The New York herald., 1874-07-25
Strange Questions Arising
Out of the Case.
WAS THE CHILD STOLEN 2
Remarkable Discrepancies
and Contradictions.
STARTLING SUSPICIONS

tectiVeS. nave Deeu renCered lamlliar with
all the details OF the case, and while
DID, well schooled and veteran detectives have
been kept in the dark grave suspicious
begin to influence the community, but they are OF
such ioul and unnatural character that nothing
but the most conclusive proof that they were true
could force your correspondent TO transfer them
TO paper. A lew days since the writer
entered into counsel with the correspond
ents or several other New YORK newspapers,
and all. upon comparing notes, discovered as the
result oil many long interviews with numerous
people in Germantown that they were in posses
sion OF precisely the same rumors, which were OF
such an extraordinary nature that they seemed TO
be IN the fullest sense OF the term Improbable. II
little Charley Ross has beer abducted, and II all
the circumstances OF the case previously reported
are corr ect, the communication OF these rumors
would be
HEARTLEss AND CRUEL;
but, II these rumors not false, they OF such
a nature that they ought TO be published broadcast
10 the world. The Philadelphia newspapers have
also heard these rumors. out their action has been
strange and peculiar throughout from the time the
news OF the abduction first appeared until the
present. full expose Of the action OF the author
tiles well OF the designs OF the kIdnappers
was submitted several days ago to a newspa per OF
this city, but its management refused to allow 1t
to appear IN print until the copy mad been re.
ierred 10 the Mayor. The result is That the HERALD
pub!lshed this eIpoSs in full. and the only resort
lett the sheet referred to above to copy the
HERALD's article word lor word. All tnat Is
known is that the detectives, VINO have been
absent tor several days. have returned, the lieu
tenants have all gone back their regular duties
and the case Is virtually In Stlltu quo.
NO one doubts that Captain Helms personally did
all he could TO find the child; but the same means
he employed to do ths-viZ the employment OF
the weakest men on his orce-were sucn as to
afford the greatest protection to the kidnappers.
II, indeed, there were any kidnappers in the first
place. The peculiar manner in which he has
Naaeed Men he TINS has orouct na are Saaa sc
to convince the public that ne has
already done his best IN the first place he has
reused to communicate with the very agency
winch would have assisted him the most in dndlng
the child reported TO have been lost, viz, the
refused 20 allow
THE PICTURE OF THE INFANT
to be issued IN the Illustrated journals. A CORE.
spondent addressing local sheet speaks as lol.
lows s-
e9 Ss w made t. have the
sh.s Snd The dsssscn ne
well 70 have he pheiograph 81 The sh,id and
sSssSs ] y,Sn
% The @ s IN
and the necessity OF an early detection OF the crim
~ s:s Is. sas:
A subscriber OF an afternoon paper. who ia prob.
ably connected with the municipal government,
ssseF undes Nj: %r hsns With gross mismsnass%sn
xIsMANAGEXENr, Or wHAr2
How have the detectives mismanaged 1t V
The editor answers as follows:--
We tell him Il was o two weeks after the aeaue
then @ only police otcers as parties Who stole
s child and a, Of s The na
the he de- @ ans se Rs . u
but wo and .WSe,yswo days a,'ar the crime
u realization Of the crime and how could that have
ss The hs @
lice have in their possession Again some OF the oldest
SSs ias iS
easy is ONCE duty and the privilege proMenaang The
ase Se Sana ms '"' h's' Will drop
Articles like the above along with rumors that
correspondents nervous, and to force them to put
In print stories OF o nature SO unpleasant that
they turn from them with loathlng and disgust.
Letter from o Suspicious Citizen-Sin.
gular Rumors Embodied in Startling
Queries-A New Phase OF the Abduc-
ton Conspiracy.
PHILADELPHIA, July "a, 1874
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
IL would, OF course, be ridiculous for
any one to suppose tnat the full facts so lar as
they exist, in regard 10 the abduction OF Charles
Brewster Ross on the lst inst, are not known to
your very efficient correspondent In this city.
The articles upon the subject-a subject which
concerns the hearth and home OF every parent in
the land--have been slngularly correct and &C.
curate, but have avoided what a large number Of
the citizens OF this town regard as the most vital
in the whole machinery Of the abduction.
II mas been mooted IN the FAMILY circle 1t has
been spoken OF upon the street; It. has been dis.
cussed, pro and con. by the representatives OF
every newspaper In the city, and yet no news
paper or Its representative has as yet walked up
to "the ghost" stalking in the midst OF the city OF
homes and taken 1t by the throat The sounds
heard on every side are calculated to remind one
OF the whispering Gallery" or OF that time when,
with "bated BREATH" 1t must be said, -" am Sir Or.
ace, let no dog bark"
CONDUCT OF THE DETECTIVES.
There has been great deal OF talk in this goodly
city OF ours about the vim and energy OF the de-.
tective force. called In their conduct OF the case.
But they have from the nrst studiousy and, If you
will allow me the expression stupidity ignored that
grand engine OF the times, the newspaper press.
The correspondents reporters and others, who,
has been well said, are the briel chronicers Of
the times, have been bafaed at the Central ONCE
in their endeavors to get news, have been
snuobeo by the highest ofllclas when they became
persistent, and insutcd when adverse opinions
were advanced 10 those held by "the powers
that be-"
In no single instance has any word been given
by those in charge OF the case, except to "cque"
VINO assumed TO dictate to all around them what
their opinions shall be. The ''nampy pamby" pro.
cess has been pursued for three weeks, and has re-
suited IN nothing nor ts it likely to, for we have
the significant fact, as sent you by your correspond
ent. that all the detectives have returned to their
wonted spheres OF labor, and after the heat Of tie
day rest uron their laurels SO be it. Wooster who
declares his name Is Worcester, and who Is
anxious 10 make the acquaintance OF the
rcOorters at the Central ONCE who have