The Hawaiian gazette., 1874-12-16
Ths Charley Ross Ca.e.

The Charley Ross Case.
The abduction Of little Charley Ross is one Of
the saddest cases which has ever been made pub
lie, not only 10 the event itself, but in the dis
tressing Consequences which have resulted from
it TO the family. The alternate hopes and despair
which the iather and mother have suffered the
SANDER which has been heaped upon them; the
cruel, practical jokes which have been played up
on them by heartless people, and the malicious
manner 10 which certain journals have followed
them for the mere sake Of sensation, have been
hitherto unparalleled in such cases. The little
boy was abducted by two men on the LIST Of July
last. while playing with bis brother. aud was car
Eied of in buggy beyond the reach Of his par
ents. The father offered reward Of $780, which
only brought out an anonymous communication
that the boy would not be returned for less than
$4,000. 1t was not until nine days after the ab-
duetion that the Philadelphia police took any
steps towards ferreting out the abduetors. and
then commenced operations by issuing descrip-
tive circular, which was so loosely and vaguely
drawn that numerous innocent parties were ar.
rested upon suspicion; meanwhile. the father
kept receiving anonymous letters Offering to
surrender the child for a stated sum. The police
authorities, however, would not allow him 10 act
upon them, upon the ground that public Justice
ought not to be defeated The City Of Philadel.
phia then offered reward Of $4,000 for such
information as would lead to the discovery of the
child. The largeuess of the reward induced Allan
Pinkerton and numerous detectives. both public
and private, to 60 to work, and Mr.. Ross had
hopes something would be done. Something
was done, bat that something was of such ua-
ture that it only added to the distress of the
family. On the 18th Of July. news came of the
arrest OF man in Richmond Va, having the
corpse Of child supposed to he Charley Ross.
bat it turned out to be a child 10 months of aye.
On the 4th Of August woman was arrested in
West Philadelphia with child which subse
quenily she proved was her own. Then came a
dispatch from Bennington. Vt, that woman
had been arrested there with child answering
the description Of Charley Ross. Like the Others,
this child was shown to belong to another. Thus
MI Ross was kept travelling from point to point,
always in eager anticipation OF finding his child.
but always disappointed. Then came the news
from 0dell. in Illinois, containing an account Of
the arrest Of two men sud woman having child !
supposed to be Charley Ross 10 their possession.
who turned out to be the son of one James Hen.
iersOn- Next came the story Of a mythical Pitts
ourgh detective, who vas on the very ere Of dis
covering the ehild.-a story which was soon ex.
plOded ike the rest Similar stories followed |
each other 10 rapid succession from Washington,
Ind. Lincoln, Neb., and scores Of
1ther places Of similar character. each one Of
EhIch excited hopes in the minds OF the parents
lnIy to be cruelty dissipated. Other dispatches
ave been received from parties who are conf
lent they have seen the child. Ia addition to
hese distressing disappointments. the family
rave been in constant receipt of threatening,
curious, and eoEardly letters from anonymous
ources- Sensational Newspapers. under glaring
headlines have printed all sorts Of vile SANDERS.
ruel descriptions OF the family and heariless mar
atiFes Of their grief. aud some have even accused
hem Of being corrupt and mercenary. and Of hav-
ng cOnniEed at the abduction OF their child for
he sake Of gain. The sacredness Of their grief
iF;eken home has been inlruded upon by prying
nd augentlemanly reporters and correspondents,
'ho have written up most false aud cruel letters.
These heartless SANDERS, cruel prosecutions,
nd heart-bresking alterations between hope and
esPair have At last 80 worked upon Mr.. Ross
hat they have driven him insane. and bis pbysi-
ian reports him 10 a sinking condition. The
-ie1ds Of the family. enable 70 stop The malice
cd reekIess0ess Of these sensational journals 10
% other way. have brought suit for libel against
be nost Of them. which will probably have the
feet TO silence the rest Of the pack. The poor
lOther sho waits and watches against hope for
be rstOFn Of her child will have the profound
TmPathy Of the public, and the beariless
-retehes Who have sdded to her troubles b. their
endish cruelty nothing bat its prolosndest con-
amt and fndipuaffon - (ftfe1oo TI-;J.e,s