The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-09-20
THE CHARLEY ROSS MYSTERY.

THE following is the concluding part
of the address Of Mr. Hagert, in opening
for the commonwealth, on the Both ult.,
the prosecution at Philadelphia, Of Will
liam Westervelt, charged with being a
party in the abduction of Charles Brew
ster Ross in July, 1874:
The suspicious Of Superintendent Wal.
ling, of New York, were first aroused
against Mosher and Douglass, from the
discovery that plan had been suggested
by one Of them, some time before, to alb
duct the child of wealthy man in New
York, and realize as a ransom from one
hundred to three hundred thousand dol
lars, and from this it was reasoned that
the taking Of Charlie Ross was prelim-
mary to the New York abduction; that
yielding up Charlie Ross in good faith
when ransom was paid for him would
enable them to carry to successful con-
clusion the other crime. The attention
of the authorities was then directed to
finding these two men. They were
known to the police Of New York; they
had been originally ship.carpenters, sub
sequently followed the water, and after
ward become acknowledgements. They
had been arrested for robbing house at
Red Bank. N. j., and broke Jail, two
years before this transaction; since that
all traces of them had been lost. They
we're now hunted. First a brother OF
Mosher was had communication with,
but it was soon discovered that no infor.
nation could be had from him. Mex
We>tervelt, the prisoner in the dock. q
brother-in-law of Mosher, was seen by
| the authorities. He had been on the po-
lice force Of New York, but was dis
| charged in January, 1871. for protecting
the lottery policy business. Out Of work,
nothing to do. with no support except his
| wife's sewing-machine, be left New York
| and came to Philadelphia, and resided on
| Monroe street, above Second, with Will
| liam Mosher. Mosher, after his fight
from New Jersey, changed his name to
Henderson, and coming TO Philadelphia,
and taking up his residence on Monroe
| street. and with Douglass, who had
| changed his name to Clark, ostensibly en-
gagged in the sale Of moth powder, though
| their real business was theft, larceny and
| receiving stolen goods. Westervelt re
! manned here until April, and it was then
that Douglass came on and joined the
party, and Westervelt returned to New
York, leaving Mosher and Douglass in
| the house on Monroe street.
On the oath Of June, 1874. just one
week before the abduction, Westervelt
made his appearance st Mosher's house.
His visit was very short one, profess
eddy for the purpose of selling moth DOW
der. He was home on the 9th, and We
will show you while here that he and
Mosher went to stable and inspected
the horse and buggy with which the alb
duction was subsequently committed, on
the evening Of tie day before Mosher and
Douglass made their visit to Chestnut
Hill. Then suddenly he started for New
York. Then the following day the bug.
" is seen 1t Chestnut Hill, and is seen Il
Germantown, with Mosher and Douglass
in the wagon, and on the subsequent days
these two men are seen accommodating
the neighborhood. making the acquaint.
ance OF these children, until finally on the
LIST Of June they secure the children and
drive to Kensington, put Walter on the
street. and the wagon il driven away with
Charlie. The NEXT thing is the reward
offered BY Mr.. Ross Of 500, on the 5th
Of July. On the 18th m anonymous let
ter reached him, proposing ransom d
80, 900 for the child, which, if not paid
it's life would be destroyed This is /
sample of long series Of letters Of simiIaI
Ilmport, answers to which were invited il
personals to Be inserted IN the Ledge
and Star, Of this city, md the New Yori