The New York herald., 1874-07-26
the CHILD STEALERS.
The Scene of the Strar ore
Crime.
THE MOTHERS STORY
A Trip Over the Rc,ot,, Followed
by the Kidnap pers.

s'"AIas*sLPHIA, July 20, 1879.
Tne routs which, The Eass children trayersed
While IN 5se cartilage with their kidnappers has
become tnvssted with su ch unusual interest that
there Is no doubt but/it will become historical.
The vasaries OF the Van Tasses and the poor peda-
gogue OF Sleepy Hovlow are as much matters OF
history as the capture or Major Andre on a neigh
boring highway. These long, deserted avenues OF
Germantown. with their gnlet residences far back
among the trees. destitute of gas lamps and un-
Hequentcd by police. must remain Tor years TO
come the dread OF anxious mothers and the
nightmare of children. Germantown Is
suburb OF Philadelphia only as Tarrytown or
Dobps' Ferry or New Rochelle is suburb OF
New YorK. 1t is included in the newly added
Twentyseeond ward it is true but 1t is as lar dis
sant frUm city air and city life as though 1t were
aDunered mies from Philadelphia
A SILENT SUBURBAN SOLITUDE.
Not only are It's avenues and lanes deserted. but
the whole place leaves the impress OF dreamy
existence upon its quiet inhabitants. Save the
business OF this suburb, who hurry or on
early trains and return late the afternoon there
are evidences Of Life in any Of the thousands OF
beautiful viiias which are seen nesting timidly
among the trees every hand. AS Jules Verne
would probably write about Germantown were he
detailed 10 work up this case, 80 NAV say that
this village, without stores as centre Of life.
seems to exist in utter dependence upon some
greater social power than ITSELF 1t defes map
makers TO outline its limits without either In
dustry or commerce, il gets along alter the most
quiet, comfortable fashion. Its Inhabitants seem
TO lead retired lives Its houses impress the visitor
with the most inspiring ideas OF comfort. They
seem to be dwellings, across whose thresholds care
or sorrow never enter. They have the ook OF
peace iul, silent homes, whose doors never CRATE,
whose window panes never rattle whose floors
never creak, whose chimneys never roar, whose
furniture never squeaks, whose locks do not click.
and whose hosts make more noise than their
shadows"
THE SCENE OF THE ABDUCTION.
Certain 1t is That no better locality could have
been selected for the abduction OF a child than
Washington lane. The noise OF passing train
occasionally wakes up the neighborhood, but
there are few persons pass along its pavements,
except in the morning or evening, as the trains
depart arrive. A drive OF quarter oil O mile,
alter turning into Washington lane from German
town avenue. brought me 10 the brow OF steep
mill On either side were rows OF beautiful resi-
dences, and the air seemed pervaded with = Death
nke suliness Up and ,dvr down thus, thus hil,
were in the habit OF drivlng. A square
brick house. quite high aoove the road, next met
my view 1t partially hidden from the street
by quantity OF evergreens. A wide, vine covered
gate, your correspondent walked up TO The lront
door and inquired Tor Mrs. Ross
sogRowFUL hoTHER's STORY.
The lady seated on the veranda ana as she
rose TO welcome your correspondent when his
card was handed her there was to be seen All the
grace and carriage of q COURAGEOUS, resolute
woman, suffering under terrible aifilt tion. There
was mothers grlel IN every feature OF that calm,
pale face. Stately almost queenly, OF mien with
ont any affected anguish, this mother kindly eX-
pressed her Willingness TO tell what sne knew.
And 1t vas with more than ordinary regret that
asked Mrs. Ross TO begin, knowing .ul well all the
visions OF her boy winch the narrative would call
forth.
ductIon OF Charley" began Mrs. Ross "out there
some facts r,gardlng the events prior TO the
kidnapping that have not been told. These are
that, Tor the better part OF week preceding the
sad event, these men were seen repeatedly by
neghbor ana by the children. The men drove up
from the direction OF the railroad crossiD2 near
sron eT m he road as TO- s some pat oe o. the Rar
and after attracting the attention OF the chit
dren would give them candy. On several occa-
SONS they drove past up the nil, and not meeting
the boys turned and came slowly down"
''Did the pfearance Of these men not attract
.'witnout exciting our suspicious we were
rather annoyed. Mr.. Ross tod Waiter, the elder
boy. that he must not take candy from any
Stranger. IL was only day or two previous TO
The abduction that he learned OF these facts"
''Wnat ideas did the neighbors form ?" | asked.
apr Walker. who on two occasions, saw the men
on the road, set them down at nrst country
pnysicians The carriage they drove was always
the same dingy -lookiDs anair while the horse,
fne-looAlng animal, always appeared fresh, as II
be had not travelled any great distance. Tie men
had intelligent looking Iaces and we're tbe very
last persons one would suspect o. such work. Dr.
Walker determined TO ADDRESS them on meeting
them for the second time, but both turned tnelr
heads abruptly away. There are great many
people in the world VINO are unsocal who not
Enaves; IL is not surprising that this fact did
not strike the Doctor as suspicious. Who could
dream Of any such q CRIME 4? Who but a mother
ssn realize snd He avn" import inc OF s aens sords o
OF the abduction have been tod before.
on ae day Drdrnss ssd s0ne down
as soon as IL was iuly realized that the child was
gone past hope of finding. He did not break the
news to me untu he Lad, In measure, prepared
my mind for it. 1t was dreadful shock. Tne
Inowedge OF Charleys death would not have
equailed 1t. But am trying TO be nopeicL / be-
aeEe III the Almighty and justice"
THE ROUTE.
"Wi'l you be so kind to go over the route
taken by the aDductors OF your chd, as given Dy
Walter, the elder boyyn | asked as spread out
large map OF the vicinity.
Al will II ! can, ana tue name Of each street
seems burned into my heart" replied the LADY.
Ihen slowly, but surely, AIRS Ross traced out the
most careful investigation. To the northsard,
along Washington lane, then southeast along
Pittsville, thence south over the same road,
Known at that point as Ross street till mcrges
into Church lane, down TO Hancock street, across
70 the eastward TO Shoemaker lane, then do wn
one block to Wakefield street and along this until
saw the sad, anxious mother follow her chill.
cren, in her honest imagination, as she
sa% :d aveed ie On sgnd "n ON mm al rFg1 sToa1
street Was reached Here a turn was made INTO
tie old and We'll known ROAD, ana tlls latter
was followed toward the south until Germantown
avenue was reached In the little hamlet Oi Rising
Sun. Through Germantown avenue, always now
toward the heart OF the city. the route broulnt
nv pencil down to the intersection OF TINS thor.
oughIare with Lehigb avenue. Now 10 the east
ward half dozen squares TO second street;
thence toward the south, a good nile and quar-
ter, TO Thompson; thence east 20 Frankford road
ana ShacEamack street; rnence down the latter
10 Richmond street. and tnen TO the historical
corner 0l Palmer street, where the elder boy was
put out II was q sad narrative.
THE SUSPENSE OF DOuBT
"When did the eder boy return !" asked, to
Change the currents OF thought.
"Ihe man brought nim home about nine O'CLOCK
The children were taken about lOur O'Clock, aud
Ak near as can learn, tuey were separated
little after SIX | should have been Wild with
anxiety had / been at home and the children been
missing at tea time. As IT. was they were IN the
care oi servant ana were possibly overlooked.
M. Ross missed the children AMI had inquired
evcryMnere among the neignDVrs before the