The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-10-01

editors and publishers printed and pub.
ilshed in said newspaper the following
words -
THE ROSS CASE ALL A HUMBUG
The History of the Family-Who Mrs
Ross is and Her Troubles Their
Friends Theory of the Absence of the
Child-Alleged Whereabouts of Little
Charley.
GERMANTOWN, Pa, Sept. 1.-THE Ross
case, like all things transient, is gradually
disappearing from the public mind. but be-
fore we give it final goodbv, allow me to
offer you Il theory, which, thus far, have
not seen presented. | am neighbor of
Christian X. Ross, and we neighbors have
our thoughts and opinions on the subject
of the child's disappearance, which, think.
should DC presented to the world
About ten years ago, when Christian
Ross was making his mark, and when his
business was i'll the most prosperous condi-
ton, he married a Western lady of good
family, and very wealthy. He had two
children Of the marriage, Walter Ross and
Charles Brewster Ross. For long time
this was one of the happiest families in
Philadelphia but a few years ago Ross be
gan to lead the life Of Il debaucheec he
sought other company than his wife's, his
business began to decrease, and h. became
a bankrupt To refined and delicate wo-
man like his wife this was crushing blow.
and she fled from the man, leaving the
children in his care, and sought the pro-
lection of her friends To my knowledge
no divorce ever took place between the par
ties, and short time after the fight Of the
wife anOt Ter woman took her place in the
family, who still occupies it.
The following is the theory Of those who
know the family, and who are acquainted
with Ross personally Some months be
fore the Kidnapping Mr.. Ross received let
ters from his first and only wife, asking
and demanding the children. 1t will be
recollcctcd that even up to this time he
had refused to show any Of the letters he
received. with the exception of the black
m:iling note, and it viii also be borne in
mind that the attempt was made to steal
both children. It was not until three days
after the Kidnapping that the fact was
was safely in the hands of its mother or
her friends in the West We think Mr..
Ross knows now, and always, did know,
where his child is. but refrained from max
ing it public, for family matters. As re-
cards the advertisements, the blaclmailing
note, &c, we think they are all forgeries,
written either by Ross himself or his
friends, intended to divert public attention
from the facts q.
On Wednesday, September 1G, 1874,
and thereafter copies Of said newspapers
containing the above rccited words were
published by said editors i'll the said city
Of Philadelphia, the said Ritter 4 Hawley
sending them to said Philadelphia, and
there selling and distributing the same.
The said words, printed and published
as above recited, are utterly and completely
false and untrue, and are Of a character to
injure me in my said business and to black
en- my reputation.
At the age of 50 years, having been
heretofore unmarried, on the 9th day Of
July. 1862, | was married to Sarah Ann
Lewis. of Brookfeld, Mass. OF this mar
riage there have been born to me eight
children, to wit-William Lewis Ross,
Augustus Stoughton Ross, Henry Augutus
Ross, Sophia Lewis Ross, Walter Lewis
Ross. Charles Brewster Ross, Marion Kim
ball Ross and Annie Christine Ross, in the
order here stated, all Of whom are living,
except William Lewis Ross, who died III
1868.
Ny said wife has lived with me without
from the date Of my SAID mar
riage, and continues 50 to live, no difficulty
of any kind having ever arisen between US;
[ have never bad any other wife nor my
wife any other husband.
1t is true that in April last my firm was
to suspend payment OF its debts,
but this was wholly due to causes Of pure
Iy business nature.
On the first day of July last my sons,
the said Walter Lewis Ross and Charles
Brewster Ross. were abducted from my |
residence on Washington lane, IN the
rwenty-second Ward, Of said Philadelphia,
Dv two unknown men Walter was left at
he corner of Palmer and Richmond streets,
N said city but of Charles no clew nor
race has since been found, nor have | nor
INV of my family any knowledge Of his
since the first day OF Jp-y,
1874.
Al. Ill tho tata /