the child 
 is your son. Now can you give me any information about the boy, and 
 give me authority, and I will find out all about him, and advise you as 
 soon as I hear from you. I have the honor to be your friend 
 
 David Corbin. 
 
 To this letter I replied, and sent the writer a full 
 description of Charley, with a photograph, and asked 
 him to note very particularly the color of the child's 
 eyes. I also gave him a number of questions to ask 
 the child, with a request that as soon as he was able 
 he should write me everything connected with the case 
 that he found out. His next letter is dated— 
 
 Aylesford, Nova Scotia, March 12, 187J. 
 
 Mr. C. K. Ross. — Dear Sir: — Since I last wrote you about the boy 
 I Charley Ross, I called personally and made an investigation, and the 
 following is a correct statement of what I learned 
 
 The boy is perfect in every respect, of a medium height, has well- 
 formed eyes, color between hazel and blue, hair somewhat dark. The 
 woman who has him says that his hair became darker since last 
 summer, and his eyes lighter. The child has a full, round fat face, 
 
376 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 short chin with a noticeable dimple, a plump dimpled hand and a slight 
 cowlick on the left side of his forehead, with the hair pointing upward, 
 and inclined towards the left ear, and does not resemble the likeness 
 you sent me in some respects. The people who have the child came 
 here from the United States, first stopping in New Brunswick. I have 
 been secretly watching their movements for three months, and the sup- 
 posed mother intends bringing the child to my house for a fortnight, and 
 will then look for the mark on his arm. I clipped a little lock of his 
 hair, which is inclosed. 
 
 I will spare no pains, and with the blessing of God will do all I can, 
 and forward information and particulars as fast as I can obtain them. 
 Yours very truly, David Corbin. 
 
 Again on the 23d of March he writes: 
 
 Mr. C. K. Ross. — Dear Sir: — Your letter of 17th inst. just received. 
 The boy was brought to my house yesterday. I had a photographer on 
 hand and got a poor picture of the child, which I inclose -to you. I will 
 get a better picture in a day or two. The boy is smart, talks plainly, 
 has a small neck and very light ej'ebrows. He tells my children that 
 Charley Ross's father is coming after him in the spring. I will take 
 advantage of every opportunity to find out all I can by Saturday's mail, 
 and will then send you another likeness. I have to act quietly, but 
 know how to do it. Please let me know your impressions after receiv- 
 ing this. 
 
 I forgot to mention that when the child was first brought to Nova 
 Scotia his hair was long and curly, and much lighter in color than at 
 present. Yours truly, David Corbin. 
 
 To this letter I replied that the child at Aylesford 
 was not my little boy, as the picture which I received 
 did not bear the slightest resemblance to him ; but be- 
 fore my letter reached Mr. Corbin, he wrote again as 
 follows, dated 
 
 March ji, iSyj. 
 Mr. C K. Ross. — Dear Sir: — I have no doubt of this child being 
 yours; the woman who has him told me there is a great sum of money 
 on his head, and she or some one else will get it before long; but she 
 says it is only the boy's face that will get it. I have him here with me, 
 and when I talk to him about home he puts his arm over his face and 
 
A MYSTERY NOT CLEARED UP. 3/7 
 
 will not answer. I asked him if he would like to see his father; he 
 said he would. He told my daughter he had cousins whose names 
 were Joe, George and Frank, but would not tell the names of any of his 
 brothers. I have traced these people back as far as Portland, Maine, 
 thence to Eastport, St. John's, New Brunswick. I am fearful lest the 
 boy may be taken away, and should like to know your decision ere long. 
 Yours truly, David Corbin. 
 
 P. S. — The child is drilled so as to forget all about home. I do wish 
 you could see him face to face. D. C. 
 
 On receiving my letter in which I state our decision 
 that the child is not our Charley, Mr. Corbin writes as 
 follows : 
 
 Aylesford, Nova Scotia, April ph, iSys- 
 Mr. C. K. Ross. — Dear Sir: — I received yours of a late date, in which 
 you say that the child's eyes are too light for your son, etc. Every day 
 throws more light on the subject, and the more the boy is with me the 
 stronger is my belief that he is your boy. I have called in a physician, 
 and he says that if there ever was a Charley Ross stolen, that this child 
 is he ; he says, if a child should be taken from a city, and let run at 
 large in the country for nine months, his own mother would not know 
 him; and with regard to the color of the eyes, that don't amount to any- 
 thing, for he has known children's eyes to change from a dark hazel to 
 a light blue inside of one year. He furthermore says that the photo- 
 graph you sent me is an exact likeness of the boy when he stands with 
 his mouth a little open; but a full face view it does not look so much 
 like him. The woman who has the child is becoming uneasy, and talks 
 of going back to the States in May, and says she will get a large sum of 
 money then. I heard her say to the boy, when alone with him, that she 
 would leave him, "and then Ross can get you, I've had you long enough." 
 If this don't prove to be your boy I will not charge you one cent, only 
 good will. I have the honor to be yours truly, 
 
 David Corbin. 
 
 Before the above letter reached me the second pho- 
 tograph was sent me through the Pinkerton agency, 
 who had also heard of this child. After submitting it 
 to my family for inspection, I wrote Mr. Corbin conclu- 
 sively that we all decided the child was not our missing 
 
378 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 boy, and supposed the matter was ended; but subse- 
 quently the mayor received a letter repeating what had 
 been written me, and insisting that some one should be 
 be sent to Aylesford who would know Charley Ross, 
 as the writer was fully satisfied that he had possession 
 of him. 
 
 The child certainly was not ours, and had evidently 
 been schooled by the woman who had charge of him 
 to call himself Charley Ross, and to answer a few 
 questions correctly, learned from circulars, with the 
 expectation of getting something from the persons who 
 might become interested in him. 
 
 Although popular excitement in the case has very 
 very much subsided, because of the length of time 
 which has elapsed since the abduction, yet scarcely a 
 week passes without our receiving reports of children 
 in different sections of the country who are supposed 
 to be our missing boy, and which require investigation. 
 A very recent case was brought to our notice, which, 
 from the far-distant territory in which the child was 
 found, and the persistent efforts of the gentlemen who 
 followed the woman having him in charge, deserve 
 more than a passing notice. 
 
 On the 8th of April, 1876, I received the following 
 telegram, dated 
 
 McAllister, Indian Territory. 
 
 What is the full amount of reward offered for Charley ? Answer. 
 Signed, . 
 
 On inquiry at the office of the Western Union Tele- 
 graph Company I learned that McAllister was a village 
 of the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory, about twenty- 
 five hundred miles distant from this city; yet the man- 
 
A MYSTERY NOT CLEARED UP. 3/9 
 
 ager kindly made up a circuit and put me in direct 
 communication with the place. My answer to the 
 telegram was "Five thousand dollars." They replied, 
 "We think we have Charley here; come quickly. 
 Answer." This dispatch was received late Saturday 
 night. The next day, Sunday, a conversation was 
 held, which resulted in learning that the child had dark 
 blue eyes, answered the description of Charley Ross 
 in every respect, called himself Charley Ross, al- 
 though he had another name; he had been used very 
 hard, having travelled three hundred miles on the 
 same horse with the woman who had charge of him. 
 I replied that if they were sure his eyes were blue, he 
 was not my child, and requested them to send me a 
 picture of him. The next day I received a telegram, 
 saying that his eyes were dark gray. I now requested 
 that a woman who could distinguish colors be called 
 into the office, to look at his eyes. She decided they 
 were brown gray, or dark gray. Being as uncertain 
 now as before, I asked the child several simple ques- 
 tions, to none of which did he give correct answers. 
 I then received a message saying that there was no 
 artist in the place to take a picture, and telegraphed 
 back that I did not think he was Charley, and did not 
 feel warranted in taking so long a trip without more 
 definite information. They stated that the woman and 
 child were under arrest, and would be held until a let- 
 ter reached me, to which I should reply by telegraph. 
 The letter is as follows : 
 
 McAllister, Choctaw Nation, I. T., April 8, 1876. 
 Mr. C. K. Ross. — Dear Sir : — We have now in charge a very shrewd 
 woman who has been travelling from place to place, and has with her a 
 boy, apparently five years old. Sometimes he is dressed as a boy, at 
 
380 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 other times as a girl. We have seen your description of Charley, and 
 feel very confident we have him. We thought there was a large reward 
 offered, and have put ourselves to great trouble to secure him and his 
 keeper. There is a man in company who has lately joined them. 
 Charley has the cowlick and the vaccinnaiion mark on his arm. He 
 was asked this morning what was his name ? He said, Hiram. ** What 
 other name have you ?" He replied "Charley Ross." We are here 
 in a strange place, and have the woman and man both to guard. If 
 you wish to satisfy yourself, come quickly; come prepared to fix all up, 
 as we are very confident we have him here. 
 We are yours truly, 
 Signed, —— ^— . 
 
 Expecting a letter of a later date I did not reply to 
 the above, and the next day received the following, 
 dated McAllister, I. T.: 
 
 April TO, 1876. 
 
 Mr. C. K. Ross. — Dear Sir: — ^Aftcr the conversation through the 
 wires we have just had with you, I now write more minutely. My 
 comrade wrote last Saturday. I brought the little boy here to-day to 
 have his likeness; but there is no artist here. I will say to you I verily 
 believe the child we have is Charley Ross. A woman came to my 
 native town in Texas, 1st of January last, and pretended to be hunting a 
 school ; but failing in that she went about twelve miles west, where I 
 saw this boy. He had long, flaxen curly hair, which hung nearly to his 
 shoulders in ringlets. 
 
 About a month ago a picture of Charley cair.e into my possession, 
 and in an instant I recognized the resemblance. I also sent the picture 
 to a very intelligent lady who had seen the child here, and she also 
 remarked it was the likeness of the child here, without any person call- 
 ing her attention to it. The woman with whom the boy is, is very bad, 
 although intelligent. She claims to have l3,ooo in a bank in Louisiana. 
 About three weeks ago she shot a man in the head, was arrested, but 
 escaped. We have pursued her hundreds of miles on horseback, and 
 are pretty well worn out, as you may judge, and have spent considerable 
 money. We have frequently seen that there was ^20,000 or more 
 reward offered for the child. 
 
 I verily believe if you allow this opportunity to recover your son to 
 pass, you will never have another of getting him. 
 
 When I asked his name he said Charley Ross ; and I well know 
 
A MYSTERY NOT CLEARED UP. 38 1 
 
 Sie name of Ross had not been mentioned to him. His recollection of 
 two years ago is very faint, and he has had rough treatment. He was 
 carried by the woman 250 miles on horseback, in cold bad weather, 
 camping out with nothing but the saddle blankets of the horse to cover 
 them. We know not what to do. Are a great distance fiom home and 
 have no money to spend without a fair prospect of its being returned. 
 True it is in expectation of a large reward that we undertook the jour- 
 ney. 
 
 Some persons say the child's eyes are hazel, others dark gray ; but we 
 think the color of the eyes does not make any difference. Every person 
 says he is the Charley Ross. I expect we shall start for home in the 
 morning. My address is Texas. If you come on, come to Texas to 
 my address. Signed, . 
 
 To this letter I replied as follows, dated Philadelphia, 
 April 15, 1876: 
 
 Messrs. . — Gentlemen : — Your favor of the 8th inst. is to hand, 
 
 and also the letter of a few days earlier date. 
 
 In reply I would say 1 am sorry you have been unable to get a picture 
 of the child you suppose to be my little son. You will understand why 
 I am so skeptical about any stranger being able from a woodcut to iden- 
 tify the child, when I tell you that I have already in different ways 
 traced up about three hundred children, and in most of these cases per- 
 sons who reported them were well assured they were right ; but of course 
 they were mistaken. 
 
 I am satisfied that my little boy's eyes are a decided brown, as are the 
 eyes of all my children, and as they grow older they become y darker in 
 color. And oculists, of whom I have inquired, say there is no way by 
 which the iris can be changed in color. 
 
 Again, I cannot see what connection there could possibly be between 
 this woman and the people who actually stole my little boy. We know 
 these persons were killed December 14, 1874; and how a woman who 
 you say has been wandering about the Southern country should have had 
 any acquaintance with a couple of river thieves who belonged to New 
 York I cannot see, yet it might be — but it is almost impossible. 
 
 It is not an unusual thing for children to call themselves CHARLEY 
 Ross. I have a number of instances of the kind, and have found several 
 children who answered some questions correctly, which seemed almost 
 incredible : yet they were not mine. 
 
382 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 I confess I do not feel warranted in incuning the expense of going 
 South to look after this child without more definite information. 
 
 My means have been exhausted long since ; everything has been fully 
 investigated ; but if I felt that there was a possible chance that he was 
 my little boy I should make any sacrifice to see him. I inclose a cir- 
 cular with photograph, and thanking you for the interest you have taken 
 in the matter, I am respectfully yours, 
 
 Christian K. Ross. 
 
 On the 13th of April the following letter was written 
 
 at 
 
 Stonewall, Chickasaw Nation. 
 Mr. C. K. Ross. — Sir: — ^We have just arrived here, eighty miles 
 from McAllister, on our way to Sherman. We are going theie to be in 
 more direct communication with you. We are now thoroughly convinced 
 we have Charley Brewster Ross. While on our way here the 
 woman has told us the whole" story. She says the child is not hers; 
 but he was placed in her hands about one year ago, with the understand- 
 ing that the three men who gave her the child would place in a bank in 
 Louisiana $3,000, subject to her order ; there was present at the time 
 the bargain was made three other persons (names given) ; that this boy 
 is Charley Ross. We will send you a picture of both the woman and 
 child as soon as we can get them taken in Sherman. But we are satis- 
 fied that nothing more than a general outline of him will resemble 
 Charley, for the reason that he has been greatly exposed in sun, rain 
 and wind, having made a long trip, until we found him bareheaded and 
 barefooted. His face is scarred — the woman says he fell on hot ashes ; 
 and his hair cut very badly. His face looks as though it had not been 
 washed for a week. We are taking all the care of him we possibly can in 
 this savage country. We do think the facts already given you justify your 
 coming at once to Sherman to see this boy, and bring your wife with 
 you ; for we think you may have difficulty in recognizing your own child. 
 We know if you was as well satisfied as we are that this is Charley, 
 you would not delay a moment in coming. It will only cost you 
 one or two hundred dollars and six or seven days time to come to Sher- 
 man, and we have spent over that largely, besides being subject to many 
 privations, dangers, hunger, etc., to say nothing of the horses we have 
 rode down. We are now feeding for the first time in tliirty-six hours, 
 having travelled that long time without seeing a house. We were afraid 
 to travel on the railroad for fear of a mob. If you write, jfost to Sher- 
 man, Texas, where we will remain until this thing is terminated. But 
 
A MYSTERY NOT CLEARED UP. 383 
 
 we do hope you will not delay one moment in coming. Hoping to hear 
 from you soon, we are very respectfully, 
 
 Yours, . 
 
 In this letter the writer refers to two members of 
 Congress from Texas, and a merchant in Sherman, 
 Texas. On the 25 th of April, I received another letter 
 enclosing the pictures of both the woman and child, and 
 telegraphed immediately to Sherman that the boy was 
 not my Charley. The picture of this child who was 
 followed for so long a distance, and who evidently was 
 in charge of a woman not his mother or proper guar- 
 dian, and about whom such strong assertions were 
 made that he was my little boy, is here given. I also 
 wrote to the gentlemen on the 25th of April as follows: 
 
 Gentlemen. — I telegraphed you to-day that the child you have so 
 persistently followed, and whose picture I received, is not my little boy. 
 I also received your favor of April 13th, and delayed writing until the 
 photograph came to hand. I have already found so many persons mis- 
 taken in identity that I am ready to believe there is scarcely one chance 
 out of a thousand that any stranger would be able from a picture to iden- 
 tify the child ; and were I to undertake to go or send to examine one- 
 fourth of the children who are reported to me in bad hands or astray, I 
 should require a strong bank upon which to draw for funds, and then 
 would be kept on the go all the time. I am therefore compelled to try 
 first to get all the facts I can, and then decide what is best to be done. 
 To-day I have a child reported in Kansas as mine certainly, and a few 
 days ago another one in Texas ; a day or two ago one in New York, and 
 a short time since one in Germany ; thus you can see the great difficulty 
 I would have to respond in person to all. 
 
 I trust that some one will yet be right, and thus end this long and har- 
 rowing suspense. "With many thanks, 
 
 I am yours truly. Christian K. Ross. 
 
 I will here relate a pleasant incident showing the tact 
 used by two ladies, (who thought they had Charley,) to 
 6nd out whether their suspicions were right. Last 
 spring a man with a child, professing to be from New 
 
384 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 York, arrived in this city and stopped at a private board- 
 ing-house. After remaining a few days, he said he was 
 called unexpectedly to New York, and asked the privi- 
 lege of leaving his little boy until he returned, which 
 would be within two days. Not coming back at the 
 specified time, the persons in the house suspected he 
 had left the child with the intention of abandoning him, 
 and thought he resembled the pictures which they had 
 seen of Charley Ross. The circumstance was reported 
 to me, and a member of the family went to see the child, 
 who decided that he was not our little boy. The child 
 remained with the family about a month, and was then 
 placed in one of the homes for friendless children, the 
 matron being informed at the time that he was not our 
 little boy. After he had been in the Home a short time 
 two ladies visiting the institution, observing a striking 
 likeness to Charley's photograph, became impressed 
 with the idea that we might have been mistaken in his 
 identity, and without saying where they intended going, 
 obtained permission to take the child out of the insti- 
 tution for a few hours. Taking him to my residence 
 they turned him loose on the lawn, keeping themselves 
 concealed outside the place in such a position as to ob- 
 serve the child's movements. 
 
 The little fellow, as though familiar with the place, 
 went directly on the porch, mounted the velocipede, and 
 went whirling around with all the rapidity he could give 
 it. Very soon Walter, who was near by, saw the boy, 
 and always ready for a good time, joined the strange 
 child, and very soon they were as familiar as though 
 they had known each other all their lives. The ladies 
 who were watching all these actions were highly de- 
 
Child Found in the Choctaw Nation. 
 
A MYSTERY NOT CLEARED UP. 385 
 
 lighted, and began to think and feel that by their tact 
 they had surely discovered the real Charley Ross. 
 My wife hearing the voices of children on the lawn, and 
 knowing Walter had been alone, looked out of the nur- 
 sery window to see who was with him, and at a glance 
 saw the child about the size of Charley, with light hair, 
 curled as his used to be. The impression flashed across 
 her mind that he was her own dear little boy, and for 
 the moment she was completely unnerved, and seemed 
 rooted to the spot on which she stood, without power to 
 move a single muscle ; but on looking at him again she 
 discovered her mistake, and with trembling steps went 
 to the children, and asked Walter whose little boy was 
 with him. He said he didn't know, he came to him 
 and wanted to play, and they were having a nice time. 
 The ladies who had brought the child now appeared, 
 and said they adopted the plan of letting the child go 
 on the lawn to see if by his actions he would, show any 
 knowledge of the place; and they confessed they were 
 greatly encouraged to believe they had brought home 
 our long missing little boy, after seeing the seeming 
 familiarity of the child with everything he saw, and the 
 readiness with which Walter joined in his play. They 
 said he went up on the lawn at once, found the veloci- 
 pede on the porch, and without hesitation began to 
 make it go until Walter came to him, and without any 
 restraint they both played with different things until 
 spoken to by Walter's mother. The ladies took the child 
 away, after being told that he was not our Charley; 
 feeling satisfied, however, with the effort they had made 
 to restore a darling child to the embrace of his mother. 
 Many other cases of interest have occurred during 
 17 
 
386 
 
 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 this protracted search for our httle boy, of which de- 
 tailed accounts cannot be given without encroaching 
 too much on the prescribed hmits of this volume. 
 Enough have already been given to show the interest 
 which has been awakened to restore the child, and which 
 has not been confined to the boundaries of our country. 
 The number of children reported to us who have 
 been traced, and of whom we have a record, reaches 
 nearly three hundred. Many others have been looked 
 up, both here and in New York, of whom no record 
 was made. This number does not include the cases 
 the Pinkerton agency investigated, of which I have no 
 account. As a matter of interest, I give the States and 
 countries where children have been looked after, with 
 the number in each : 
 
 Pennsylvania 49 
 
 New York 42 
 
 New Jersey 28 
 
 Illinois 15 
 
 Michigan 12 
 
 Massachusetts 12 
 
 Ohio II 
 
 Indiana 10 
 
 Iowa 10 
 
 Connecticut 7 
 
 Missouri 7 
 
 Maryland 6 
 
 Tennessee 6 
 
 West Virginia 4 
 
 Virginia 3 
 
 New Hampshire 3 
 
 Kansas , 3 
 
 Kentucky 3 
 
 District of Columbia 3 
 
 Colorado .„. . 2 
 
 Wisconsin 2 
 
 Vermont 2 
 
 Oregon 2 
 
 California 5 
 
 Delaware 2 
 
 Minnesota 2 
 
 Texas 
 Georgia 
 North Carolina 
 Maine 
 Florida 
 Louisiana 
 Indian Territory 
 Nova Scotia 
 Cuba 
 
 Canada 10 
 
 Scotland 
 Germany 
 
A MYSTERY NOT CLEARED UP. 38/ 
 
 It will be seen by this list what a vast extent of terri- 
 tory it has been necessary to cover by investigations, 
 whenever a child has been reported who was thought 
 to be Charley Ross; and as maybe imagined from the 
 letters which have been given in the few cases that are 
 mentioned in detail, the correspondence has been very 
 great; in almost every case many letters were received 
 and answered before a final conclusion could be reached.- 
 After all the means afforded by the telegraph and cor- 
 respondence failed to satisfy us, a member of the family, 
 often accompanied by a police officer, went to examine 
 into cases, so as to leave nothing .in doubt when it was 
 possible to be certain. 
 
 Our general plan of investigating the case of any 
 child who is reported to us, is to find out as nearly as 
 we can his age, the color of his eyes, the circumstances 
 in which he may be found, and to ask the child himself, 
 if we can reach him by telegraph, a few questions about 
 things connected with the home of Charley, which we 
 think he will never forget. If there remains any doubt 
 after these questions have been asked, we then try to 
 get a picture of the child, or send personally to see him. 
 The question has frequently been asked, whether out of 
 the large number of children which have been looked 
 up during this search we have found any who have been 
 really kidnapped ? We have not found any who have 
 been taken and held for a ransom, and but two instan- 
 ces in which children have been stolen. Of these one 
 was the boy mentioned in a previous chapter, as taken 
 from his home by two strolling vagabonds, and trained 
 to be a beggar, and restored from Chester, Illinois, to 
 his parents; the other child was a son of Professor 
 
388 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 Leib, of St. Paul, Minnesota, who was stolen about four 
 years ago, but for what object never was ascertained, 
 as nothing has ever been heard of him since he was 
 taken away. 
 
 The children we have traced, and whose history we 
 could find out, have been those who have been aban- 
 doned by their parents. Sometimes the father, at other 
 times the mother, would leave a child at a place or 
 house, either to board or to be temporarily cared for, 
 and never return for him. Many children scattered 
 over the country, who have been taken out of different 
 charitable institutions in the cities, have been reported 
 to us in our searches; sometimes by the persons them- 
 selves, who have come into possession of them, at other 
 times by their neighbors, who could not account for a 
 strange child being brought among them, and not stop- 
 ping to inquire into the matter, concluded that he might 
 be the missing boy. Children of a fair complexion 
 found with gipsies and other wandering people we are 
 sure to hear of Illegitimate children who have been 
 secreted naturally cause conjecture ; and in other cases, 
 where there has been disagreement between parents, 
 either one of whom taking away a little boy into a 
 strange town, the efforts made to conceal the child 
 so as to prevent the other parent finding him, would 
 awaken the suspicion of some one who would report it 
 to us. Only one case has come under our notice of a 
 child having been taken through personal revenge, and 
 we have had two instances in which children have been 
 put on railroad cars by inhuman persons to be cared for 
 by conductors of the trains. We have also had a few 
 instances reported by managers of charitable institutions, 
 
A MYSTERY NOT CLEARED UP. 389 
 
 when they have thought a child placed in the institu- 
 tion bore a resemblance to the pictures of Charley, and 
 they could not get a satisfactory account of the child's 
 parentage. Children of all sizes, and of ages between 
 two years and twelve years, have been brought to our 
 notice. It will be perceived by the number of States 
 and countries from which children have been reported, 
 either as astray or in the possession of persons who 
 rested under suspicion, how widely our loss has been 
 advertised, and how anxiously kind-hearted people have 
 hoped that in the face of a neglected child they had 
 seen, might be traced the features of little Charley 
 Ross. 
 
 May God bless all such, and may they never need 
 our sympathy for themselves in a like trial. 
 
CHAPTER XIIi; 
 
 TRIAL OF WESTERVELT. THEORIES, AND CONCLUSION OF 
 NARRATIVE. 
 
 iiO enable the reader of this narrative more thor- 
 oughly to understand the case of the abduction 
 of my son, a sketch of the career of Mosher 
 and Douglas, with some notice of their crimes and 
 characteristics, and of their peculiar kind of work, is 
 necessary. The first of these men combined the genius 
 of a skilled mechanic with the qualities of a daring bur- 
 glar. He was possessed of rare ability and prudence 
 in originating and marking out his schemes, and was 
 not wanting in consummate boldness in their execution. 
 Born in Connecticut, in early manhood he removed to 
 New York, where for a time he pursued the occupation 
 of a ship carpenter. Soon, however, he drifted into 
 lawlessness and crime, and adopted the profession of a 
 river thief. 
 
 He drew around him a desperate band of shore 
 pirates well known in the annals of crime in New York, 
 and soon became their leader. In 1 857, he was arrested 
 and charged with a daring robbery on the East river, 
 but was discharged because the captain of the vessel 
 was so seriously injured by one of the robbers as to be 
 unable to identify any of them. At another time he 
 was tried and found guilty of a robbeiy, and imprisoned 
 in Sing Sing, but was released before the expiration ot 
 
 his sentence. 
 
 (390) 
 
TRIAL OF WESTERVELT. 39 1 
 
 As Mosher grew older, he gradually abandoned the 
 dangerous practice of robbing vessels along the river, 
 and adopted a less hazardous branch of crime, and be- 
 came a burglar as well as a thief For years he suc- 
 cessfully broke into houses along the water courses, 
 which he approached by means of a small boat. 
 
 After this manner he committed many depredations 
 on the shores of Long Island and New Jersey, loading 
 his booty into his little craft, and sailing direct for the 
 city of New York, where the stolen property was placed 
 beyond the reach of recovery. If pursued, he would 
 run into some one of the many places of concealment, 
 all well known to him, hide the goods, and await an 
 opportunity to carry them off in safety. A few years 
 ago he was joined in his nefarious business by a young 
 man named Joseph Douglas, who, although much 
 younger, proved to be a suitable companion in his pred- 
 atory excursions. Between these two men there grew 
 a close intimacy, and they seem to have been partners 
 in all their subsequent crimes. 
 
 It was during one of these piratical expeditions about 
 four years ago, they robbed a country store in Red 
 Bank, New Jersey, for which Mosher was arrested, and 
 under the name of Johnson sent to Monmouth county 
 jail, in Freehold, to await trial. Thence he soon made 
 his escape so successfully that all trace of him was lost 
 by the authorities. At this time he came to Philadel- 
 phia, and assuming the names of Henderson and Hen- 
 dricks, was soon joined by Douglas, who, taking the 
 name of Clark, lived with him until the kidnapping of 
 Charley. While in this city they followed nominally 
 the business of peddling, and traveled with a horse and 
 
392 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 wagon through the surrounding country selling small 
 articles, often extending these trips into the State of 
 Delaware and as far south as Baltimore. 
 
 While they remained in this city no criminal charges 
 were ever brought against either of them, nor were they 
 known to our police as criminals. Whatever depreda- 
 tions they committed were done away from the city and 
 the stolen property brought here to be disposed of. 
 
 This short review of the career of these bad men is 
 enough to show that for long years they were familiar 
 with crime, and were prepared to engage in anything 
 that promised a large reward. Finding nothing that pro- 
 mised that result more surely than the kidnapping of a 
 little child and holding him for the payment of a large 
 ransom, they became pioneers in a most atrocious 
 crime, and which was hitherto unknown in this country. 
 
 The plan adopted by the abductors of Charley 
 showed a determined purpose from the outset to prove 
 to every one, that whenever in the future they stole a 
 child they would never give him up without a large 
 ransom, which should be paid them in a manner en- 
 tirely safe to themselves. This policy obliged them to 
 adopt measures of more than ordinary caution for their 
 own protection, while at the same time they were re- 
 quired to provide means by which they would secure 
 the money. Thus by rigidly holding the life of the 
 child as the price of their own security, as well as for 
 the payment of the money, they demonstrated that they 
 would settle such affairs in their own way and on their 
 own terms. This was done in my case, not only to in- 
 timidate, but also to show to other parents of children 
 that might afterwards be stolen the necessity of being 
 
TRIAL OF WESTERVELT. 393 
 
 prompt to make speedy settlement on any terms dictated 
 by the thieves, and at the same time to keep them in a 
 condition of terror until a settlement should be made. 
 
 This inexorable policy, as set forth by the writer of 
 the letters, shows how essential it was that but few per- 
 sons should be taken into the plot, and how necessary 
 that those few should be bound to each other by the 
 Strongest ties and inducements. Hence in one of the 
 letters it is said : " We are sworn and blood-bound unto 
 death to never give each other awayT The necessity of 
 the case in the judgment of Mosher required such ex- 
 ceeding secrecy that he, the chief conspirator in the 
 abduction, by whom the plot was conceived and under 
 whose direction it was being worked out, permitted 
 himself to have but few confidants. He had long been 
 guilty of crime, and had learned by experience that it 
 would be fatal to that secrecy exacted in a case involving 
 so great a risk, to confide in more than were positively 
 needed to assist in carrying out his plans. 
 
 It was supposed when Mosher and Douglas were 
 first suspected of being the kidnappers, that they had 
 accomplices ; in fact in one of the letters it is stated, 
 " There are four of us." So that after they were killed, 
 it became necessary to change the plan of the search 
 for the child, which, while they lived, consisted chiefly 
 in efforts to secure the men themselves, and thus reach 
 the place in which they had concealed the child. After 
 their death persons with whom they were intimate were 
 looked up, in the expectation that possibly through 
 them information might be obtained which would clear 
 up the mystery. As stated in a previous chapter, among 
 the first of these persons examined was William Wes- 
 17* 
 
394 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 tervelt, brother of Mosher's wife. This Westervelt was 
 known to be an associate of both the thieves, and early 
 in August, 1874, was suspected of being concerned in 
 the abduction. The New York authorities faihng, after 
 a search of about two weeks, to find the suspected 
 criminals, engaged Westervelt to aid in accomplishing^ 
 their arrest; but after their death it was very strongly 
 suspected that while professing to help the police he 
 was really protecting the kidnappers, and by his dupli- 
 city enabling them to keep out of the way of the detec- 
 tives. The statements extracted from him, together 
 with the testimony of others who knew he was in com- 
 munication with Mosher and Douglas while in the em- 
 ploy of the police authorities, satisfied District Attorney 
 Furman Sheppard, of this city, that there was good cause 
 for an indictment against him; and a true bill having 
 been found, he was tried in September, 1875, for abduct- 
 ing, detaining and concealing Charles Brewster Ross, 
 for the purpose of extorting money from his parents, and 
 for conspiring to commit these acts. The bill of indict- 
 ment contained five counts, the first two of which cov- 
 ered the abduction and concealment of the child, and 
 the last three the element of conspiracy to abduct, con- 
 ceal, and to extort money by threatening letters. 
 
 The prisoner was defended by two attorneys, and the 
 case for the Commonwealth was conducted by Furman 
 Sheppard, the District Attorney, aided by Mr. Henry S. 
 Hagert, his assistant, 
 
 Mr. Hagert, in his opening address to the court, 
 referred to the crime in the following language : " In 
 July, 1874, the citizens of Philadelphia were startled at 
 the intelligence that an atrocious crime had been com- 
 
TRIAL OF WESTERVELT. 39$ 
 
 mitted in their midst, one which to the criminal annals 
 of the city prior to that time had been unknown. The 
 intelligence of that crime spread far and wide over the 
 country. In the far west, in the east, in the north, and 
 south ; in large cities, in small hamlets, by the way- 
 side, this story was talked of, and carried with it sym- 
 pathy and regret. The community was aroused, and 
 every man and woman became, as it were, detectives. 
 I need not say that that crime was the abduction of 
 Charles Brewster Ross." After adverting to the 
 fact of the abduction, and to the testimony by which it 
 was expected to connect the prisoner with the crime, 
 he closed his remarks as follows : " There were more 
 than Mosher and Douglas involved in this business; 
 there were men who took care of the boy, who moved 
 him from place to place, who, when messages were sent 
 telling them of approaching danger, changed the quar- 
 ters and location of the boy. You will understand 
 there were a number of things to be considered in the 
 abducting of the boy. He had to be hid, and kept out 
 of the reach of the police force. You will understand 
 how great was the search for this boy, how all the po- 
 lice force of the country was interested in his recovery; 
 how every one supposed to have any connection with 
 this case was arrested and examined. You will under- 
 stand that at this time, when the interest was at its 
 highest, that man in the dock was standing by, who 
 could put his hand on the very men who did the deed, 
 having them in his own house, and informing them of 
 the actions of the police and of the intentions of the 
 authorities. If we can show you that these facts as 
 stated are so, there can be no doubt he is just as guilty 
 
396 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 as if he had taken the boy himself, just as guilty as if 
 he had conceived the plan of kidnapping.'* 
 
 The abduction being proven, as well as the circum- 
 stances connected with the early search for the kidnap 
 pers and the child, witnesses were examined to prove 
 that Mosher and Douglas were the actual abductors, 
 and to show how Westervelt was connected with them 
 as an accomplice. The main facts brought out during 
 the trial, so far as Westervelt was concerned with the 
 case, are as follows : 
 
 In January, 1874, Westervelt with his family removed 
 from New York to this city, and lived with Mosher for 
 three months in the same house, returning to New York 
 in April. 
 
 On the 23d of June, one week before the abduction, 
 he made Mosher a visit, and went with him to a stable 
 in the lower part of the city, to look at the horse and 
 buggy, used afterwards in conveying the children away. 
 During this visit, on the 25th of June, Mosher wrote 
 the letter addressed to Mrs. Murdock at Rondout, 
 dating it New York, June 26th, and entrusted it to 
 Westervelt to carry to New York, where he posted it 
 on his arrival in that city. 
 
 On the 1 8th of August he was informed by the police 
 authorities that Mosher and Douglas were suspected 
 of being the kidnappers of Charley Ross, and the same 
 day informed them of these suspicions and that the 
 authorities were looking for them. About the middle 
 of August, by request of Mosher and at his'expense, he 
 came to Philadelphia, ostensibly to help his sister move 
 to New York, but really to learn whether the house in 
 which Moshcr's family were then living was being 
 
TRIAL OF WESTER VELT. 39/ 
 
 watched by the poHce. Before leaving New York he 
 arranged with Mosher to put the following personal in 
 a newspaper if he found everything right : " Napoleon 
 I have seen them and they are well." If, on the con- 
 trary, the house was being watched, it was to be 
 changed to — "they are not well," thus indicating to 
 Mosher whether the police of this city had or had not 
 found out the residence of his family. 
 
 It was on the i8th of August that Superintendent 
 Walling had the first interview with Westervelt, and 
 endeavored to engage him to help him find Mosher and 
 Douglas. Declining to do it at that time, several days 
 after he agreed to assist him. Before the second inter- 
 view with the Superintendent, on the 20th of August, 
 his sister, Mrs. Mosher, with her family, moved to New 
 York and lived with Westervelt's family nearly two 
 months; and a few days after their arrival Mosher and 
 Douglas came to his house. At that time he walked 
 about the streets with Douglas, who returned to his 
 house with him, where they all remained in conference 
 for some time. He admitted having seen them after- 
 wards at his house at two different times during the 
 day and in the night. 
 
 On five different occasions he saw them in a beer 
 saloon, where they had private conferences together. 
 At one of these interviews they arranged to go to Ron- 
 dout on the following day, where it was proposed to 
 commit a burglary. Though the plan was not carried 
 out, they remained together on that trip two days and 
 nights, and returning to New York took a meal together 
 at a restaurant before separating. Before going on this 
 trip he told a person (not an officer) that he was going. 
 
398 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 and when he returned said he had been up the river 
 with Moshcr and Douglas. In September he requested 
 an employee at the saloon to let him know if he should 
 see chalk marks on the cellar door of the saloon, as that 
 was a signal that these men were in the city, and he knew 
 where to find them. During one of his calls at the saloon, 
 lie wrote a letter and left it in charge of the proprietor, 
 directed to no one, but to be given to either Mosher or 
 Douglas, showing their interests were one and the same, 
 and it made no difference which of the two got it. At 
 another time he said to the same person : " I'll tell you 
 confidentially how I can make from ten to fifteen thou- 
 sand dollars, but by doing so I would have to give some- 
 body away who would be sent to the State's Prison for 
 ten or twenty years or for life." 
 
 Thrice he met them at a fortune teller's, and several 
 times on the streets of New York. 
 
 In August he again visited Philadelphia, and this time 
 found his way to Germantown and inquired about the 
 pecuniary resources of my family. 
 
 While on the way to obtain the letter Mosher had 
 written to Mrs. Murdock, the officer with him spoke of 
 his visit to the same place in company with Mosher and 
 Douglas, and asked him whether at the time they were 
 in Rondout in September Charley Ross was with 
 them. *' He replied : " No he was not with us at this 
 time.'* 
 
 Of another officer who told him that if he had been 
 put on the case he would have got the men, Westervelt 
 inquired " How ?" The officer replied : "I would have 
 watched you\ my mate and I would have hired a house 
 near to where you lived, and kept a constant watch on 
 
TRIAL OF WESTERVELT. 399 
 
 your house." His reply to this was : " Then you would 
 have got us." 
 
 At every interview Superintendent Walling had with 
 him, *he did not know' the whereabouts of Mosher and 
 Douglas or where they could be found, and would have 
 to wait for them to communicate with him. The Super- 
 intendent learning that he had seen them, accused him 
 of deception, when he admitted having seen them at 
 two different times on the street, but claimed that he 
 soon lost them in the crowd. He never informed the au- 
 thorities that Mrs. Mosher lived in his house, or where 
 she went to live after she removed. Before the death 
 of the men he said he did not know where to get any 
 of Mosher's writing, but after they were killed he recol- 
 lected the letter Mosher wrote, and which he himself 
 had mailed to Rondout He also knew that another 
 person had written to Mosher, and, instead of Mosher's 
 writing the answer, Westervelt wrote it at his dictation, 
 by this means preventing the authorities from obtaining 
 the handwriting of the chief conspirator. 
 
 He told one witness that if these men were arrested 
 the child would not live three days, an opinion on his 
 part which accords precisely with every theory con- 
 tained in the letters; while the inference natural to any 
 one not cognizant of the plans of the abductors would 
 be that the arrest of the thieves would secure the fruits 
 of their crime, that the taking of the kidnappers would 
 lead directly to the recovery of the child. 
 
 On the 15th and 19th of November, two personals 
 appeared in the New York Herald with a heading which 
 had never been used before in this correspondence, 
 " Saul of Tarsus." This had been dictated by the writer 
 
400 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 in the letcer of November the 6th. On the day after 
 the one fixed by that personal for the meeting, when 
 Westervelt was told by Mr. Walling that the parties 
 had failed to keep the engagement and get the money 
 for the child, he showed him a memorandum book in 
 which was written "Saul of Tarsus." There is nothing 
 in the heading which could cause suspicion that it re- 
 ferred to the abduction, but there is in the personal 
 itself the words, "Action must now be simultaneous." 
 Throughout the letters the abductors demanded that 
 the money must be paid before the child would be given 
 up, while in a personal in August we had said, "Action 
 must be simultaneous." When he read this personal, so 
 similar to the other which had been published, with 
 which he seemed familiar, he concluded it must refer to 
 the same thing, and wrote it in his book. 
 
 On the evening of December the I2th (Saturday), 
 the night before the abductors were killed, he met both 
 Mosher and Douglas in a house, and by appointment 
 he again met Douglas alone on the street about 8 
 o'clock the same night. They walked leisurely through 
 the streets until i o'clock in the morning, stopping at 
 restaurants and other places, passing police officers, 
 going near many police stations. Arriving at a hotel, 
 by invitation of Douglas Westervelt remains all night; 
 they register fictitious names, occupy the same room, 
 talk about the child, speak about how it is proposed to 
 get the ransom, make arrangements for a subsequent 
 meeting at a billiard saloon on either Tuesday the 15th, 
 Wednesday the i6th, or Thursday the 17th, of the fol- 
 lowing week, and leave the hotel early in the morning; 
 Douglas going to meet Mosher, who staid at a different 
 hotel, but Westervelt to his home. 
 
TRIAL- OF WESTERVELT. 4OI 
 
 Ample opportunity was thus afforded at this time, 
 had he intended acting in good faith with the authori- 
 ties, to have fulfilled his engagements with them by 
 notifying them of this meeting, or by causing the arrest 
 of Douglas. 
 
 He is thus found in company with these men a few 
 days before the abduction, and during the five months 
 they lived afterwards ; he not only meets them, but is 
 in company with them for hours and days at a time, 
 until the night before they were killed. He sleeps in 
 the same room with Douglas, leaving him early in the 
 morning never again to see him alive. 
 
 The defense mainly consisted in asserting the entire 
 falsity of the statements of the witnesses for the Com- 
 monwealth as applied to him, and thus attempted to 
 nullify the charge sought to be established against him, 
 that he was in complicity with Mosher and Douglas. 
 His counsel in his opening address claimed that there 
 had been no real proof, that it was merely a suspicion 
 that the prisoner was a conspirator with Mosher and 
 Douglas, and stated that at one period of the case it 
 was the intention of his colleague and himself to have 
 offered no testimony ; however, it being the desire of 
 the prisoner to be examined, he proposed giving him 
 the opportunity of making his own statement. The 
 principal witnesses called for the defense were the pris- 
 oner and his wife. 
 
 The main object of Mrs. Westervelt's evidence was 
 to account for her husband's whereabouts between the 
 26th of June and the 7th of July, in order to show that 
 he did not take an active part in the abduction of the 
 children. She accounted for each day during that period, 
 
402 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 specifically stating where he had been, and what he had 
 been doing. She asserted that she did not know he was 
 engaged by the authorities to assist in looking for Mo- 
 sher and Douglas, and that he had not told her where 
 he stayed the night of the I2th of December. 
 
 Westervelt in his examination denied being crimin- 
 ally associated with Mosher and Douglas. He denied 
 having been in Philadelphia or Germantown during the 
 latter part of July or beginning of August. He denied 
 the statement which the officer said he made about 
 Charley Ross not being with them when at Rondout. 
 He denied the statement about the signal marks on the 
 cellar door. He admitted that he did not inform Super- 
 intendent Walling of his meetings with Mosher and 
 Douglas. He admitted that he had seen Mosher and 
 Douglas five times in the beer saloon. He admitted 
 that he did not tell the authorities of his appointment 
 to meet Douglas on the 15th, i6th, or 17th of Decem- 
 ber. He claimed that he never engaged to inform on 
 Mosher, but was willing to give up Douglas; yet gave 
 no reasons for not informing the authorities on the last 
 night he was in company with him. He claimed that 
 through information obtained from him, more know- 
 ledge of the doings of Mosher and Douglas had been 
 gained than through any other source — yet his inform- 
 ation was always given after it was of no practical 
 benefit. 
 
 Without stating further his admissions and denials, 
 the case when the testimony closed chiefly depended on 
 the credibility of the witnesses. 
 
 The District Attorney, Mr. Sheppard, after reviewing 
 the testimony for the commonwealth and the prisoner* 
 closed his address by saying : 
 
TRIAL OF WESTERVELT. 403 
 
 " Westervelt and Mosher were thorougly intimate and 
 cognizant of each other's acts, and that shows there 
 existed relations between them which do not appear on 
 the surface. Mosher gives him a letter to carry, shows 
 him the horse and wagon in which the child is to be 
 carried away ; Westervelt seeks to discover if Mosher's 
 house is watched ; he comes to Philadelphia to take 
 care of Mosher's family, and when they flee to New 
 York, Mosher places them in Westervelt's house, 
 knowing that it is a safe place for them to go to. They 
 reside there unreported ; Mosher visits there ; Wester- 
 velt meets them by appointment; Douglas tells Wester- 
 velt their future plans about the child — all showing that 
 there was a bond and a link between them which satis- 
 fied them Westervelt would not betray them. If they 
 had not understood each other and had confidence in 
 each other, Douglas would not have unbosomed himself 
 and told him what Westervelt says he told him. All 
 these facts are inexplicable upon any theory other than 
 that of a relation between them which satisfied them 
 that this man would not *give them away.* There 
 were two agencies at work in this case; the Ross 
 family working through the police, and the abductors 
 through the letters. Westervelt comes in just where 
 he is wanted. He gives Mr. Walling sufficient inform- 
 ation to keep the police employed, while, in the mean- 
 time, the letters keep flowing in. * * * Having 
 referred to the facts of the case, I have not endeavored 
 to allude to any matters which would influence your 
 passions : God knows there is enough inflammable mat- 
 ter in the case. I ask your attention to the evidence 
 itself and to the law bearing upon it. I ask you to 
 
404 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 consider that evidence, and to determine from it this 
 transaction, and not to be misled by any false colors 
 thrown over it ; and, in the name of Providence, I trust 
 that your deliberations may have a power over future 
 transactions that may be a source of congratulation to 
 you on future occasions." 
 
 The counsel for the prisoner argued that "the evi- 
 dence in the case was only of a circumstantial character, 
 such as leads only to an inference of guilt; to convict 
 on such evidence, the consciences of the jury must be 
 convinced beyond the possibility of a doubt. No con- 
 jecture, no inference would be sufficient; the conviction 
 alone, that the defendant is guilty as proven by the 
 evidence, would be sufficient." 
 
 The Judge in his charge to the jury, referring to 
 Westervelt's testimony, used the following language: 
 " By his testimony there is a direct issue, as to the 
 truth or falsity of the evidence; you will reconcile the 
 testimony of the Commonwealth and the prisoner if 
 you can ; but if you cannot, you must be governed by 
 the weight of the evidence, or the greater number of wit- 
 nesses who support a natural theory of the case, or who 
 testify to the greater number of consistent and leading 
 facts which amount to proof of the crime or innocence of 
 the prisoner. But if in the investigation of all the facts, 
 you find a witness who has stated some material facts 
 which are not truthful, then his whole testimony must 
 be cast out, no matter on which side his evidence rests; 
 for the maxim of the law is, false in one particular, false 
 in all. You cannot reconcile truth and falsehood in 
 one witness ; but be certain of the falsehood, for an in- 
 accurate statement, not to the essence of the offense, or 
 
TRIAL OF WESTERVELT. 405 
 
 mistaken data in many other questions, may be only 
 errors of memory, which are not falsehoods. Review 
 the testimony with calm judgment, and fear not to apply 
 every test to its accuracy. You are to decide by the 
 testimony: if to find the prisoner guilty, it must be be- 
 yond a reasonable doubt, or he goes free. Give him 
 that doubt, if it be an honest, manly doubt, derived from 
 the whole testimony; but do not manufacture it from 
 weakness or sympathy, either for himself or his family, 
 for this is no hour for sympathy. Whilst you have 
 gazed upon that scene of misery surrounding that pris- 
 oner's dock for three weeks, you must recollect that if 
 there be guilt upon that brow, that for one year and 
 two months the voice of Charley Ross has been lost 
 to his home, and that while the prisoner has his chil- 
 dren in life around him, another father mourns his son 
 through this terrible crime." 
 
 The case was given to the jury on Saturday evening, 
 September 19th, and on Monday morning a verdict of 
 guilty was rendered on the last three counts of the in- 
 dictment. Efforts were at once made by Westervelt's 
 counsel to secure a new trial, but without success, and 
 he was sentenced to pay a fine of one dollar, the costs 
 of prosecution, and to undergo an imprisonment at 
 solitary confinement at labor for the term of seven 
 years. The result of this protracted trial, which con- 
 tinued three weeks, beginning August 30th, and end- 
 ing September 2 1st, seemed to accord with public 
 sentiment. 
 
 During all this time great excitement prevailed in the 
 city. The trial was the topic of conversation every- 
 where, and the developments which were made during 
 
406 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 its progress were eagerly sought for by every one. Daily 
 the court room was densely crowded with an audience 
 who listened attentively to every word, and manifested 
 the greatest interest to learn something of this remark- 
 able case, and to hear read the anonymous letters 
 which had been received from the abductors. 
 
 A large corps of reporters from other cities, as well 
 as from our own, was daily in attendance, and full re- 
 ports of the proceedings from day to day were pub- 
 lished in the newspapers both here and in New York. 
 So great was the desire to learn the result of the delib- 
 erations of the jury on Monday morning, tliat before 
 the clock struck the hour of ten, not only was the court 
 room densely packed with people, but the hall and stair- 
 way were packed with an excited crowd. The street 
 was equally crowded, to such an extent that it was diffi- 
 cult for persons to make their way through the dense 
 mass of people. As soon as the verdict became known, 
 there was a general feeling of approval that a just deci- 
 sion had been reached, and the fact now for the first 
 time definitely and prominently appeared to the public 
 that Mosher and Douglas were the abductors, and that 
 William Westervelt was joined with them in their foul 
 conspiracy to extort money by the concealment of 
 Charley Ross. 
 
 The two chief actors in this great crime escaped 
 legal punishment by a felon's death, and the tliird is 
 now paying a well-deserved penalty in obedience to the 
 demands of violated law. Thus three of those intimately 
 connected with the abduction have been brought to 
 justice, and have received a merited punishment for 
 their awful guilt. 
 
TRIAL OF WESTERVELT. 40/ 
 
 The array of testimony presented in this narrative, 
 showing that Mosher and Douglas were the kidnappers, 
 the fact that they were suspected in the latter part of 
 July of being guilty of the crime, and the many state- 
 ments of their movements and doings subsequent to 
 that time, alluded to in the history of this case, will 
 naturally suggest to the reader the query, " Why were 
 they not captured?" In reply to this it should be borne 
 in mind that very much of what is related of these men 
 was learned after their death, and it would be very unjust 
 to hold the authorities responsible for pursuing or not 
 pursuing a certain course of action with the light and 
 knowledge we now possess. There were difficulties 
 of no ordinary kind connected with the search for these 
 men. The crime itself was of so atrocious a character, 
 and the public excitement so intense, as to make it 
 necessary for the men continually to change their local- 
 ity, which is not ordinarily done by criminals, thus 
 placing unusual obstacles in the way of the police to 
 finding them. Besides, so long as they had one inter- 
 ested with them in constant communication with the 
 authorities, they could, by using the information he 
 gave them, elude the police, and in this they were most 
 successful, until shot down while committing another 
 crime. It was well stated in one of our daily papers by 
 a writer who was familiar with everything that was 
 being done in the search, that "the determined resist- 
 ance of the police soon became quite manifest to the 
 abductors, and every plan they tried to devise to get at 
 the ransom money, and then effect their escape, was so 
 beset with danger to themselves that they abandoned 
 plan after plan, and so many months passed away. This 
 
408 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 has been the one great point of difficulty with them in 
 attempting an exchange of the stolen child for the ran- 
 som money. If there had been any concession allowed 
 to the brigands, any negotiations intended to recover 
 the child simply, and let them get the ransom money 
 and escape, there is but little room for doubt that 
 Charley Ross could have been recovered long ago, 
 just as stolen bonds and the proceeds of bank robberies 
 are recovered. Then child-stealing would have run 
 wild in the United States; kidnapping children for ran- 
 som would have been succeeded by the capture of men 
 and women, for there are men and women for whom 
 brigands could have extorted hundreds of thousands of 
 dollars of ransom money. But the treatment of the 
 Charley Ross case by the police authorities, and the 
 excited public feeling on the subject, have demonstrated 
 to all malefactors of whatever grade that brigandage 
 cannot be made a safe profession in the United States.'* 
 The failure to find Charley, or even to learn anything 
 about him after the death of the kidnappers, notwith- 
 standing the extraordinary efforts to that end, has led 
 many to question whether Mosher and Douglas were 
 the abductors. In the minds, however, of those con- 
 versant with all the circumstances, there is not a shadow 
 of doubt that they were the projectors and perpetrators 
 of this crime. The principal reasons for this belief will 
 be grouped together, so that the reader may readily see 
 the evidences on which it rests. 
 
 There are many statements of facts interspersed 
 through the letters, which could not have been known 
 to the writer unless he had had possession of the child- 
 ren, facts which had not been published before the let- 
 ters containing allusions to them were written. 
 
TRIAL OF WESTERVELT. 4O9 
 
 In the first letter it is stated by the writer that they 
 have got Charles Brewster Ross — his full name being 
 here given, which, as before stated, was no doubt elicited 
 from Walter. 
 
 In letter No. 7, it is said : " He is afraid he won't get 
 home in time to go to Atlantic City, to be with his 
 mother when Sophy comes back." Such a promise 
 had been made to Walter and Charley by their mother 
 before she went to Atlantic City, and it was so impressed 
 on the child's mind that, notwithstanding his isolation, 
 he remembered it, and fretted lest he would not get 
 back in time to go to his mother at the sea-shore. 
 
 In No. 8, the writer desiring to give some evidences 
 that they had possession of the child, says : " You re- 
 member his striped stockings are darned in two or three 
 places where they had holes in them." Before receiv- 
 ing this information, no person — not even the nurse — 
 had thought of the darns in the stockings, which she 
 put on him the afternoon he was taken away. 
 
 In the same letter the following questions are given 
 to ask Walter: "Ask Walter if we did not put the 
 blanket up in front of him, and Charley in behind to 
 hide him ? Ask Walter if we did not say we would go 
 down to Aunt Susy's before we went to the main street 
 to buy torpedoes?" To both of these questions put to 
 Walter, in such a way as not to be leading ones, he 
 answered in the affirmative. Again the writer says: 
 *' We have seen Charley about four days ago, and his 
 whole cry is he wants Walter to come to him, and he 
 is afraid he will not go to Atlantic City with his mother." 
 
 In letter No. 17, it is said: "Ask Walter if we did 
 not keep giving him pieces of candy as we rode along?" 
 18 
 
410 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 Walter's testimony confirmed this statement, and he 
 said moreover, "They gave Charley more candy than 
 me. 
 
 Also " If you have received any other letters headed 
 other than Ros or Mr. Ros, they are forgeries." All 
 the letters I received written inNthe handwriting pecu- 
 liar to this series of letters, were addressed to " Ros," 
 or " Mr. Ros" — thus far confirming their assertion 
 that they were the parties who stole and had the child 
 in their keeping. 
 
 In letter No. i8 the writer says, " Ask one of your 
 domestics or Mrs. Ross if Charley did not have on 
 the afternoon of the first of July a narrow faded pink 
 ribbon tied around his head to keep the hair out of 
 his eyes ?" This ribbon was not thought of by any 
 one until attention was called to it in this letter, when 
 a part of the same piece of ribbon was found in the 
 house. This fact is mentioned by the writer as posi- 
 tive proof that they have possession of Charley. In 
 letter No. 19 reference is made to Charley's suflTering 
 from a complaint sometimes incident to childhood. 
 On inquiry it was found that on one or two occasions 
 while at home he suffered from the same ailment 
 
 These among other things are stated by the writer 
 of the anonymous letters, and are strong proofs that 
 whoever wrote them, took the children away and had 
 control of Charley. In addition to these evidences is 
 the fact that Mosher was the writer of the letters. 
 They are in a hand pronounced by experts to be iden- 
 tical with that of the letter procured at Rondout, and 
 which Westervelt saw William Mosher write. 
 
 Again, Mosher and Douglas knew early in August 
 
TRIAL OF WESTERVELT. 4II 
 
 that they were suspected of being the abductors, and 
 became thenceforth fugitives for months, being without 
 a home, wandering from place to place to elude the 
 pursuing officers, which would have been unnecessary- 
 had they been innocent. Again, Douglas on the 
 night before he was killed said to Westervelt, " What 
 could they do with us if they did get us ? They 
 would have to prove it, they would have to find some 
 one who saw us with the child ;" and added furtjher 
 that they were about to adopt a new plan for exchang- 
 ing the money for the child; and before dying he con- 
 fessed — " I helped Mosher to steal Charley Ross.'* 
 A further proof is the recognition by Walter of the 
 bodies of the two men at the Morgue in Brooklyn, as 
 the persons who took Charley and himself away the 
 afternoon of the ist of July. 
 
 And since the death of these men I have not re- 
 ceived any letters written in the same hand or style as 
 those sent me up to the time of that event. In addi- 
 tion to these evidences that they were the kidnappers, 
 is the admission of Masher's family that he and 
 Douglas stole the child. It will be seen by this sum- 
 ming up of these various evidences, that we are not 
 resting on a mere suspicion, but it has been fully as- 
 certained and clearly proved that these were the men 
 who committed the crime. 
 
 There are very good reasons also for believing that 
 neither Mosher nor Douglas retained possession of 
 the child after the night of the 2d of July, but placed 
 him in the care of either a confederate or of some in- 
 nocent party, and although full reliance cannot be 
 placed on what is written in the letters on this 
 
412 CHARLEY ROSS. ♦ 
 
 point, yet there are many circumstances corroborating 
 the statements of the writer. I propose to make selec- 
 tions from the letters of what is there said on this 
 point, and to follow them with facts and theories 
 derived from other sources. 
 
 The children were taken away the afternoon of July 
 I St. On the morning of the 4th of July the first letter 
 from the abductors, dated Philadelphia, July 3d, was 
 received. ^ 
 
 In letter No 7, it is stated as a reason why they had 
 not replied sooner to one of our personals, that " they 
 had gone into the country, as much as anything to 
 see how Charley was." 
 
 In No II it is said, " We will give you the satisfac- 
 tion of knowing that he is within 100 miles of this 
 city." At the time this letter was written they were 
 living in this city, as is indicated not only by the date 
 and post-mark, but also by the quick reply we had to 
 our personals, as we frequently received answers the 
 same day on which the personals appeared. 
 
 In No 13 it is said, "Your child is not in possession 
 of any woman or family." 
 
 In No 16: " We would require at least a few hours 
 to examine the money, and then but a few hours 
 more would be necessary to place your child in your 
 possession." 
 
 In No 17: "We saw Charley about four days 
 ago." 
 
 In No 18 : " We don't go near him often; we have 
 nothing to do with guarding him, though we have 
 seen him four or five times since July the 2d." 
 
 In No 19: " His custodian got him some medicine 
 which helped him." 
 
* TRIAL OF WESTERVELT. 4I3 
 
 In No 21 : "I tell you positively, and to save you 
 further trouble and anxiety, that your child has not 
 been seen by any human being since the 3d of July, 
 other than by the party who have him in charge. 
 We could not take him five miles without being ar- 
 rested." These are the principal statements made in 
 the letters tending to show that the abductors placed 
 the child ia the keeping of some one, while they 
 carried on the negotiations to get the money. Other 
 reasons for believing that they put him in charge of 
 some one else, are as follows : Mosher's family say 
 that by the 3d of July both Douglas and Mosher had 
 returned to their home in Philadelphia. And it is not 
 probable that they brought Charley to their house, 
 but more likely that during the interval between the 
 1st and the 3d of July they drove away with him and 
 handed him over to the person with whom previous 
 arrangements had been made to secrete him, while at 
 the same time they disposed of the horse and wagon. 
 
 About the ist of August they left this city, and 
 never returned to stay any length of time, having no 
 home. They remained but a short time in any one place 
 as the dates and post-marks of the letters indicate. 
 At one time we hear of them in Bridgeport, Connecti- 
 cut, the place from which they took the boat, again on 
 tlie river near Newark, New Jersey, where they altered 
 the boat under one of the bridges of that city, and 
 again they go in the same boat to Bay Ridge, Long 
 Island. They knew that they were being closely 
 watched and tracked, and were liable to be arrested at 
 any time for this very crime of child-stealing, and cer- 
 tainly they would not keep the child with them during 
 
414 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 their wanderings, for had they been captured, the fact 
 of the child being with them would have been indubi- 
 table evidence of their guilt, and to this Douglas re- 
 ferred when he said to Westervelt; "they would have to 
 prove it on us ; they would have to find some one who 
 saw us with the child." Besides, the shrewd scoundrel 
 jvho was working out the plot, and who had so skill- 
 fully and carefully guarded every avenue to prevent 
 detection, can hardly be supposed to have had in 
 his actual possession the very strongest evidence of 
 his atrocious crime, and to have been carrying around 
 with him the living and conclusive testimony of his 
 guilt For these reasons we believe that as soon as 
 possible the child was placed in charge of some one 
 else to keep until the exchange could be arranged, 
 and that the abductors seldom went to the place of his 
 concealment. 
 
 Daily are we met by the inquiries, " What are your 
 theories of the case now? Do you think Charley 
 is still alive? After the death of Mosher and Doug- 
 las, what motive could any one have for continuing to 
 keep him ? " 
 
 In answer to the first question, we can have no the- 
 ory outside of the facts which have been detailed in 
 this history, and as to the consummation — be it happy 
 or sorrowful — we look with a certainty to the future, 
 under Providence, to disclose it. In answer to the sec- 
 ond question, we are bound by both reason and instinct 
 to assume that the child is still alive until we know that 
 he is dead. So long as his dead body is not found, or 
 evidence obtained to prove his death, so long must we 
 indulge the hope that he will eventually be restored 
 
TRIAL OF WESTERVELT. 415 
 
 alive. The evidence is as conclusive as anything short 
 of actual visible proof can be, that either the child was 
 living on Saturday, December 12th, 1874, or else that 
 the brigands did not know anything to the contrary at 
 that time. It should be borne in mind also that the 
 abductors were marked men, well known to the author- 
 ities, suspected of the kidnapping, and they were fully 
 aware of the fact that they were being hunted for, and 
 that too by those whose vigilance and persistence was 
 equal to their own. Had they lived they would at 
 some time early in the future most certainly have been 
 arrested. Possessing this knowledge, it would seem in- 
 credible that they would add the crime of wilful murder 
 to that already committed; besides, it was their inter- 
 est to keep the child alive, so long as they entertained 
 any hope of obtaining the ransom, which they had not 
 abandoned the night before they were killed, as stated 
 by Douglas to Westervelt. Had the child died a natural 
 death, we cannot see any reasons for withholding the 
 information from us. • As to the motive any one could 
 have in keeping him, after the death of the principals 
 in the crime, many conjectures can be made; but they 
 are only conjectures, and afford little light and less 
 comfort to any one. At first sight it would seem that 
 an accomplice would at once give up the child after his 
 associates were dead, upon whose management of the 
 case depended the successful exchange of the prize for 
 a ransom. But would not the same cupidity which 
 actuated him to receive the stolen child cause the same 
 person to keep him still, in the hope of getting the 
 same amount that was demanded as a ransom by the 
 abductors while they lived ? 
 
41 6 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 It is a certainty that for five months, from July istto 
 December I2th, Charley was most effectually con- 
 cealed. We have never had a single trace of him after 
 Walter was dropped from the wagon ; and as he was 
 successfully hidden away for so long a time, despite the 
 diligent search which had been made for him, it can be 
 seen how easily he could still be concealed by the saiAe 
 person in the same place. This theory, however, is 
 based on the supposition that he was placed with a 
 confederate, which is by no means certain. He may 
 have been placed in charge of persons ignorant of his 
 identity and that any such crime as the abduction of 
 Charley Ross had been committed — living in some 
 isolated place, where little or no communication is had 
 with the outer world. 
 
 Fear of detection would be a powerful motive to 
 prevent this person (if a confederate) from giving him 
 up, not only from fear of lawful punishment, but of an 
 aroused and avenging community. Charley when 
 taken away could talk plainly, and there is little doubt 
 but that he would be able to give information as to 
 where he had been and the party who had charge of 
 him for so long a time. These are but theories. We 
 have no information which sheds one ray of light 
 on the mysterious subject, and my reader, with the facts 
 which have been presented in this volume, is as fully 
 able to draw correct conclusions as those who have been 
 conversant with all the circumstances from the time of 
 the abduction to the present day. 
 
 One of the remarkable things connected with the 
 search in this case, and which is inexplicable, is that no 
 reliable trace was ever found of the horse and buggy 
 
TRIAL OF WESTER VELT. 41/ 
 
 used by the kidnappers in conveying the children away, 
 even with the added stimulus of a reward of one thou- 
 sand dollars which was offered for any information 
 which would lead to their discovery; and through the 
 great and wide publicity which was given by descrip- 
 tive hand-bills, posters and newspapers, it was reasona- 
 ble to suppose that some one would have come forward 
 who could give information of them after the 1st of 
 July. It would seem sheer impossibility that the 
 horse and wagon could have been so absolutely and 
 successfully disposed of Yet so far as our knowledge 
 extends they vanished from sight as though dissolved 
 in air. 
 
 There is exhibited from the beginning of this trans- 
 action to the death of the criminals a certain complete- 
 ness in detail and finish in carrying out all the' plans 
 that precludes the idea that the kidnappers were ruf- 
 fians of the vulgar type — and now that the crime is 
 inaugurated there would no doubt have been plenty of 
 imitators had these men been successful in proving that 
 this branch of thieving industry would be profitable. 
 
 In reviewing the circumstances of the case from the 
 time of the abduction, everything appears to us dark 
 and impenetrable. Failure has marked every effort to 
 find the criminals, or discover their precious booty; 
 and it was only after human skill had failed that the 
 retributive justice of God brought to light and punish- 
 ment the wicked perpetrators of the crime. Failure ac- 
 companied every movement of the police of our own city 
 to trace the offenders whilst they were living in our 
 midst; failure followed the humane purposes of some of 
 the wisest and most thoughtful of our citizens, who were 
 i8* 
 
41 8 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 intensely interested, not only in the restoration of the 
 child, but also in the discovery of the kidnappers, and 
 in protecting society from similar depredations in the 
 future; failure attended every step of the pursuit, and all 
 the plans to capture the men, after they fled to New York 
 and its vicinity: and since the sudden and fearful death 
 of the villains who had been thus hounded, the same 
 darkness broods over the destiny of the missing boy, 
 and the same want of success follows every well devised 
 scheme and every hopeful theory that has attended the 
 case from the very beginning. In the history of crime it 
 has rarely, if ever, happened that so much effort has been 
 concentrated, and so much means expended, in any one 
 direction, followed by such an entire want of success. 
 
 To God alone belongeth secret things; in His own 
 way, and in His own time, will He reveal what He 
 wills. 
 
 Two years have passed away since Charley was kid- 
 napped from his home, and in the meantime events of 
 far more startling moment have taken place, and for a 
 time have engrossed public attention, and have then 
 passed out of the public mind, to be followed by others; 
 and yet the continued absence of this little child is still 
 as fresh as the day on which it became known that he 
 was stolen. The dread uncertainty^ which surrounds 
 his fate, and the loathing of the criminals who so vio- 
 lated every human instinct, gives the matter such a 
 terrible reality that but few parents will easily forget it. 
 The public now know that there are creatures ready and 
 able to commit the heinous offense of child-stealing 
 upon sufficient inducement, that is, a reasonable pros- 
 
TRIAL OF WESTER VELT. 4I9 
 
 pect of mere gain; and now realize the feeling of inse- 
 curity in the impressive fact that it is a daylight crime 
 — one needing no shadow of darkness — one in truth 
 that can be done only during the play hours of broad 
 day; for with the coming night, so propitious to ordin- 
 ary crime, comes the sleeping time of the child, which 
 is its best protection. The ease also with which the 
 crime can be committed is now brought home to every 
 one, and the tremendous influence which may be 
 brought to bear on parents by means of threatening 
 letters, by which the kidnappers hold the key to the 
 situation, is fearful to think of Well may parents be 
 struck with terror in realizing this peril, and in feeling 
 that their children are no longer safe upon the lawns or 
 lanes which were once thought as safe as the nursery 
 or school-room. Well may they shudder at the bare 
 possibility of one of their offspring being snatched 
 from them by miscreants for vile traffic ; and truly may 
 the alarming questions be asked : Who is safe ? What 
 parent can trust his children out of his sight, if kid- 
 napping is so simple and recovery so doubtful, nay 
 impossible ? 
 
 In some of its aspects this crime is worse than mur- 
 der, being not only torture to the child, who by terror 
 and confinement must necessarily suffer greatly, to say 
 nothing of the anguish of the parents. So startling, in- 
 deed, is the subject in all its bearings, that it has as- 
 sumed a national character, and really affects every 
 household — none can be indifferent. The instincts of 
 parental affection are identical the civilized world over. 
 There is scarcely a father or mother throughout the land 
 who has not been directly struck in thetenderest affec- 
 
420 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 tion and the most precious interests of life by this 
 flagrant instance of kidnapping a little child, solely for 
 the purpose of extorting a sum of money as a ransom; 
 and the protection demanded by childish helplessness 
 makes all men akin in resisting this most unnatural 
 crime. It is for these reasons that public feeling has 
 been so intensely aroused, and continues to be so won- 
 derfully alive to this case, and not simply because 
 Charley Ross was stolen and has not been recovered. 
 In our blessed religion we note as a dijstinguishing 
 trait of that Charity and Love which separates Chris- 
 tianity from all other systems of faith, that the Master 
 loved little children and bade them come to him, and 
 found in a little child the highest type of faith, truth 
 and purity; and no incident in the scriptures is more 
 sadly interesting than that of Joseph who was sold 
 into slavery by his brethren. To this day nothing 
 appeals to our sympathies so readily as the sorrow of 
 little children. There is not, cannot be a mother who 
 does not feel that she would rather see her child dead 
 than be subjected to a fate which has befallen our little 
 boy. The imagination surrounds the victim with 
 terrors compared to which death would be a blessing. 
 Imprisonment, starvation, stripes, neglect, lonely weep- 
 ing through the long night watches ; no love to 
 caress him, to minister to his childish ailings, to 
 rescue and to nourish him. The agony and suspense 
 lives on ; and the thoughts will come up : With 
 whom is he? Are they kind to him? Do his childish 
 eyes which knew nothing but home and home kind- 
 ness see sights revolting? Is he closely confined, or 
 has he been carried far away to avoid pursuit? Does 
 
TRIAL OF WESTERVELT. 421 
 
 he hear brutal language ? Are the scenes about him 
 so strange that his memory of us gradually fails, and 
 his recollections of love, home and friends will all be 
 swept away ? Will he be taught to forget the hands 
 that nurtured him and raised him from infancy, and 
 taught him to say, "Our Father which art in Heaven," 
 or that other simple prayer, " Now I lay me down 
 to sleep," and will he regard some bad scheming 
 woman as his mother? Stolen by thieves, will he be 
 taught to be a thief? Will he grow to love crime? 
 Will he live to reap the bitter fruits of it? Will he 
 live to grow up in ignorance of love, gentleness, good- 
 ness, in ignorance of all that he should know, in knowl- 
 edge of pain, hunger, ill-treatment, in knowledge of all 
 that he should never know? 
 
 Stern death would be far kinder than the rude arms 
 that snatched away our little boy ; for when death 
 robs us of our loved ones, we recall with a sad pleasure 
 the winsome ways ; but when this greater desolation 
 comes the remembrance of pet words, childish phrases, 
 cunning tricks, and affectionate glances crowds upon 
 us until memory, too faithful, forces us almost to pray 
 for utter forgetfulness. 
 
 Did we know that Charley had died, then would we 
 know his abiding place; would know that danger, sick- 
 ness, trouble, sin and pain, could disturb him no more. 
 The very uncertainty increases our agony a thousand 
 fold. 
 
 " Doomed through long suspense to bear 
 The hope that keeps alive despair." 
 
 Yet this very uncertainty incites us to continued effort 
 to learn what has become of him, and makes us more 
 
422 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 eagerly anxious to find him if living. Is it too much 
 then to ask a sympathizing public to continue all efforts 
 to aid in finding the place of concealment of our little 
 boy, or in recovering him? 
 
 The wail is still heard — so oft repeated — no tidings — 
 unless to end in disappointment. Will you not, fathers 
 and mothers, work now and earnestly, lest the hour 
 draw nigh when, in the desolation of your own homes, 
 your hearts may perchance take up the sorrowful plaint 
 of "a stolen child," and that child your own ? Should 
 this appeal result in discovering the hiding-place of 
 our little boy and he be found alive, every parent and 
 every child in the land would breathe more freely, and 
 thousands of hearts would be filled and thrilled with 
 great gladness, when the telegraph and the press shall 
 announce to the sympathizing public, "The lost is 
 found; Charley Ross is home again!" 
 
 It has frequently been said, "So long a time has 
 elapsed since Charley was taken from his home that you 
 would not know him; he would be so much changed in 
 his appearance that he could not be recognized even by 
 his parents." Yes, his beautiful curls may be cut off; 
 his face may be stained, or even burnt by acids, as has 
 been done with other stolen children ; but his mouth 
 will be wreathed with the same familiar smile, and his 
 large, full eyes dance in the same well-remembered 
 loving way; the expression of his face will still be that 
 of Charley Ross, and of no one else. Should he ever 
 grow out of our recognition, the child would surely 
 know his mother. The early impressions of home and 
 its surroundings will never be obliterated; the incidents 
 connected with his abduction — his being taken away 
 
TRIAL OF WESTERVELT. 423 
 
 with Walter in the wagon, and afterwards his being 
 driven off without his brother; his distress and loneh- 
 ness, his longing for home, his solitary confinement — 
 all these things, so terrible to a child, have made im- 
 pressions on his childish memory which never will be 
 effaced, except by death. 
 
 Whatever darkness still enshrouds this case, and 
 however hopeless it may look to others, so long as 
 there remains a doubt as to whether the child is living 
 or dead, our duty urges and our affections stimulate us 
 to a persistent and eager pursuit in the search for our 
 missing boy. Hitherto we have left nothing undone 
 that we knew how to do ; nothing untried which had 
 any reasonable appearance of yielding success ; nothing 
 untraced, however slight or trifling, which seemed to 
 lead in the direction of the lost one. Our time, our 
 energies, our thoughts, and our means, have been 
 unsparingly given to this object, and we have the 
 same unchanged purpose before us for the future — 
 leaving the ninety and nine "safe in the fold," we pur- 
 pose still to look for the " one that is not." Our search 
 is by no means a hopeless one, and so long as we do not 
 know that he is dead, we have a basis of trust on which 
 to work. Trusting the result to the Providence of Him 
 whose Fatherly care is over all His children, and whose 
 promises are to us and our children, we are bound to 
 use all the means He affords us to find out what has 
 become of our unfortunate child; and yet the constant 
 stretching of the hand to reach something tangible in 
 the midst of the darkness is a fearful strain on our faith. 
 Those only who can put themselves in our place, by 
 imagining the little one they so tenderly and lovingly 
 
424 CHARLEY ROSS. 
 
 lift to their knee snatched from them, as has been oui 
 boy, can in any degree understand us when we say our 
 life's work is to seek and to find the lost one of out 
 household. 
 
 We, therefore, send this unvarnished story of our 
 misfortune, and of this great wrong, on a mission to its 
 readers, in the hope that familiarized with the features 
 of Charley, by looking at his picture and stimulated 
 by the plain recital of the facts here narrated, and we 
 trust, blessed of God, some one of them directed in this 
 search may be the happy means of restoring him to 
 his home. 
 
 We are almost daily in receipt of some intelligence 
 which keeps alive the hope that out of the multitude 
 of means employed, we may get sufficient light to guide 
 us to a successful issue. Out of this personal suffering 
 has come this much of public good, and we derive 
 great satisfaction from it, that the want of success in 
 this, the first clearly defined case of brigandage in this 
 country, has rendered for years to come, a repetition 
 of the crime most unlikely. The intense public indig- 
 nation which this abduction has aroused, the wide- 
 spread publicity it has obtained, will deter the boldest 
 thieves from attempting a like outrage. This is cer- 
 tainly a source of great gratulation to the public, and 
 most heartily, although mourning our own loss, are 
 ^^e able to join in it. 
 
 God save other parents from a like trial, and all 
 other children from the fate of our dear little Charley. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 FTER I had finished writing the narrative of 
 the abduction and search for my Httle son, and 
 it was almost all in type, I received the follow- 
 ing note from Professor Leib, of Saint Paul, Minnesota, 
 whose son Freddie unaccountably disappeared about 
 five years ago, and has never since been heard from: 
 
 Mr. C. K. Ross. — Dear Sir. — I learn you are expecting to publish a 
 book on the abduction of and search for your dear little son Charley. 
 If, in the course of its pages, you could briefly allude to the loss of our 
 dear little Freddie, as narrated in the enclosed circular, I would be very 
 thankful. W. H. Leib. 
 
 Allusion has been briefly made in the book to the 
 loss of Mr. Leib's son, but it has not been so fully no- 
 ticed as I should have been glad to have stated it, had 
 I known the wishes of the parents. On receiving the 
 above note, I proposed to add an appendix to my nar- 
 rative, containing such an account of the disappearance 
 of the child, and the search for him, as the father 
 might prepare. With this explanation the following 
 letter and circular are added, with the hope and prayer 
 that the further publicity of this case of kidnapping, 
 which will be given to it by means of this book, may 
 result in awakening a more extended interest in behalf 
 of Freddie Leib, and in restoring to his distressed par- 
 ents their long absent child. 
 
 (425) 
 
426 APPENDIX. 
 
 Saint Paul, Minn., October ^j-, iSjs- 
 
 W. C. LocHERTY, Esq., 317 Broadway, N. Y. — Kind Friend : — 
 To your kind favor desiring me to refresh your memory' with the partic- 
 ulars regarding the loss of my little son, I have deemed best to reply in 
 the form of a circular which would also serve for the public whenever I 
 Lave occasion thus to use it. 
 
 It was in the summer of 1871, and I had been located in Quincy, 
 Ills., only a little more than a year, when Freddie disappeared (Freddie 
 Lcib — pronounced " Libe"). My profession was that of a vocalist and 
 teacher of vocal music, and as such I was employed at the Quincy 
 Female Seminary. My first year's work having just ended, and the 
 Seminary closed for the usual Summer Vacation. I went to Chicago, ex- 
 pecting to visit friends for a few weeks, and to remain in Chicago if 
 certain offers made me by parties there proved to be acceptable. I had 
 left my wife and three children — Freddie being one of them— well and 
 happy, on Wednesday, the 2 1st day of June, and had been in Chicago 
 just a week, when, on Wednesday, June 28, I received a telegram from 
 my wife, stating that Freddie was " missing since Monday evening, and 
 no trace yet." I at once took the night express on the C. B. & Q. R. 
 R. and reached home early next morning. You will observe that it 
 was now already two days and three nights since he disappeared. News 
 of the sad event had, for reasons that you will gather from what follows, 
 only just now become general ; and I found the city in excitement as 
 I hurried to my distracted family. With the kindly aid of the mayor 
 and other city officers, a large meeting of citizens was hurriedly assembled 
 at the City Hall, and a thorough and systematic search instituted. Tele- 
 grams were sent out in every direction, and a liberal reward offered. 
 This done, I devoted myself to the task of finding out the circumstances 
 under which he disappeared. They are substantially as follows : 
 
 I learned from my wife that Freddie had left the house at about six 
 o'clock, P. M., ^^ ith instructions from the hired girl to look for his brother 
 Charley, and tell him to get ready for supper. 
 
 Freddie had not been in the habit of leaving the house, or its imme- 
 diate vicinity, without permission or to do some errand. 
 
 The day had been very warm, and after repeated entreaties, his mother 
 had allowed him to remove his shoes and run barefoot during the after- 
 noon. He had spent most of the day on the opposite side of the street, 
 playing in and about some old omnibuses and carriages that stood about 
 a carriage manufactory. Part of the time he was alone, and part of it 
 there was with him a little colored boy (child of the servant of the house 
 
APPENDIX. 427 
 
 where we boarded). Freddie was passionately fond of horses, and of 
 riding in any kind of conveyance. He exhibited this fondness by run- 
 ning into the street, and hanging on the backs of buggies or wagons, and 
 there taking a swinging ride of four or five rods. Sometimes parties, at 
 his request for a ride, would stop and take him in, and after a little dis- 
 tance let him down again, when he always came back to his play, at or 
 near the house. 
 
 It was near seven o'clock on the evening of his disappearance, when 
 the family (Dr. Rushlanb's) with whom we were then boarding, sat 
 down to tea. The other little son, Charley, who was two years older 
 than Freddie, had in the meantime come in, but had seen nothing of 
 Freddie. The supper bell was rung a second time for Freddie, all the 
 others being present at the table. But as he failed to appear, Mrs. Leib 
 became very anxious, and leaving the others at the table, started out to 
 look for him. Just at that moment a valued lady friend from a neigh- 
 boring town called and detained her somewhat, — not over fifteen min- 
 utes. After searching about three hours without success, she determined 
 to inform the police. This was done between ten and eleven o'clock at 
 night, by Dr. Rushlanb. Mrs. Leib spent a night of woe, as may be 
 imagined. But few persons knew of the occurrence as yet, and Dr. R's 
 family believed the boy had played with the neighbors' children and 
 turned in with some of them for the night. With these and other con- 
 jectures, Mrs. L. wore out the hours of the night, in the hope that the 
 early morning would bring some good tidings. 
 
 But when in the morning she personally met three policemen who had not 
 heard a word of the occurrence, she felt deeply disappointed, and doubted 
 whether the police had been as faithful as they should have been the 
 previous evening. She then went to the police station herself, and again 
 requested that the case be made known. She then visited all the schools 
 in the city, Catholic, private, and public. 
 
 As still but few persons knew of it, and she was making her visits to 
 the schools on foot, it took her most of the day. She then informed 
 some of the newspaper men, (who had not yet heard a word of it,) and 
 the " Quincy Evening Call," of that day, June 27th, published the first 
 notice of his disappearance. As this paper did not circulate much among 
 our friends, but few of them heard of it until next morning, when a fuller 
 account appeared in the Quincy "Whig." Then our friends called and 
 offered such assistance as was in their power. 
 
 As yet there was nothing known as to where he was really last seen ; 
 but acting on the supposition that he had perished somewhere, each 
 
428 APPENDIX. 
 
 began making such search as seemed best. All this time I was still in 
 Chicago, in ignurance of the sad alTair. 
 
 My wife had made repeated attempts to telegraph to me, but was dis- 
 suaded by friends, who fell sanguine that the Iwy would be found, and so 
 believing, thought best not to bring me home uselessly. Dut when on 
 Wednesday evening he had not been heard from, I was telegraphed to, 
 «s stated heretofore. On my way home that night, my most dreadful 
 reflections were, that so much time had already elapsed since he disap- 
 peared — two days and three nights. 
 
 In the search which was instituted at the citizens' meeting,every con* 
 ceivable place was thoroughly explored. Lumber yards, lofts, cellar-ways, 
 store- boxes, sink-holes, sewers, bridges, vaults, cisterns, bams, empty 
 buildings, etc., were embraced. The house wheie we boarded was about 
 three-fourths of a mile from the river. The child was much afraid of 
 water, of the river especially, and would not have gone there unless in- 
 duced by other children ; but no children were found who saw him or 
 knew of his whereabouts that evening, except the case that will be 
 mentioned. Again, there was a night watchman, who patroled the shore 
 of the river, and who went on duty early in the evening. However, to 
 provide for the one contingency of his having lost his life there, against 
 the ninety-nine that he had not, watchers were placed at different places 
 for many miles down the river. The large reward offered induced very 
 many persons, who, between Quincy and St. Louis, lived on and along 
 the river, to make s}>ecial efforts in the way of watch and search, espe- 
 cially a number of tishennen, who daily frequented the river below the 
 city, and also the workmen who were then engaged in building a bridge 
 across the river about fifteen miles below, at Hannibal. 
 
 Supposing he had been drowned, the body would, in the very warm 
 wcither at the time, have come to the surface; but while within three 
 or four months other bodies, (some of children,) were found, no trace of 
 Freddie was ever discovered. It should also be added that the river 
 was very low at this time, and that many persons searched for the child 
 who were actuated only by feelings of sympathy and friendship. 
 
 Handbills and other advertisements followed in rapid succession, sent 
 out with photographs, &c., very similar to what h-is since been done in 
 the Ross case. Hundreds of stories of " lost " children, or children that 
 seimed "strange and uncomfortable," came to us, and many times in 
 our great anxiety we scarcely knew in what direction to act first. 
 
 About the fifth day after his disappearance the following was related 
 to me, which I have every reason to believe is reliable so far as it goes ; 
 
APPENDIX. 429 
 
 and strange to say, the substance of this item was told my wife before I 
 returned from Chicago, but which, in her bewildered condition, and amid 
 the many things told her at the time, she either did not notice, or else 
 overlooked, viz : That as near seven o'clock as could be determined by 
 other circumstances, our little Freddie stepped into a harness shop around 
 on the north side of the block, (on the southwest corner of which were 
 our living quarters,) and there asked for some straps to put on his whip- 
 lash, remarking that he " was going to get a ride." The regular hands 
 of the shop had left; only the proprietor's son, a boy about fourteen years 
 old, was there. He knew Freddie well, because I passed the door of 
 the shop every day on my way to and from the Seminary, and frequently 
 had Freddie wilh me. This boy gave him straps, and then went up 
 stairs to his supper, not looking after Freddie at all as he left the shop, 
 but simply seeing him step out on the sidewalk. 
 
 When Freddie's disappearance was reported, this boy told his mother, 
 and she then remembered that she herself had seen Freddie in the shop 
 at the time her son gave him the straps. 
 
 Several days later, reliable information was received, that the day after 
 Freddie, disappeared, an old man with a rickety buggy was seen in the 
 eastern suburban part of the city, going toward the country. He had a 
 little boy with him, who was crying and apparently much displeased. As 
 this old man passed a hbuse that stood at the fork of two roads, he noticed 
 a number of children in the yard (some of whom were fifteen years old) 
 flying a kite ; and as if to further pacify the boy, who already had his 
 hands full of candies and the like, he stopped and induced the children 
 to sell him their kite, to please the crying boy. When asked why the 
 little boy cried and was so uneasy, he replied that he probably felt a little 
 strange because he was only his uncle, and had just taken the child out 
 of the Orphan Asylum, and was taking him to his home. 
 
 An Irish man-servant across the street also saw the man and boy, but 
 was a little too far off to understand the conversation. 
 
 These young folks, supposing the man told the truth, thought no more 
 about it, until the news of Freddie's loss became generally known. 
 
 A statement was also fully substantiated, that during the first night 
 Freddie was gone, a child was frequently heard crying bitterly in the 
 direction of a large timothy-grass field, in the outer edge of the city. 
 Those who heard the cries supposed them to come from some children 
 living beyond this field ; but these families stated that none of their child- 
 ren had been crying during that night. 
 
 When these stories were made known to us, we sent detectives and 
 
430 APPENDIX. 
 
 messengers into all parts of the county, on horseback and otherwise, and 
 posted hand-bills in every post-office in that and the adjoining counties. 
 
 1 will now simply indicate some of the circumstances that led to the 
 supposition that he had been carried away : 
 
 During the week immediately preceding, an unusually large number 
 of Italian organ-grinders infested the city. There were not less than 
 thirty or forty, distributed in parlies of from three to five. A so-called 
 Yankee Robinson show exhibited in Quincy the Saturday preceding this 
 unlucky Monday, and some of the teams and men did not get away until 
 Monday. There were Gipsies in several places within four or five miles 
 of the city ; but all these people, Italians, showmen and Gipsies, had 
 gone out of sight when I arrived home and Freddie's disappearance be« 
 came fully known. 
 
 With the aid of our Chief of Police at the time, and later that of Allan 
 Pinkerton and his men, all was done in the premises that could be. 
 With their aid and advice, such measures were adopted and carried out, 
 as have since been in the Charley Ross case. The cases, in all that per- 
 tains to the search, are similar, yea, almost identical. If Mr. Ross and 
 I should meet, the one would be telling the other's story in relating his 
 own. But as Mr. Ross's misfortune happened in a large city, and because 
 he had wealihy relatives by whose aid he could furnish far more money 
 than I in prosecuting the search, and because the indications wfre from 
 the first more plain that his boy had really been kidnapped, his case 
 gained a notoriety far greater than ours. 
 
 But fully aware of my child's indisposition to leave home uninfluenced 
 or without permission, his terror of the river or any large body of water, 
 the character and extent of the search that was made for him, as well as 
 of what has since been done, and more especially his going into the 
 shop for straps, remarking that he was going to •' get a ride," and the 
 other peculiar incidents related, I am convinced that my son was kid- 
 napped ; and I may add that in this impression I am sustained by every 
 detective to whom I have been able to present the case in all its phases. 
 
 I had not much money, else I should have spent far more. I presume 
 jf7,ooo will cover it; but this totally impoverished me. 
 
 The pictures of Freddie that were sent out. are copies of a good one 
 taken in Davenport, Iowa, when he was a little over three years old. 
 But in his facial appearance he had changed very little, if any. He was 
 one month less than five years old when he disappeared. He was pas- 
 sionately fond of music, had a good, sweet voice, and could sing verses 
 of several Sunday-school Hymns, and aho of the song called "Old Dog 
 Tray." 
 
APPENDIX. 43 1 
 
 His eyes were dark blue ; his hair quite dark brown, with considerable 
 inclination to curl, especially when long. Fair complexion, rosy cheeks, 
 dimple in chin, and also in cheeks when he smiled. Had lost none of 
 his first teeth, which were small and close-set. Had several little moles 
 on back of his neck and shoulders. Had two crowns where hair sepa-^ 
 rates (most persons having but one). Was vaccinated on left arm, well 
 up toward the shoulder, in two places about one- half an inch apart, just 
 A little while before we lost him. Still hoping, I remain, 
 Truly yours, 
 
 WM. H. LEIB, Professor of Music, 
 
 Now residing in St. Paul, Minn. 
 All persons wishing information in the above matter, or having any* 
 thing to impart that may assist me, will please address 
 
 J. R. CLEVELAND, General Detective, 
 
 St. Paul, Minn. 
 
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