New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-03
THE ROSS ABDUCTION TRIAL.

STATEMENTS MADE BY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
DENT wAILISG ON THE sTAND-THE INTEREST
IN THE COURTROOM.
IrRoM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUsE.l
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. g. In the trial OF
william Westervelt to-day the first witness was koper'
N Leslie reporter in the employ OF The Phiddefphd
Ledger He testified that after Westervelts arrest last
April he took down part Of statement made oy the
prisoner at the Central Police Station, concerning his
knowledge OF the Ross Mr.. A. T. Scott, phonog
rapher reported the latter part of the statement Inc
document was read to the jury The substance OF the
statement ia as follows:
VIM Westeryelt. brother-inlaw Of VIM Mosher, said
To the best OF INV knowledge | was in Philadelphia on
the 25th OF june the day before the letter OF ta aa
was taken from here 10 NewY0rf TO be posted; tod
Mosher and Douglass about that time that they we're ss,
peced; GIL Mcshers wife said the officers were after
me that the officers were after them for this other tnis
told Mosher and Douglass all that she said; Mosner
and Douglass and after they were suspected Tor TINS
0repse VISITED taverns and Douglass went tn fortune
teers if Bill had sent letter there; wrote
Mosher IN Pnadeha that was The day Mesner "sS S%
90 to Philadelphia to have Moshers sister nu Oh.
S wneaer PERSONAL ene nSn In hs e Head under the
head OF Napoleon to MORN tnem mem, hoct ~ New
York that afternoon; Mrs Mosher did not go paek Wtn
m ad h"t e asont the house being d
Mosher from the time came back until my sissr ea d
pon lass came to my house shortly after and stayed
there Mosher and Douglass did not stay at my house
came: never asked them where they were living; at
Rondout Mosher and Douglass proposed to eomiit
made several excuses to get out of it, and they finally
abandoned it, when they came back to NeWlorK ,ney
went 10 eating house opposite the Washington mar
ket they praised the place and said they ALWAYS n'9
nsnated that they were suspected OF having tue child,
they laughed and said that ii was only Joo 10 get
was aware Mosber and Douglass were not making
living in legitimate way before the DEAN OF Mosner
Douglass registering himself under the cf Day anil
as Wright; talked about the child, Douglass skng
get some one who saw them take it; asked how they
could get the te parties a so wele Mn thai S
to to Europe, and write as n he haa spi. gu INC
other party tina, the On money Togd Sf sas ear and
iuinp the money of; asked how they would get the
or four DAYS after; went to walling aud told him about
their going TO Astoria, and how they Were dressed
them but found he was a little too late; an engagement
made for me TO meet Douglass again on te Io,n
off to meet Iosher al the NewEngland House. the next
heard OF them was tina, they were shot at f9rt uani
ton can't ma guess TO Where the child is now
am OF opinion that he ID with the parties bave NEIL
toned, or they have sent him to other pi,es mat.
cf him than the enid unborn; lhe'er hau the
curiosity to inquire where the child was
On the 14th of April the prisoner made another state
ment which was sent to the jury of which the fol-
lowing is the substance:
Twas born in Paterson but was raised IN New-iork
lived in Philadelphia in January with mosIers family
having been discharged irJm the New YORK pJhcc
force and desiring to get something to 40 here went
BACK TO an M nded auction ses Mosher rnd
Douglass had horse and small box WAGON when was
mere but sold t to the Morrsseys before went % New
York / never heard then OF any contemp lated crime
but packages OF shawls and dress goods One came
to The mouse by express about which had suspicion;
came back NewYork In June and STAYED two days
pcdling his mothpowder on the evening oi the second
me horse and buggy he said he had just bought them
the horse mediums1ed bay. and the buggy was
said nc had paid So for the horse my suspicion was
tat he had stolen them Mos9er wrote e,tr Ih
Rondou did not want to give Mosaer away, pnI
told Walns that ne could get the child by taking Dong
lass hrst heard Of tbi abduction When SAN IL ia the
spont this abduction and said Thought it Mosher
and Douglass, and this the first time ne nad his ~.
tention directed to these men In connection Win thc
crime, but placed no credit In the story
westervelt listened intenty to every word; leaning
forward on railing dock with interest greater
than any he has shown before Mrs. Westeryet shared
her husbands about the document never taking
her eye from the reader until he had finished Every
one in the courtroom seemed to appreciate the import
ance Of the declaration there being no noises to interrupt
the witness except what came from the street below.
Cant Helms of the Philadelphia police testified that he
the prisoner make these statements and that no
promises or inducements were held out to him.
SUPERINTENDENT walng of the New-York police force
was upon the stand all the afternoon. He suspected
Mosher and Douglass early the latter part OF July
1874 On Aug. Is westeryelt was brought to bis resi-
denoe witness offered him the whole reward II he re-
covered the child Two hours spent over the sub
ject westervet said in to the offer that there
would be 30 many policemen in 1t that there would he
very little for his share He wanted TO know what he
could make out of It, The witness had three subsequent
interviews with weserve who professed to be aiding
the police the child. At the third or fourth
interview westervelt said that the police would watch
The Astoria ferry they might catch Mosber and Douglass
He continued his pretended aid TO the police 10 the
time of the death of the kidDappes, beng AT times
however, caught in prevarlcation. superintendent
Waing concluded his direct testimony, ana VIII De
crosse xamined Tomorrow.
STATE NATIONAL GUARD ORDERS.