The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-05-26
Barnum and Charley Ross.
The Father of the Missing Boy Consents 10
he ShoOBlaH's Offer Of SO, 900 REGARD.

The negotiations between p. T. Barnum,
the Snowman, and Christian X. Ross, the
father Of the kidnapped Charley, by which
the former is TO offer $4,000 for the return
of the child and the latter to agree not to at.
tempt any prosecution of those bringing him
back, were finished at q conference in this
city yesterday, and the formal offer is now
made.
the idea first occurred 10 Mr.. Barnum
when he was in Philadelphia two years ago,
but he decided not to countenance any con
doning Of the offense. Lately, however, the
idea has been growing upon him that the per
sons who have had the child in custody, since
the death the original abductors, must find
him burden on their hands, which they
would be glad to get rid Of for money il they
could be sure they would escape exposure.
These parties being only accessories after the
deed, there would be little or no moral harm
in giving them their safety for the return OF
the child. Accordingly he telegraphed his
offer to Mr.. Ross, and requested that gentle
man to visit him at Bridgeport, and the two
men met there for the first time on the 18th
Of this month. Mr.. Barnums proposition
then was that he should offer the reward as
proposed, and, if the boy was secured, some
arrangement should be made for exhibiting
hiih NhiNh MUSE hAOuiu HhNt large
share Of the profits, and thus, perhaps, restore
his estate of $50 200 which he has spent in
the search. Mr.. Ross made no answer at that
time, but returned to Philadelphia to consult
with his wife and 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 it shall be
discretionary with the family to reimburse
Mr. Barnum or arrange for the child's exhi.
bition, but in no case is any other exhibitor
to have the privilege, and these terms were
readily accepted by Mr. Barnum.
Mr.. Ross is n man of medium height, with
rather sandy beard and complexion, the eff
feet of his long and severe trial showing
rather in his quiet manner than in marks in
his face. He is determined to devote his
whole life, If necessary, to the work of un.
raveling the mystery. He and his family dis.
like the publicity the affair has given them,
but feel that their honor and affections are
too deeply involved for them to drop the
search. Mr.. Ross three years experiences
nave shown him many phases of detective
work, aud he has encountered the extremes
OF human character, the baseness that would
take advantage of his loss to swinde him,
and the readiness, on the other hand, to
assist him with means and labor. The rail.
$500 NN'NbAhph COMPANIES gwen
him free use OF their facilities, but he has
nevertheless spent all his means, and is now
practically bankrupt. His grasp Of the case,
TO which he has given his whole thought, is Of
course complete, and he discusses it calmly
and shrewdly.
The family cling to the hope that the child
IS not dead, and bases it largely on the ascer.
tanned fact that he was living at the time the
abductors were killed on Long Island, FIVE
months after he was stolen. He passed out
OF their hands within two days after he was
stolen and the family think if he was so closely
kept to that time that no trace Of him could
be found, il would be as easy to conceal him
70 the present time. In his investigations
Mr., Ross has come across the very interesting
fact that Mosher, who possessed literary abili
~, wrote novel l6 years before this affair,
IN which the plot turned upon the abduction
OF q child. He accepts this offer of Mr.
Barnum as last resort, only hoping, as will
every other good parent, that by this or some
other means he may soon see his boy again.
Springfield Mass. Republican, Nay 10.