The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-08-23
CHARLIE ROSS.
Another Clean Of Hope.-The Boy Declared
Alive and Vol,

Auotber Clean of Hope.-The Boy Declared
Alive and Vol,
The Philadelphia Inquirer has the
following: In the Office Of relative OF
Mr.. Christian K. Ross, on Walnut
street, there was assembled a knot of
men who listened closely and anxiousIy
to the answers given by mulatto man
to questions put by Captain Helms, who
has had charge of the Ross abduction
case on behalf of the city police depart.
ment ever since the first information OF
the curly haired boys disappearance
was left at Fifth and Chestnut streets.
The mulatto came to Philadelphia and
was discovered in the vicinity of MIR.
Ross former Office and store inquiring
where Mr.. Ross could be found. The
man says his name is George. and that
he was born and raised in Utica, N. Y.
He is tall, powerfully built, about
twenty-eight or thirty years of age, with
complexion very light, even for mu-
latto, and keen, dark eyes. His manner
is simple and quiet, but earnest. He
saws that he was the cook of gang of
thieves which was branch of the gen.
eral organization of which Mosher and
Douglass were the leaders. The latter
were with "Division No. l." which had
it's quarters here in the Northeast, and
he was With "Division No. 2" which
located and operated in the South and
West. Charlie Ross was stolen on the
first of July. and three days afterward
he was in the custody of Division No.
g." then at a point near Cincinnati, 0.
George says that Charlie was turned
over to his care, and the first thing he
was ordered to do was to clip the curls
from Charities head; that he did 80, and
another man then went over the work
again and cut the child's hair very close
to the scalp. The party with the child
in their possession soon moved South,
and for nine months constantly shifted
their quarters, but kept South all the
time.
He asserts that he saw the child alive
and we'll within five weeks, and that,
within q week, if the facilities he asks
are afforded him, he will recover the
long lost boy safe and sound. George
alleges no fine feelings of humanity as
the motive which prompted him to now
seek to restore Charlie Ross to his heart
crushed parents, but says plainly that
he is after the reward, which ne would
have moved after sooner had he dared.
He claims that he had no hand in the
abduction, and that he never did any
crooked work with the gang. 1t is said
that he was able to give very straight
answers concerning the names OF leaders
of the latter, detailed information as to
work dore by them, etc., in response to
questions put to Captain Helne and
others, together with other information
which would imply that he has seen
Charlie Ross since the latter's abduction.
The mulatto solemnly protests that
every word he utters about the matter is
the truth, and says he only wants his
assertions tested, and that he is ready to
do what he promises 6. forfeit his life.
Mr.. Ross has been summoned to the
city, and when he arrives there will be
another examination of George i'll his
presence. There are three theories re-
garding this mans action First, the
man may be simply beat" to use an
expressive slang term, endeavoring to
make few dollars out of Mr.. Ross or
secure free transportation to certain
distant point he is anxious to reach ;
second, he may be commissioned by
men having possession of the child,
which has grown q burden IN their
hands, to play the game he is trying on,
with the object of securing the reward
and sharing it with them third, he is
telling the truth and is really able and
willing to do what he proposes. The
popular hope will prove universal that
he may, in any event, prove the meals
of clearing up the "Cherlie Ross
mystery"