New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-08
TIE PHILADELPHIA MYSTERY.

NO LIGHT ON TIE ROSS ABDUCTION CAsE-CHANGED
ATTITUDE OF THE PHILADELPHIA NEWSPAPERS
OTHER THEORIES THAN KIDNAPPING FOR RAN
som Observation-Disclosures CONDUCT OF MR.
ROSS.
(PRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. THE police are In
despair over the Ross dsealing case. Not trace
discovered Of the boy of the two men VINO car
ried him away or Of the yaohtbodicd buggy In which
they are said to have decamped The private detectives
who are supposed TO have genius for their bus
ness than the politicians OF the city force have been no
more fortunate One step has been gained, however
which may in the end lead to q solution OF the
mystery. A doubt as to the kidnapping Vi
tue child for ransom has at last got pos
session Of the mind OF every one l"ho mas
studied the case. Now, the dominant idea ID that
people, press and police have been on false scent al
the time thorough stigaton Of the antecedehts
surroundings business and social connections OF inc
Ross family is now demanded by public sentiment anu
the publication of facsmiles OF the letters received ny
Mr.. Ross requiring $4,000 ransom Is insisted OH
as essential to the further progress toward cearng up
the mystery New theories TO explain the strange anar
begin to be discussed by the city papers, winch uhth
lately refused entertain any other notion tnan tha
the missing child had been abducted by bold
thieves to eXtort money from the dlstresseu
parents One paper, Tho German Democrat goes
so far as TO hint that the boy has Deeh
murdered and insists tha the house and GROUNDS OF inc
father should be searched. Other journals hint at
family troubles as q probable clue. and begin TO touch
upon suspicious circumstances connected with the
affair which have heretofore been moOted only In pr
vate nversaon. The popular demand for the pubca
ton OF the promises to be so imperative that
Mr. Ross will be obliged to comply with IT, or TO police
to force him 10. His only excuse for keeping them
secret is that OF them contain abuse OF his WIFE,
This very fact however is additional argument IN
lilo tsna
70 furnish elew that will lead to the detection OF the
writer's II the letters actually contain reflections on
Mrs Ross the aspect at once, Tor IL
evident such expressions would not De wrtten p
| ndDappers who sought money only as the result OF
their crime. Mr. Ross has determInedly refused 10
| let the correspondence be printed. Yesterday he
for it by the representative OF
paper, and replied that amount OF money would
duce him allow the letters 10 be printed. IL is
traordinary that the police have not taken them out
of his bands before this but then. the whole affair
surrounded with Just such perpexlng circumstances
As far as be learned no policeman has vet been
inside of Mr.. ROss's house, has any
rigid examination been made OF the members
OF the family and the servants. well-Snown
detective, not the city force who has worked for
three weeks upon the case, has reached the
conclusion that family secret lies at the
bottom Of the kidnDpng, and that 1t Is use
less to proceed further on the suppostion that
1t IL simple afIir OF abduction for ransom
meanwhile the Mayors police still beating about IN
the dark and falling back their Old theory That the
general search Of all the houses within the corporate