The New York herald., 1874-12-15
CHARLEY ROSS
The AbductOrs Of the Missing
Boy Shot Dead Yesterday
at Bay Ridge.
A BURGLARS DYING CONFESSION.
How the New York and Philadelphia
Detectives Obtained a Clew.
WHERE is THE CHILD?
Superintendent Walling's Suspicious and The
Way They Were Justified.
THE BAY RIDGE TRAGEDY.


was revived and the identity OF the men who abb
Quoted the child established yesterday beyond .
doubt in way that was as tragical as 1t was un-
expected. IL would seem that ever since the de-
scription given by the little brother OF Charley
Ross OF the 1.-TWO men In buggy was made
public Superintendent Walling OF the police felt
certain that IL answered the description OF two
burglars named Mosner and Douglas, who gener-
ally "workedn In company. Starting out un-
hesitatngly with that conviction, the police have
with the greatest secrecy ever since. under his d.
rection. been labor1ng day and night In order to
trace the scoundrels to their lair. From variety
OF causes they failed, but the DIVING statement OF
one OF the two men, botn OF whom were killed
yesterday while perpetratlng burglary at Bay
Ridge, near Fort Hamilton, shows conclusivey
that Mr.. Wallings suspicious as to who the aoduc-
tors were were we'll founded, and that his starting
point was the correct one. What bearing the death
or the abductors, who died without giving a clew
as to the chid's whereabouts, VIII have upon the
chances Of the discovery OF the boy Is question
which depends now, seemingly, upon the willing
ness OF q third party, who was an accessory after
the fact in the abduction, to produce the child, or
apon the skill Of the police in erreting out this
party's hiding place If unwilling to produce the
COY voluntarily. But as to the tragedy and what
trought 1t about.
THE TRAGEDY.
About one mile from Fort Hamilton, and just
adjoining the little cluster OF houses which form
the village OF Bay Ridge, is located the summer
residences handsome frame structure, sur
rounded by ample grounds-of Judge Van Brunt,
OF the Court OF Common Pleas, OF New York. The
building Is not occupied in the winter season, Its
care deyolytng upon brother Of The Judge, Mr.. ].
Ii. Van Brunt, who is q farmer and resides with
his family In building distant about two hundred
feet Eerw a
where William Scott, laborer, lives. The Judge,
last summer, recognizing the exposed position OF
the place, which overlooks the river. caused bur-
gar alarms to be placed on the window sils and
doors OF bis house, and the wires were connected
with an alarm bell in the sleeping apartment OF
Mr.. J. II. Van Brunt. About three O'Clock yester-
day morning the latter named gentleman was
aroused from his slumbers BY the sharp metallic
RINGING OF THE BURGLAR ALARA BELL.
lie at Hrst supposed that the noise was due to tie
TACT that as he bad been in his brothers. house
that day he might have left the windows raised,
and the wind doubtless caused the alarm to
sound. On second thought he determined upon
sending his son Albert, young man twenty-four
years OF age to close the windows in the house.
Albert proceeded TO obey the order OF bis father,
but before doing SO called the servant man Scott,
who was sleeping in the stable, to accompany
him. On approaching the house they discovered
light in the upper part oil the domiclle and at
once determining that there was something wrong
within they quietly withdrew. Albert said, on
returning to his home, "Father, there is some one
IN the Judges house, The old gentleman, spring
ing OF bed proceeded to dress himself rapidly,
and said, ''Get the shotguns, my son, and call up
Herman Frank" another larm laborer who slept
on the premises. When they had seen well to The
loading and priming OF their pieces the iour men
sailed forth quietly to protect their property and
punish the daring robbers who had invaded the
premises Tie forces were deployed expedi-
tiously and quietly by Mr.. Van Brunt, ST., who,
in company with william Scott, lay down in the
grass on his belly, in the of the Judges house.
Albert Van Brunt and Herman Frank went to the
front OF the building. Frank screened himself
from view and Albert boldly shook the front door,
making a racket which at once alarmed the
burglars within, as they blew out the light in
stantly. In a moment he heard them moving
down stairs, and, peering through a window, he
saw two men, one OF whom lit a luciier match to
pass across the paror. They then made their
way down into the cellar and were emerging from
the cellar doorway IN the rear when the men who
were wing in the grass covered them with their
iowling pieces and
CRIED OUT
"Halt stopln The only response was two pistol
shots which the neeing burglars fired in quick
succession. One OF the men uttered an excama-
tion OF pain indicating plainly that he had been
wounded by snot which was fred at the same
moment by Mr.. Holmes Van Brunt. Both bur-
glars turned TO run up aeyway at the left OF the
house. Albery then came up and fired shot at
the man first hit, and turning upon the other
fellow shot at him. The elder Van Brunt came up
to the assistance OF his son. who was engaged
with burglar No. 2 while No. ran out into the
yard. The man Frank fired q charge Of shot into
tha laft falio uyho fal d0 hia IA
fellow who was in combat with Albert fired two
shots at him from small Smith Wesson re-
volver, and again he raised the pistol, pointing
the muZzle in the young mans face. Quick as
thought Albert dubbed and raised his musket
striking the burglar with such force on the rign,
foreal m that the stock OF the piece shattered
TO splinters, the pistol fell from the hand OF
a THE woULD-BE MURDERER,
and, turning about with yell, he ran away
Albert then drew . pistol from his pocket and
Hred three times at the neeing man. Two shot.
took effect and death was almost instantaneous.
The defenders OF the Van Brunt house then being
masters Of the situation proceeded to examine ths
condition OF their game. Tne man who had beer
brought down by Franks shot was dying, but stil
conscious. A light was procured, and, bending
over him. Mr.. Van Brunt, Sr., said, "Young man
your time is pretty short now. II you have any
thing to say you had better be about 1t at once
Who are your What is your nameY and where die
you come ffomi" The dying man replied,
.s.a4. THE REVELATION
1--WE came from New York. NY name Is Joseph
Douglas. That man lying over there ts william
Mosher. ne lives IN Philadelphia, and has vile
ana SIX chhdren. superintendent Waing wOulc
give gooa deal to get hold OF that man. II he had
not been Killed outright he might have told YOU
where that boy who was stolen from Germantown
iCharley R0ss) 10 to be found.u Have you any
relatives about bereap inquired Mr.. Van Brunf
II have,"- was tue answer. 1.-TWO sisters living
some where, Dut have not seen them for more
than ten years You VIII md IN my pocket $40, and
all ask fyou 10 to see that get
DECENT BURIAI.u
douglas fingered for upwards OF two hours IN
agony, and expired about hall-past 1--WE O'Clock
The bodies we're carried out OF the cold rain which
was falling In beneath the shelter OF the porch O
tue house which tney had attempted to rob.
NOSHER
In In description the c0un terpart or the abduct0
OF Charley Ross. lie IL . man about iorty-nve oI