The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-01-29
CHARLEY ROSS.
The Abductiom-Circum OF the
Child's. DtssPpearancs.

The Neutrality-suspicious. of the
ChLd's. Dtseppearance.
The killing of the tive burglars in
New York, few days ago, and the con-
fession by one Of them of his connec-
ton with the abduction of the child
Charley Ross, revives fresh interest in
that affair, and hence we reproduce be-
low the circumstances of the kidnap-
ping:
were lurking about Germantown, quiet
suburb of Philadelphia. These persons
met there two boys, Walter and Charles
Ross, of the age of eight and four re-
spectively, whose parents reside in the
neighborhood. They professed to be
friendly to the boys, and gave them
toys and candies. On Wednesday, July
1, between and o'clock, the men in
question drove up in a buggy, and
meeting the boys, asked them to ride.
The conading children did so, and after
riding some distance, one of the men
asked Walter to get out and buy some
firecrackers. He complied, but as soon
as he had entered the store, the buggy
drove off rapidly with Charley Ross,
who was seen no more.
Mr.. Ross, who was q member of
Philadelphia firm, returned at 8, and
son at home. He searched everywhere
for him, and then sought the aid of the
police, who also sought several days to
find the missing child. Finding his
efforts fruitless, Mr.. Ross advertised as
follows
Three hundred dollars reward will be paid
to the person returning to No. North Sixth
long, curly fiaxeA hair, hazel eyes, clear, light
skin, and round face; dressed in brown
i linen suit, with short skirt, ad-brimmed
straw hat, and laced shoes. The child was
lost from Germantown on Wednesday after
noon, 1st inst, between and o'clock.
This advertisement brought no re-
sponse until Tuesday, July 6, when the
personal column of the Philadelphia
Ledger contained the following
Ross-We be ready to negotiate.
an anonymous letter through the post
office, in which it was stated that
| Charley would be returned for $40, 600.
It also said that the child was in good
hands that it had cost the parties a
great deal of money to get him, and
that they could not think of returning
him for less than $4,000. eve
know" the letter said, " you are not
worth much money, but we are aware
that you have rich friends, of whom you
can borrow. IF you love money better
than you do your own child, the blood
be on your own head" The father an
swered this cruel demand as follows in
the Ledger:
Ross Will come to terms to the extent of
his ability"
Another anonymous letter was prompt
ly received by Mr.. Ross, stating that
the parties who had the child would not
part with it for smaller sum than the
one already named. ssAny attempt, !"
they wrote, ssto ascertain the child's
hiding place will result in its entire an
nihilatiOn.'' The distressed father had
not the ramson demanded, but he was
willing to make any sacrifice to regain
his lost child. He answered in the same
paper as follows
Ross is wllAng Have not got it Am
doing my best to raise it"
Several other letters were received
| during the succeeding week, defying
the police to discover the child, and de-
claring that it sswould be put away if
the terms named were not accepted.
Meantime the public excitement was
very great, the police were spurred into
activity, and the Mayor of Philadelphia
offered reward of $40, 600, giving, at
the same time, the circumstances under
which Charley Ross had disappeared,
The Philadelphia police subsequently
searched 100000 houses in that city
without finding any clew to the fate of
! the missing boy. Stimulated by the
reward, as well as by humane mo-
tives. efforts have been made throughout
the country to find some tidings of the
child, but nothing has been accom-
| plished except the circulation of sew
eral false REPORTS