Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-04-15
WILLIAM MOsHER's WIDOW.

Ross-The Grim Measures Taken to firing
from. Her a Confession.
New York Sun.
1t is generally supposed that since the
fall of 1877, when Mosher and Douglass,
the supposed abductors of Charlie Ross,
were killed at Bay Ridge, all search for the
abductors ceased, and that the efforts of Mr..
Christian X. Ross were then directed to the
finding of his child alive, to the discovery of
his remains, or to satisfy himself that his
boy was dead.
Few persons know that beyond circum-
stantial evidence and the dying declaration
of Douglass that there was little proof that
he and Mosher stole the child. while it was
evident that there we're at least four persons
engaged in the abduction and concealment
of the boy. Since December, 1874 every
effort has been made to confirm the suspicion
against Mosher and Douglass, dis
| cover their confederates, find out the place
where Charlie was concealed and who were
| his custodians, and to ascertain whether he is
now dead or alive. All this detective work
has bsen done secretly, and, it is believed,
without result. Nh. Christian K. Ross him
self has been equal to host of detectives.
He has been aided by Chief Jones and Cap
tain Helms, of Philadelphia, Superintendent
Walling and many New York detectives, by
retired Massachusetts merchant, who has
devoted time and money to aid him, and by
a Philadelphia tradesman, who has been
equally generous. To these may be added
the thousands of amateur detectives that
newspaper reading produces. DR.. Mary
Walker credits herself with having aided in
the search, and her theory that Charlie Ross
| ,,auar ctolan ic xua11 known
In the search for the boy the widow of
VIM. Mosher, who, with confederate, VIM.
Douglass, was shot and killed in December,
1874, while attempting burglary in the
house of Judge Van Brunt, at Bay Ridge,
has been constantly sought after, and her
time and patience were SO taxed by visits
from persons who wished to crafty their
curiosity, that she has constantly changed
her residence. She now lives in the Twenti-
eth ward with her little girl, her two boys
being away at school.
Mrs. Mosher, who is " tall, good-looking
matron, is now wretche1ly poor. Of one OF
} the amateur detectives she spoke impatient
ly. Under the pretense of giving her lit
tie amusement, he once took her to the
Fifth Avenue theater to see 'tPique," OK.
pecting that she would betray guilty knowl.
edge, but she was not moved by the play
the plot of which hinges on the abduction
of child from estranged parents. aRd theil
reconciliation through the search for him.
She told him that she was offended at the
ruse. He had asked her to confess her hus.
bands guilt on the promise that it would
help her brother, Westerfelt, out of Moya
mensing prison, where he was sent for al
legged completely in the abduction. He hai
brought her parafine imprint of her deai
husbands hand, purporting to have beer
: nodded by the spirits, and said that if sht
had courage enough he would bring her
cast of his face; but she told him that if hel
dead husband walked into the room il
which they were, dragging his coffin afte
him, it would have no meaning to her. Sh
had nothing to confess, and thought tina
q after all the trouble that her husband hat
f brought on her she should be allowed t.
live in peace and bring up her children
whom she loved as dearly as Mr.. Ros
loved his boy
: OF Mr.. Ross Mrs. Mosher spoke YER
Il kindly. For him she said she had dec
respect. They met whenever Mr.. Ross chos
; to call on her for information, and she toll,
;. him frankly whatever was in her power t.
: tell, and had concealed nothing from him.
In regard to the missing boy, Mrs. Moshe
! said: 'sWhy shouldn't he be alive? sal
!
+ every reason to believe he is-six week
! after the abduction, with oil the hue and or
after him, the person who had him the
0 could just as we'll keep him out of sight fo
it six years"
n About herself the wife of the dead bul
+ glar said: ~ was quite young girl when
), met Mosher. I was only Is, and wore sho1
dresses. am young woman yet. NJ
. father was gunsmith. He lives and is II
r, spected. I did not know of my husband
) real occupation for a long time, and this
!. will say, that if I had to select husban
over again would do as did, for he was
= good husband to me, as good one as coul
u wish for. He was always what is called 'i
70 trouble and in 1873 broke Jail at Ere,
% hold, Monmouth county, N. j., and kel
ID out of the way of the authorities. w
! moved to Philadelphia and hired house
- Monroe street. William canvassed for
g picture dealer, and was so we'll liked by hi
TO that he could have gone into business wit
him. knew nothing of the abduction, b.
ID this do know, that on the 4th of July, 1877
: the day that the boy was stolen, and Wi
= liam sat at the window of our house in Nor
~ roe street and saw our children letting Q
or fire crackers. was with William constan
j. ly at this time, and I well remember TIL
r. while stood at his side he read with app
rently as much interest as did placal
) on fence in Philadelphia relating to tt
or abduction. We moved to New York in Al
10 gust, and although knew that William WI
lie wanted by the police did not kno
. that it was on suspicion tn
he was concerned in the a
49, duction. was with him all the time he WI
to hiding, but 1 did not think that his Grin
l. was so serious, for he had often walked
of the streets, and he did not appear to
afraid. Oh, what useless fellows those
:. tectives are! I stood by one all night viii
IL he said he would give 81 900 to know whe
Mt my husband was; and in Philadelphia tn
is searched the house without avail in whit
IL my husband was hiding. I was with hi
up to the night before he was killed. v
stopped at an East Side hotel near poll
headquarters. That very night he talk
about the Ross case, and said that if any o.
should steal his child he would have Il
~ scoundrel's life. His death found me in
al sad condition. I had not q dollar, but