The New York herald., 1874-08-13
THE MYSTERIOUS LETTERS.
A Ransom Must Be Paid for
Little Charley.
An Interesting Interview with the
Afflicted Parents.


receipt OF the intelligence from Vermont the uncle
OF the stolen child Mr.. Lewis, left for the locality,
while general press despatch announces the TACT
tnat this same party, upon his arrival, failed to
recognize the little one as hts nephew. Ant1cipat
mo that the father would follow the uncle. and
take with MIN his son Walter in order 10 identity
She parties under arrest, ! started out promptly
Jer New YORK. IN order that the HERALD might re-
eeive the rsr news OF the Identification. Arriving
NJ the National Hotel, in Oortlandt street, tee-
sraphed to Bennington, VI, to o personal friend,
who ut once responded
stay where You are. ] am absolutely certain the boy
beM here is not Charles Brewster hoss. j. A. r.
For the moment at q loss exactly what move to
make went down TO the Jersey City Jerry, deter
mined 10 wait the development OF events. had
ie,t Philadelphia upon simply a presentiment that
the father would soon follow me, and not having
seen the father nor heard OF him after my arrival
j was sorely~ puzzled whether my impulse was
night OF wrong. As was waiting at the gates OF
the ferry house, gentleman, dressed in the uni
arm Of Pullman conductor, made remark
" friend who was standing near him, "ROss
came oown with me, and had Waiter with him.
Though the conductor said nothing more he had
spoken enough 10 convince me thas Nj. Ross was
in New York. and that my only chance OF seeing
him was to patiently walt until ne came to take
returning train for Philsdelphia
Mr.. ROSS APfEARs.
At about half past TWO O'Clock saw little fe-
low coming down Cortlandt street whom at once
recognized as Walter Ross Directly behind HIM
was his father. The two were alone. Upon reach
ing the ferry the twain recognized me, and, step
ping up to Mr.. Ross, said
"ls there any ything new Y'
mo, nothing" was his answer
The last boat carrying passengers for the three
O'Clock train for Philadelphia was at her pier ]
had vague suspicion that one or two OF the
called Philadelphia detectives were with Mr.. Ross
who, unless managed matters carefully, might
prevent an interview. did not take the boat until
the last moment, nor did ! after getting on
boarc attempt 10 approach either the father the
ssu. Alter the train mad LEFT Jersey City made a
tour OF it, found Mr.. Ross and his son Walter, and
took seat directly ahead Of them. The cars had
not yet left behind them the suburbs OF Jersey
CITY, when presented to Mr.. Ross my card.
THE DIFFICULTIES OF AN INTERVIEW
Mr.. Ross read the card He answered me 1hus:-
~ have nothing whatever TO say. wnen a mans
character has been assaulted as mine has been py
the New York newspapers it behooves him to say
nothing until the proper moment My first object
- 70 and my son; my next VIII be to vindicate nv
character
'That il perfectly proper" said !, ''but you
ought to ask yourself why you have been mlsrepre-
sented before the people. Hy0u imagine that the
newspaper fraternity Of New York or OF any other
city would wilfulIy outrage the character Of any
man, high or low, You are believe, very much
mistaken. II newspaper correspondents worked
after such fashion as this they would not only
be condemned by the community with which they
Zee their situations
Hon Mr pooo
OF men whom the newspaper men could have ap-
preached who would have told them what my
character wasn
.'But,n said ], when an inhuman outrage has
been committed against any party it is not the
1uty Of journalists to consult that individuals
Sriends but the individual himself This Is pre-
tlseg what the newspaper men did In your case.
They came to you. You had the sympathy OF every
journal In the country. You could have asked no
favor OF any journalist which he would not have
granted. But when the newspaper men came to
true, you, accepting the advice Of incompetent
Den, held your tongue, while reporters baffied at
your headguarters were forced to go upon the
street and catch up the rumors Tying there."
"A newspaper man should report nothing unless
ne knows tnat what be Is reporting Is true," re-
turned MI Ross.
BREAKING SILENCE
"Did you read the Methodist last week. 1t con-
talned vlndlcauon OF your character and denied
press"
"Yes, saw itr he answered.
"Weli," l returned, 1.-The managers Of the
paper were personally acquainted with the de.
tails OF the case, well with your connection
with their church. Had any other paper been IN
possession OF the same knowledge, 1t would have
stated precisely the same thing. All that has
oeen saId that you imagine hostile to yourself
wac uttered after you had denied the newspapers
tue only means they mad TO secure the trutb.''
BE tnat as IT may" returned Mr. Ross IL do
not care 10 talk now. | would rather let the
I
beheve that God VIII see me safely through yet.n
THOSE TERRIBLE LETTERS.
Tnue dld the conversation proceed slowly and
painfully TO both parties. There was something in
the behavior OF Mr. Ross tnat convinced me ne
was wfiiing TO SPEAK but yet he seemed struggling
against mysterious influences, when | could not
understand. II any one suolect has Deen the re-
eult OF extraordinary comment II is the subject OF
the anonymous letters from the kiduappers Both
Mr.. Ross and the police have hitherto been reti-
cent concerning them, and the only medium the
people nave had o. gaining any information OF
their nature has been through these columns.
hence mace up my mind that If possible would
hatn from the lips OF Mr.. Ross himself Just eX-
nctly what those letters contained.
''Tell me about the letters you have receved,n
II have nothing to tell you about them," he
sepbed.
'.Bnt," answered MIN, "the pubic refuse to
letters. surely you must have something to say
Id answer TO this universal request"
nsss NE se 20 are laid II to be erne
wife,
That is untrue,n ne answered.
"Whatw | exclaimed, greatly surprised, ado
you mean 10 say that the letters are not abusvev'
mot In the sense the newspapers regard them,"
was the reply.
in what sense, them" asked.
''fhe letters which have been received SAID
Er Ross, ''do not refer directly 10 my wife at ALL
sney .,y speak OF her simply as the mother OF the
s%nno % Just Tue same as they would speak Of the
carried on instead OF my own.r
Jost one wora, If you please, Mr.. Ross, inter-
tupteo "tnat may make no mistake. DO the
NtSIs mentlon your wiles maiden nameYn
"No, they DO n0tn he answered
"Do they give any indication that their writer's
Gnew Your VIE before she was married TO you YN
mo, not the least" was his response.
"Do those letters denomina ate your wife as Mrs
ROesw Wv ~ ''
mo, str,v he returned.
"Do they seem TO imply that the thieves knew
anytnlnR more about your wife than they wou,d
have Known about any other woman whose child
they might have accidentally picked upf'i asked
NO. was thc response.
"Mr. Ross" astd ], "you have given me much
nd ouF nFfn nf