Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-09-09
ASSOCIATED PRESS LETTER.


CHARLIE BREWSTER ROSS.
The kidnapping Of this four year old
lad on the FIRST day Of July last, appa.
rently by professional thieves with the
view Of exorting a large ransom from
his parents, has offered a faithful theme
for theoretical correspondents of sen.
sational newspapers. As but little
truth and much speculation have been.
given the public ! am Of opinion that
the truth, without the theory, would
be novelty in this case highly accept
able to the reader, therefore detail
just what the father and uncle OF the
child said tome upon the subject. Both
father and uncle entertain but one
theory in regard TO the kidnapping of
tho boy, which isi That the child
was stolen in order 10 secure large
ransom for his return In reply TO
statements Published that correspond.
ents, and detective Taggnrt, complain
that Walter who was with Charlie
when ho was stolcnand who rode some
distance with the party, is not permit
ted to be interrogatod by any one upon
this subject, the father said: | have
never had any objections to theproper
authorities cmvcising freely with
Walter, In fact they do this almost
every day always whenever new de-
vcIopments arise In rho case, thoy
question him closely. but as Walter
is a child under six years Of ngc do
object tounauthorized persons, especial
" newspaper correspondents, shadow
ing him continually putting leading
questions to him that man could
scarcely answer intclligcntly and
then publishing. not what the child
says, but what their own con.
struclive minds imagine, purpose
retaining in the mind Of the child. the
events as they occurred, BY not permit.
ting his mind to be diverted thercirom
by inquisitive persons ont Of mere
curiosity, questioning him.
| asked Mr. Ross it he objected to
Walter being taken to the District At
torney's office, distance of about
three squares, and in the presence of
the District Attorney, questioned by
detective Taggart 10 this Mr. Ross
replicdi General Coils and Col, Mann
have already examined Walter; they
have record Of that examination,
which presume is at the service of de-
tcctivc raggart, II Col, Mann, the
District Attorney wishes TO again ex-
amino Walter l have no objections
whatever
In relation TO the rumor that Mrs
Ross was a catholic, and Mr.. Ross
protestant, and that the boy was ialSpn
for the purpose Of giving him q monas-
tic education, Mr. Joseph Ross, uncle
of Charlie, stated That Mr., and Mrs.
Ross were both mothodisis, that neith-
cr of them bad evorbem anything else,
and that the first and only marriage Of
Mr.. and Mrs, Ross was with each othor.
Tho father of Charlie entei'tains SC.
rious doubts Of the childs existence,
lle says the lad has alwaya heen 90
customed TO plenty qt fresh Hir, and
wholesome food deprivation OF these,
he believes would induce summer COM
plant to procure u physician would
result in the discovery Of the child;
while not to do so might result fatally.
Mr., Ross says that ho receives al
sorts oflettcrs uponthe subject, Clair
voyants say they can tell Just where
the child n lIcroscopists write for a
statement showing the day and hour
in which Mr., Ross, Walterand Charlie
wero bom, md from That they engage
to compute the exact whereabouts Of
The missing child. A German in Ilar.
risburg writes that he konws where
Charlie is, and that for q sum of money
he will forward TO The father n piece Of
tho ohild's clothing Ono person went
TO the residence Of Mr. Ross-somc
four miles from his store-tool< OH q
carriage whocl, placed q half dozen
blades Of grass upon the axle, replaced
the wheel and began slowly tnrhlng Il,
with tho grass between The hub and
axle, utfollng an lncantation aud re
marked that, every revolution Of the
wheel was bringing the child ncprcr
home. The man then requested that
the horse be harnessed TO the vehicle
and he would 50 IN search Of The boy.
A vague suspicion crossed the mind Of
Mrs. Ross-hor huvband was III his
store-lhat tho fellow might forgot 10
return and tho holsd was hot brought
out, consequently he left Indignantly
murmuring at the caution which re,
fused to furnish him cash and convoy.
snoe a, s,,f ipr \ proposed Journey pfss
aeiara ~ f'e lphsq