Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-01-28


personals to the effect that he had the
money and was willing to pay it, and
anxiously asking for an answer prov
ed futile in obtaining any clue to the
kidnappers.
A REWARD OF $4,000 OFFERED FOR
THE CAPTURE OF THE KIDNAPPERs.
The public, Notwithstanding that
these advertisements were inserted
merely to entrap the thieves and not
with any intent to pay the ransom
demanded, became greatly excited
over the conduct of the case. The
Ross family, the police and the detec-
tives were arraigned tor acts tending
to directly encourage the establish
ment of brigandage i'll the United
States. The thieves knew better than
the public; and rightly judging OF
the intentions of the advertisements,
declined to answer them. In the
meantime the story of the abduction
was spread broadcast over the land.
In Philadelphia, a mass-meeting of
the citizens was held, and leading
gentlemen pledged a reward as large
as the ransom asked by 'he thieves.
Mayor Stokeley, on the 22d of July,
issued a proclamation declaring that
''at the instance of the citizens OF
Philadelphia, l hereby offer Il reward
of $4,000 for the arrest of the alb
ductors of Charles Brewster Ross,
sou of Christian X. Ross, of Phila-
delphia, and the restoration Of the
child to his parents" Now, for the
first time, a description of the abduc-
ton was given, founded on the uncer-
tain recollection of Walter Ross
The buggy was of the falling top,
yacht-bodied description, SO far as
one could Judge from the lads story,
as afterwards corroboratcd and sub
stantiated, painted black, and drawn
by dark-brown horse. One of the
men was perhaps thirty-fve years old,
of large build, with a full face, wear
mustachc and full beard. On the
third finger of the right hand he wore
ring. The other was described as
man Of lighter build, not more than
thirty years old, with sandy complex
ion and mustachc, and rather red, full
face. Both the men wore busters.
one wooden, the other gray; and one
of them wore goggles as disguise.
One of the men wore wellworn,
broad-brimmcd, brown straw hat, and
the other | ight straw hat, somewhat
newer. The action Of the Philadel-
phia people, once evoked, was ener
getc enough. Photographs of the
captured child, with a.tull description
of his dress and appearance and the
'marks" of the kidnappers, were seat
tered all over the country. Hardly 4
village IN the United States or the
Dominion of Canada was left in ig-
norancc III regard to the abduction,
and the amateur detectives in every
State set at work to help the regular
officers Of justice in their search for
Charley Ross and his kidnappers.
THE THIEVES AND THEIR PLANS.
The best talent Of Philadelphia
was enlisted in the work. BY careful
study the fact was brought to light
that the men had been seen in the
neighborhood Of Mr. Ross house for
three or four days, in which time the
children had come to reckon them as
casual acquaiItances. But nothing
could be learned in regard to the
route Of the kidnappers from Ken,
sington. Some supposed that they
crossed the Delaware River. The
day after the abduction man ap
peared at Trenton, N. j., and s'ld Il
horse and buggy which Tailed with
the description given; but nothing
was settled as to the absolute identity
Mr.. Ross continued to receive an,
nonymous letters until the first OF
November. There were about twcn.
ty-tive in all, written on toolscaI
paper, and enclosed in an envelope
of the same, nothing but the post
mark indicating their origin. They
were all pcnned in a curious scrawl
like that Of a right-handed man who
should try and write lett-handed.--
From first to last, the statement was
made that the child, who was secreted
in safe hiding place, was stolen tol
money, and that alone. He was well
cared tor, but would certainly be
killed unless the $4,000 ransom was
paid. That done, he would be re
turned to his parents, safe and sound
OF course, occasionally, negotiations
came to a crisis; but the utmost in
genulty of the detectives could not
devise any plan by which the kidnap
pers could be captured. All plans
provided that the kidnappers should
have ample time to receive and ex
anime the money-to see if it was
marked, ETC., etc.,-and guaranteed
the men at least ten hours start after
the restoration of the child. Mr.
Ross could obtain the child only by
going alone to n remote and untrc
qucnted place i'll the vicinity of the
town, and after waiting the pleasure
of the captors for some hours. Will
/ a wholesome dread Of the police
every precaution was taken to pre-
clude the possibility of detection
The boy being held as a hostage o.
good faith, of course, prevented an.
successful scheme for entrapping the
kidnappers. AT one time, the author
lties, in despair Of outwitting The
thieves, sent representative to meer
them, but they were fearful or being
captured, and did not put in an ap
p ,aranre. The contest between The
criminals and the officers of justice
was then resumed. Philadelphia wa'
so closely watched that no crimina
could escape being arrested, and sew
eral honest men were held in custody
from various reasons. A great many
small criminals were convicted; anC
the abductors Of Charley Ross were
heartily execrated by the men" con thu
make" for whom philadelphia hat
come to be most unpleasant abiding
place. But Cha ley Ross was NJ
nearer being found than the day afte
his capture But the last of Novem