New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-19
QUEST FOR A STOLEN CHILD.
SUPERINTENDENT wALLlNGS FRuIILESS
MISSION,

WHO HAD BURIED A CHILD foLIp"bD ~ ''N
xrc1rcUr-TnK DETECTIVES ON TnE WRONG
TRAN
Central Onico yesterday, and although he may have
felt somewhat disappointed at the result of his OK
petition III search of Charley Ross, yet he Cid not
seem discouraged. lie related the story of his trip
as follows:
on Tuesday night I received Information that
woman owned the house 10 the Thirteenth Precinct In
which Mcsier Tad lived. This woman hal befriended
the desperate outlaw 10 many ways. sho bad at one
time lent him money himself in business aud he
had bought oyster saloon In Grand-st. After the
receipt OF this Information took Detectives Seck ana
Titus and started for this house. 1t was
rather late at night but people living In that
nelghberhoOd may be. expected to be up AZ
all hours. The house was at No. lis Ridge
et When reached the premises We saw That IL
was q tumbe-iown franc building determined to
take advantage OF TINS aud to represent myself as act
ing in the interest OF the Board OF Health. believing
that by this course should more readily obtain In
formation than in my official capacity. left sincck
and Titus outside and went TO the door alone and
raped loudly. woman came to the door, and asked
her whether her cellar was not very wet aud moldy
She Acknowledged that her COLLAR was damp, and then
told her that there WAS 80 much diphtheria ana
group gong about the city that the authorities had to
look after these bad places. and that complaint ought
20 be made about this place. Tho woman said that she
aid not own premises and therefore had nothing 10
80 with the matter. asked her who owned the prop
erty She said that Mrs. Russe owned the property,
out that she live there. She did not know where
Mrs Russell lived but had understood that size lived In
the country. This Mrs. Russell was the woman who had
started lOser In business In his oyster saloon In
Grandsl.
After questioning the woman for some time learned
that Mrs. Russell had been in that house only few
hours before. but that she had disappeared SUISSE
luently. ana no one then knew whittier she had gone
fhs conversation was late ut night and although was
very anxious TO press the inquiry further thought mat
1t would be easier TO call very cary IN the morning
believed that Mrs Russell lived IN or near these prem
ses and tdat She cOad tell me something of great im-
portance ABOUT Mos.er. As l going away, the wo-
man with wHon hal bren taking was Joined
by another and also asked her some questions
she said tnat Ms Is'en hai gone away only short
tune before Gale bal that sac would call again early
in the morning. had beard that this Mrs Russell had
taken with her ia.o the country two chldren-a boy
aud a gal. 1t ascertained that Mrs RuSsells
brother, Michael COmminsky, had no hoy. IL was
therefore believed be certain that Mrs Russell had
tho lost boy Charley Ross in her possession. Her CON
nectOn with MCstr made 1t reasonable to suppose that
he had ntrusted the abducted boy to her. She was
probably concesllnG her residence from everyc cody.
felt certain that the fate OF Charcy Ross was very
being settled
Early on wednesday morning took my way again
20 No. ll5 Rdge-st | was then convinced that Mrs.
Russell owned the property L asked: How does she
collect her remit Does she employ au agentf" "NO ;
she ALWAYS collects her own tents. She lives In tho
country. The baker around the corner keeps the key
the house. and get In and take look at tho
wet cellar il yCu w. TO-" had represented that
from the Board C Health, and was anxious to find
the owner, to made complaint against the premises,
which were in a had condition. ! asSed "Who is tho
Of the adjoining building - cit Is lager-beer
o. -
won't let anybody know who owns is nor where the
owner lives"
In this way was baflod in my search for Mrs. Rus
SELL went back the house aud told the woman that
had become convinced that the trouble was not In this
house. bat the adjoining premises. man then came
out who had evidently Just risen from bed, and spoke
70 him the premises. He asked why no cOui nc
make the complaint. told him that wanted the owner
to do 50. Ho replid: IL don't see why
can't make the complaint am the owners
son." Ny heart bounded at this revelation. and
I felt that tho right track. III you
are the owners son, you ought to know where che
lives" lie said that he could not tell where the owner
of tie property lived even though he her
that there in pressing him further. and
told him 10 down TO the office OF the Board Of
Health aud make his complaint. Then went away.
had instructed the cleras IN the Board OF Health Oce
that when tho young man should present himself TO
make bis complaint they should endeayor 10 find out
where the owner Of the property lived. l had left
Detectives Sheck and Titus behind me TO watch the
premises.
After waiting some time the detectives the young
man come of the house with the old woman herself
The very person whom had wanted, Mrs. Russell,
thus shown to have been hidden somewhere In the
house while inqniring for her. 1t was ascertained
that Mrs. Russell also owned houses lsewhere. The
officers followed the couple everywhere they went In
the afternoon, slleCk sent me q dispatch from
the Twenty-fOurth Precinct. saying: "Weve got
she woman" / telegraphed to them. Follow her
every she goes. Don't leave her. II she goes TO
England" From the Grand Central Depot Detective
sileck sent another dispatch "We'Ve bought tickets
for New-Brltain. Conn.,"
The next day Detectives Sllleck and Titus returned
and reported what they had learned Tney said that
Mrs Russell had little girl with her. aud that she had
buried threeyear old boy. who had died short time
ago OF membraDous Group or diphtheria. Sac denied
having known MOsler, and acted as though she was
anxious TO conceal something.
After learned these facts was convinced that the
boy who ad died and been buried In Britain Conn.,
the lost child Charley Ross. felt OF this
that determined to New-Britain myself and take
Mr. Lewis the relative OF the family with 70 assist In
the We took ths early train for Bridge
port early on Thursday morning. On the train was
very anxious avoid recognition. and hearing that the
Governor OF Rhode Island In the palace
I went into his compartments / had Just en-
tered when the conductor IN, and without
thinking the Governor said " This is superintendent
Walling Of NewYOrk." was Mortified at being thus
posed but fortunately, the car made so much noise
that the conductor did not understand what the Gov
ern had said What did you say said the conduo
tor. said II have Just come in 10 have a little talk
with the Governor" "Oh," said the conductor. all
right and he went out and closed the door behind
him. felt relieved assure you for II lie had known
who 1t would have spread through the train like
wildfre.
After reached New-Brtain. I found Mrs Russell and
her son. l said to him. You are queer young
who don't know where your mother lives" then
aslnd he win She know Moser. She sad. MShnre