The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1874-09-23
Brigandage in thc United s1nIes.
cn.rll, no..-rh, stolen hoy Of Pnll.a,IpAla.
lFRoN orr owS coRRrsroSplSr.f
NV usyrN Anvust 10 1874.


On the drst day Of July last, as Charlie Ross
and his elder brother were playing near their
home in Philadelphia, they were met by two men
who offered them ride. The same men had some
days previous by gifts Of candy preyed upon the
confidence Of the boys; and now by the promise
Of ride they easily decoyed into a carriage their
unsuspeciing little victims, who were only four
and SIX years Of age. Alter a rapid drive OF ten
miles through Philadelphia. the route selected
being circultous to mislead pursuers and confuse
the children, Walter was furnished with money
and requested to GO into a store to buy some FIRE
crackers. When he came out Of the store, the
carriage had gone; the men had driven of with
little Charlie. Walters grief was great when be
saw that his brother was gone and that he WIS
lost. Later in the day be was found wandering
and crying in this distant part Of Philadelphia,
and was taken home. His sad tale brought ago
ny aud distress into the Ross mansion. The aid
Of the police and detective force was called; but
Investigation seemed only to increase the mystic
~. After several days of most scrutinizing
search, in which not the least clue was obtained
Of the child, or Of the perpetrators of this inhu-
man crime, au advertisement was put in all the
papers describing the child and offering $500 for
his return. Soon in newspaper personal APP
peared the following response Of heartess brevity
-" Ross-We be ready to negotiate" The same
day Mr.. Ross received through the post-ofice
letter containing tokens which the parents recog-
uized as coming from the person of their little
Charlie. and demanding the enormous sum of
$4,000 as a ransom for the child. A subsequent
letter detailed the plan by which the brigands
proposed to receive the money and make secret
transfer of the child. The plan showed the de-
berate cruelty and Internal skill Of the wretches.
u lonely spot twenty miles from Philadelphia and
here on payment Of the money the. child would
be restored. The father must go alone, otherwise
the abductors would not meet him and the place
selected is so situated that they could easily per-
ceive from some distant hiding place whether he
was unattended. For two weeks letters from
the kidnappers, mailed in Philadelphia, some
times IN adjoining towns, continued TO pour in
rapidly on the trembling parents. Each letter grew
more aud more heartless and cruel with threats
to abuse and torture their helpless child, until at
last the brigands stated that unless their terms
were at once complied with the child would meet
with total aInhllaliOn." And such was the
skill Of these human thieves, that
though the pOstoifices were closely watched by
not the least clue could De obtained to
their identity. The communications on the part
Of Mr.. Ross were only through personals in
The newspapers. He was unable at once to pay
he demanded ransom and when ready the fol
owing g personal appeared. &C. X. R.-Iwin
lgree to terms IN every particular" But the
villains probably finding that their letters were
being used to track them, and alarmed for their
'wn personal safety, had ceased writing
So far the details of the case and the opera
ions OF the detectives had been withheld as far
Is possible from the public. But now the CON-
nuui'y had become fully aroused to the enormity
Il the crime. A public meeting was held in
Philadelphia. The Mayor was authorized to offer
reward of $4,000 a wealthy merchant Of New |
FORK City soon added $4,000 more; and the
Detective Society Of Philadelphia 81 500 making
total Of SI25OO offered for the capture Of the /
,iduappers and the restoration of little Charlie I
The full details Of the crime the picture of .
charlie which bad become public property aud .
we're distributed everywhere by the thousands
be magnitude Of the rewards electrified the
Thole country. The boy with long aaxen,
urly hair hazel eyes eIes[ skin round full face
o the clutches Of SUI Drowned. red faced ruff
ans, as described by the Mayors proclamation,
reused the parental instincts Of every one in the
and every man seemed 10 become a self consti.
uted detective; every stranger even to the re.
hottest village became the object of special espi-
mage
Soon reports came from Allentown, quiet east
m town Of Pennsylvania, that about ten days aner
be disappearance Of little Charlie, stout, thick
ct mau, With dark and rrpulsive features his looks
etrayng anxiety, bad appeared At the depot, carry
y in his arms pretty little four year old boy, who
semed utterly bewildered whose long, haxeu hair
ing in ringles bis shoulders; his little dimpled
ice in strange, startling contrast With the broad
rim yisage OF his keeper. The man addressed the
oy by the strange title Of Deacon Harry my
d." The child, ever keeping his eyes on bin,
beyed with evident dstrust II be did not under
ard the name. The boy was kept under the
nctest surveillance, and If addressed BY others,
le man would quickly interrupt by some casual
mark, 50 that The child bad 10 chance TO saya
ord. Len TO himself a moment, be laid bis head
own on the door mat, at the same time sobbing
ie wOrds-"I want my mamma" Some one ap-
rosched the child to sOothe him, but before be
1uld speak, tie strange man rudely seized the boy
ID carried him across the street He next visited
clothing store where the boy was invested In a
sw suit Of clothes, and barber shop where bis
ng, nAxen eurls were cut of Later in the day
icy again appeared Al the depot and took q
ain for stations further west The appearance Of
lis strange aud fair boy was Invested in Allen
'wn with shadow of romance; bot the stealing
little Charlie Ross was az the time unknown 10
lem. Now, week later the story was sent TO
Philadelphia. Detectives were At once pot on their
set. All who saw the picture Of Charlie Ross,
.ellred that it the same little boy who had 50
ieously sobbed for his mamma on the steps Of the
lleniown depot Everywhere exeriion was made
follow the trail Of the fugitive. Finally, By aid
the telegraph, be was arrested in a west bound
ain. The boy was With him. and though be cor.
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