The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-05-23
BARNUM AND CHARLEY ROSS.
The Great Snowman Sets himself
About Finding the Boy.

From the Springfield Republican.
The negotiations between P. T. Bar
rum, the Snowman, and Christian b.
Ross, the father OF the kidnapped
Charley, by which the former is to offer
SO 900 for the return of the child and
the latter to agree not to attempt ans
prosecution of these bringing him back,
were finished at a conference in this city
yesterday, and the formal offer is now
made. The idea irst occurred to Mr..
Bsrnum when he was in Philadelphia
two years ago, but he decided not to
coun:enance any condoning OF the Of
tense. Lately. however, the idea has
been growing upon him that the persons
who have the child in custody SIEGE the
death of the original sbductors must
find him q burden on their hands which
they would be glad to get rid of lor
money if they could be sure they would
escape exposure. These parties being
only accessories after the deed, there
would be little or DO moral harm in Civ
irg them their safety for the return OF
the child. Mr.. Bsrnum, being an emf
uen: man and having no connection
with the Ro ;smily, could best negoti-
ate with those holding the child, and
thus relieve the parental anguish that
has been so strained tor the last three
years, while helping to keep himself be-
fore the public Accordingly he teie
graphed his offer to Mr.. Ross and re-
quested that gentleman to visit him at
Bridgeport, and the two men met there
for the fret time on the llth OF this
month, q week ago yesterday. Mr..
Barnum's proposition then was that he
should offer the reward rs proposed, and
ii the boy wa, secured, some arrange
ment should be made Tor exhibiting him
by which MIR. Ross should have large
snare OF the profits, and thus perhaps re-
store his estate OF $4,000 which he has
spent in the search. Mr.. Ross made no
answer ut that time, but returned TO
Philadelphia to consult with his wife ana
her brothers, who are quite wealthy, and
met Mr. Barnum at the Haynes House
Yesterday to accept the offer, with the
condition that if the boy is found 1t shall
be Discretionary with the tamil to REIN
burse MIR. Bsrnum or arrange for the
child's exhibition, but IN no case is any
other exhibitor to have the privilege, and
these terms were readily accepted by Mr..
Barnum.
MIR. Ross ard his family dislike the
publicity the affair has gwen them, but
feel that their honor and affections are
too deeply involved for them To dr. p the
search. Mr.. Barnum induced him to
visit the circus yesterday afternoon, but
refrained from asking leave to Introduce
HIM to the public, rs he knew the re-
quest would be in vain. Following Is
tne formal announcement of Mr.. Bar
NUNS offer:
Twill pay $4,000 in cash for the de-
livery to me slive of the kidnapped child,
Charley Ross, or for information that
will lead to bis recovery. L most
solemnly and sscredly pledge my word
of honor and my reputation as an up
right business man not to attempt Tor
myself to discover the Inaentity OF the
persons negotiating with me in this
matter, nor to convey to any other per-
son any hints or clues by which any ac-
cusstion or even suspicion shall be di-
rected against them. The parents OF the
child unite with me in this pledge, and
agree, if their daring child is by this
means restored to them, to abandon al
attempts to punish any person connect
ed with his abduction or conceal ment
they agree never to sppesr against such
parties and with myself will use. every
sodesyor to shield them from exposure,
For the last three years these parents
have suffered more than death, and no"
that Mosher and Douglass, the real ab'
ductors, are dead, it is hoped that the
persons who have the child in custody
will be willing to accept the reward and
immunity. The reward shall be pad in
current money rs SION as the child II
identified by its parents. AS an addi'
tlonal security to the persons bringing
him a reasonable time shall elapse be-
tween his delivery and the public al
nouncement of the fact, that the parties
del verirg him shall have every oppor'
tunity to AVOID discovery.
p. r. BARNUM. Bridgeport, Conn.
sanction the above arrangement iol
myself and wife. CHRISTIAN n. Ross.
Springfield, May Is.