The New York herald., 1874-08-24
A KIDNAPPING ROMANCE.
How a Pittsburg Detective Was Fooled
by a Sham FOuche.
A COMEDY IN THE ROSS CASE.
A Strange Story of Invention and
Delusion.

PITTsBURG, August 22, 1874
few days since o tail, spare man, about
thirty-three years OF age, with face reddened ap
parently from exposure to the sun, and with a
scanty crop OF yellowish hair covered by Leghorn
hat, entered the counting room Of the Pttsburg
Gazette and requested the privilege Of looking over
a file OF that paper. The file was furnished and
the strangers form, enveloped IN servlceable
linen duster, was deposited in an arm chair Soon
after the business manager Of the paper, Mr..
N. p. Reed. came in, and at once re-
cognized the gentleman, having mad some
conversation with him on a previous occasion.
The usual compliments OF the day were exchanged,
and then the stranger took Mr.. Reed TO one side
ana asked him, in tone OF voice approaching a
whisper, II there was in this city shrewd, cum
ming detective, man who had the nerves of steel
and one whom he could depend on to assist him
in very important and delicate undertaking.
He informed Mr. Reed that his name was H. c.
Carter; that he was journalist by profession had
been In the employ OF the NEW YORK HERALD es-
tablishment, but resigned his position there
for the reason of disagreement with the
proprietor in relation to the readest means
OF following trail that paper was said to have,
and which would lead to the recovery OF the boy
Charley Ross, stolen from Washington lane, Ger
mantown, In the suburbs of Philadelphia, on the
afternoon OF July l. He had the ins and outs OF
the journalistic life at his finger ends. was a ready
and sensible taker and told such plausible story
about the child Ross that any doubts Reed may
have entertained as to Mr.. Carter's social stand
ing and honesty of purpose were, after half
hours conversation, dispeled. Accordingly he
sent
POST HASTE FOR Mr.. PETER pREssLER
the detective in the employ OF District Attorney
Bayne, and soon after the corpuent figure OF Mr..
Dressler was seen to move with caution through
one OF the narrow doors of the newspaper office
before mentioned. There was an air OF secresy
now about the entire establishment from the
press room in the cellar to the composing room at
the roof, and everybody moved about saying
silence with their fingers on their lips. The trio
went into small apartmenr in the rear OF the
counting room, and there and then Mr.. Carter
told the story OF the kldnappers Of Charley Ross
and how he had followed and was following, with
all the keen scent OF bloodhound the trail OF the
villains.
CUNNING CARTER's REVELATIONS.
He said that on the Sd OF July, just two days
after the stealing OF the boy, he struck the trail Of
those who committed the deed. The child was re-
tained in Germantown for five days, after which
he was conveyed to Allentown, Pa, and then to
Mauch Chunk From the latter place the party
crossed TO the western part Vf this state and got
into the Monongahela Valley, considerable num-
Der Of miles above this city. The tran then led
down the valley, the parties travelling the greater
part OF the time in q skin on the
Monongahela River, bus all the large
cities were avoided. Carter was at their
heels, however, ana wouldn't be shaken or They
ONO and from there went to Chicago. Then they
travelled TO ROCKFORD H.. crossing the Mississippi
city IN a retired and picturesque place, they took
up their abode, thinking themselves perfectly Sc
cure and far out Of the reach OF meddling detec.
ttveS Of the East. But no Carter mad traced them
to their lair, and after satisfying himself that the
intention OF the party was TO remain where
Philadelphia and put himself in communication
with Mr.. Ross, from whom he received little or no
again visited the house IN which Charley Ross was vas
concealed, and, according to his story, found him
M there, in company with a M, man ana two women
STAINED AN OLIVE COLOR.
and on the mantelptece was bottle containing
made. IT. bore a label OF Schenck's drug store,
Philadelphia. Carter had long conversation
IN custody. The man who was OF middle age was
sulena and dlsnclined to talk but stated this much
that he was tired OF being buned around. More
over he wanted to rid himself OF the "Eid" and
get the money coming to him Tor his part in the
Transaction. After this interview Carter called on
his assls lance in erecting the arrest OF the
entire party. The Marshal dlsbeeved his story
and declined to render him the aid he sought
and he again visited the camp and secretly
watched the movements OF the kldnappers. Here
he learned that 1t was the intention OF the party
which place they intended TO reach on Saturday
last, when, according to Carter the plan to trans.
out before the sailing on that day OF steamer for
Europe. He described minutely the house in New
York on Thirty sixth street where the child was to
be taken. He also stated that in the abduction OF
the boy
BROTHER OF Mr.. ROSS WAS IMPLICATED,
and that he knew Just under what circumstances
the crime was committed. Thereupon he took
from out his coat pocket memorandum book
swollen with documents. The following is letter
which he read in low tone OF voice, after which
he handed 1t to Mr.. Dressler:-
THE MYSTERIOUS LETTER.
Mn Is the use Of You saying vi that
You feel inclined 70 expose this whole
10n gSa not to S0as' sSs boy Hh'fsy % DH
up so and oher nd se
work intended to from the start thus
All yoa intend 70 40 n
hns Tithous ~ A. rs consusins Tassar. Helms wOod
WOW Please vSn
and state your price and keep quiet Yours truly yoss
This story was told and this letter read on FRI
day OF last week, and II anything was TO be done
boy lived in New York. and as IL was their inten.
tion TO leave on SATURDAYS steamer their plans
come greatly frightened at the excitement Nv which
has followed the vile transaction they had been en-
gagged IN and %ns determined to rid themselves Of
In the camp at Burlington was the kid
delivery Of the boy at New York. Ac.
cordingy, he was to take him in
carriage to the dock on Saturday forenoon, and
while there. apparently awaiting transfer to the
vessel, man from Philadelphia was to ap-
pear upon the scene and claim the lad The man
in whose custody the boy was would then turn
HIM over, but was also to give the Phadel-
pha party q receipt, stating he had received
and one OF the women were then to
take passage on the steamer and the
party with Charley Ross In his possession was to
return to Philadelphia, exhibit the receipt and
claiming that ne had paid $4,000 for the child de.
mand that the reNard of the same amount offered