Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-09-01
THE ROSS CASE-THE TRIAL OF WESTET'
WELT, A CONFEDERATE OF THE ABDUC

WELT, A CONFEDERATE OF THE ABDUC-
TORS.
The Ross abduction case promises to be one
OF the most celebrated causes ever brought into
an American court. 1t is already in popular re-
gard one of the strangest, as well as one OF the
most violent of crimes, but it's legal aspects may
give it the same Importance with lawyers and
Judges that it now has with the general public.
1t is to be ferventy hoped that the trial of West-
ervelt, now in progress in Philadelphia, may
have practical result, but the many persons in
dulging that anticipation must not lose sight
of the unfavorable side Of the case 1t is evident
that the proof against Westeryet is not yet com
plete, and that the trial at this time was under
taken only under the pressure OF extreme neces-
sty. Westeryelt has been in custody for num-
ber of months, during which time the authorl-
ties have been busily engaged in working up the
case so as to render conviction inevitable.
But some links in the chain, apparently, are yet
wanting, sand.the trial was in consequence de-
syed until the very last moment. Under the
law, an indicted person must be discharged II
not brought to trial within specified time that
limit in Westeryelts case was about expiring
consequently the public prosecutors had no TO-
source but to go before jury with their unper-
fected case, if they did not let the man who it is
morally certain knows all the facts of the abduc-
tion escape from their hands.
But with all this, it would seem from the
prosecutions opening that the State will be able
to prove sufficient against Westervelt to insrre
his punishment on some Of the counts of the in
dictment. The suspected party is a brother-in-
Ia >, a,i,, lao5 i,,t tla
conspiracy, and evidence is in possession of the
prosecuting officers to show that Mosher and
Westervelt were in close consultation during al
the period of the abduction. very
important point is that Westervelt accompanied
Mosher to the livery stable when the bargain was
made for the buggy in which little Charley was
carried away. For long time, Westervelt pre-
tended to be the friend of the detectives and in
terested in bringing his unworthy relative tc
Justice, but this action is..now seen to haye been
purely deceptive and only taken for the purpose
Of putting his contederates in possession of the
plans of the police. That lis reasonably clear, al
least whether it can be legally proven is the
doubtful point. Public opinion is gradually
darkening about the man Westelvelt. Although
not the actual abductor, if he knew who tbs
Villains were and what they ha done with the
child, and did not do his duty to society and the
Ross family, he is practically as guilty as Moshei
and Douglass, and if found guilty should re
ceive the extreme penalty which would hay,
been visited on those men. imprisonment fo
life would not be too severe punishment
Coincident with the trial proceedings, ther,
has been published full account of the .nego
tiations" between Mr.. Ross and the kidnapper
for the return Of the boy. The main stony ha
been told before, but these details give th
topic an added interest. They read more lk
chapters of the most ultra sensation novel
Inns never worked out a plot half so thrill
ing as we have here narrated o
events actually happening. If Poe were aliv
he might take this startling string Of facts an,
through the exercise Of his analytic gepiu
evolve the climax, as he did in his ''Rue Morgue
and other curious studies of that nature
Mr.. Ross greatly gains in public esteem by thes
Developments. The waImest sympathy has al
ways been with him now he has admiration a
we'll for he is seen to be man Of grea
courage and determination. The wicked sian
ders, some time since set afoat. look ghastl
enough in the bold light here thrown upol
them. As for poor little Charley, veiy few peo
pie believe he will ever be seen again. AS ia
N he il concerned, all this worry and excitemen
is probably useless, but the hearts OF parent
will not give up the search until they have track
ed his murderers and rendered a repetition o
the crime unlikely.