Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-10-22
CHARLIE ROSS.
The story OF his Abduction and the
Events Following.

Nrhhs
From the Boston Globe.l
Fifteen months have gone by since the
nation was startled with the news of the
abduction of that unfortunate child, Char
lie Ross. These months have been crowd
ed with startling incidents. The romance
of crime, which has been created by the at
tempt 10 introduce brigandage into Amer
lea, has many a chapter full of interest /;
but the denouement, though often expect
ed, has yet to come. With an interest at
once constant and intense, the public have
followed the history of the attempts 10 dis
pei the mystery which has enshrouded the
disappearance of Charlie Ross on the first
day of July 1874. But the story has been
so long in the telling, and so many side
plots have been discovered, that compala-
lively few people are able 10 recall the cir
cumstances Of the child's abduction, or 10
trace, with any accuracy, the long success
sion of attempts to rescue The boy and pun
ish his captors. And in response 10 many
calls we present below brief but compre-
hensive sketch of the Charlie Ross abduc-
ton case which cannot fail to be o interest
history of the case down TO January, 1875.
THE ABDUCTION.
In Germantown, one of the pleasant out
lying districts of the city of Philadelphia,
lives Mr.. Christian X. Ross, a man of ex-
cellent private character, whose name and
fame have been SO prominent in the histo-
ry of this case. Mr.. Ross, in July, 1874,
lived in fine residence, which he still had
sufficient means to keep up though his in-
come had been a short lime before much
| diminished by failure in business. On
the first dav Of July, which was Wednes-
day, his two younger children-Walter,
aged six, and Charles Brewster, aged four
years-were playing by the roadside near
their house, when two men who were driv-
ing by in a buggy, called TO them. The
children looked upi they had seen the men
before; and, being in very pleasant way
invited to ride, with an earnest of good in
tentions in the shape OF gift of candy, ac
cepted the proffer of the strangers. The
children were lifted into the buggy and Tho
men drove Off at great pace. A long anC
circuitous route was taken through Tho
northern and northeastern suburbs, TO the
more densey populated district Of Phila
delpha near the Delaware river. Here thu
buggy stopped near eOnfectioner's anc
Walter, the Oldest boy, was given some
| money 10 buy ire-craekers and candy
being promised that his brother would " ali
for him. The little fellow went into thu
store and made the purchase, but coming
4 A. IL. "A h..N Al
gone. His brother was gone, too; anC
from the hour when Walter left him at the
corner of Palmer and Richmond streets
Kensinglon, Charlie Ross has moi been seer
by any relative or friend. II was just dusl
when the little lad came back to the plac
wi ere he had left his brother. His erie!
soon attracted the attention of the passers
by, and Walter was taken home. OF cours
DO one of those who heard the child's erie
supposed that it was anything more thar
the common case of lad who had lost hi
way, and Walter was brought home, liltl
thinking how the news which he brough
would siarlle a whole people.
UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO ENTRAP tn
ABDUCToRs.
The sad news which walter brOugh
home shocked and grieved his parents an
relatives to such a degree that several pre-
cious hours passed by before anything praC
tical was done TO forward the work of res
cue. The facts in the case were sedulousl.
kept secret for day or two, and the bel
of the detective police was called in. Grad
ually, however, the story of the abductio
became known. The Philadelphia publ
became greatly excited over the event. Al