The Republican journal., 1874-08-06
The Stolen Child


Philadelphia Cor. of the New York Herald
Since my last communication news OF &
highly important nature has reached me
concerning the designs of the kidnappers
OF little Charlie Ross, which is calculated
not only to startle all who read it, but at
the same time convince every one that the
infant is in the hands of men who, by their
shrewdness, tact and cunning, can evade
the police for almost an indefinite length
OF time, and, perhaps, force the father to
comply with their demands In no better
way can this be shown than by the fact
that the robbers now boast of their secu-
rlty, and that for more than twenty
days the police have not ascertained the
first elew to their hiding place
Frequent reference has been made to the
cold and brutal letters which have been
sent to the parent from time to time, but
by all means tn most important and in
terestlng Of these was received bv the
father last Thursday, since it clearly and
accurately defines the plan by means of
which the kidnappers agree to deliver the
child and accept the ransom of 800, 900.
Inc outline OF this plot is not fancy
sketch, but is the full expose which the
kldnappers themselves made, and which
subsequent disclosures will prove to be
strictly true. II came to your correspond
ent in the most direct way, and is stated
exclusively here Tor the first time.
THE PLOT.
The place selected by the kidnappers is
lonely bridge in the extreme northern
part of the county. and the moment at
which the business is to be transacted, if
transacted at all, is set down at about
midnight. The bridge is surrounded on
All sides by flat and open cou@try, so
that one standing on the abutment could
witness an approach from any direction.
The plan states that Nh Ross must come
to this bridge with the money While en-
route tor the designated point, and before
he arrives at it. he will be met by a man
who Wlll stop before him and say:
'-Lood evening, sir"
10 this Mr.. Ross must render immedi-
ate reply, and then pass on towards the
bridge Before he reaches the bridge a
second man viii approach him in the
same manner as the first, and say:
Mr. Ross, how do you do?"
10 this Mr.. Ross must render appropri-
ate reply, when he will reach the bridge
and there meet third man, who will ask
him the following question
MI. Ross, have you got that?n
Alter MIR. Ross has paid the money
there will be 4 slight delay, but in few
minutes he is promised that his little one
Charlie, will be delivered over.
CONDITIONS OF THE PLOT.
The robbers evade all possibility of de
lection by the following conditions; The
three will be armed and disguised l
Mr. ROuc 1Ooc olo
gle soul is seen lurking anywhere in the
neighborhood the kidnappers will fail tc
keep their appointment The bridge
stands all by itself; three different roads
lnterscct near its site, and the country
being open and as level as a floor, thu
confederates stationed out along the diff
terent roads can see Mr.. Ross for long
distance of, and know whether he came
alone OF with some one else. Moreover
Mr.. Ross will be watched from the time
he leaves the city until he is accosted by
the first man, and any attempt to assemble
posse Of citizens or police near the
bridge would be sure to be seen by the
kidnappers, who, Of course, the police
men do not know.
No sooner had their plan been sent from
the human thieves to the parent than con-
situations were held by the police and by
private citizens directly interested in the
case, in order to devise some means oil
catching the scoundrels in their own trick
and thus save the ransom and likewise
secure the child Hundreds Of plans were
proposed. The energy and brain of the
entire detective force were bent toward
this one purpose, but all plans are sure to
fail. In case the father concludes to ac-
ceDt the terms of the hlackn,a;lorc +bo,,
are as sure OF getting the money without
arrest as they are sure OF keeping the child
without detection in case the terms are
not complied with. 1t may appear a SIM
pie thing to entrap the kidnappers while
concentrating their designs, but if any
one will read the above carefully he will
see that the condition of the country the
command which the plotters enjoy over
the roads; the opportunity they have to
watch every movement which either Mr.
Ross or the police may make between now
and the time the former may consent to
the demands, and the facilities they DOS
sess of studying every step which the
father may take after he sets out upon his
solitary journey to the bridge, ali show
the shrewdness Of the apparently simnlv
constructed plan and the impossibilitv Of
entrapping the villains while thew are
carrying it out.
The detectives have even stopped with
out their accustomed reticence, and called
in the advice of prominent men in order
to seek some means to crush the plot
Among these may be mentioned Mr.. Nc
Kean, of the Public Ledger, and District
Attorney William B. Mann. As stated