The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-05-01
CHARLIE ROSS.

aOuuctOrS OF Cllarlle hOSS, were Killed at
Bay Ridge, Long Island, 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
satisfying himself TINT his boy was dead.
Few persons know that beyond circnrl-
stantial evidence and the dying declara-
tion of Douglass there was little proof
that he and Moshcr stole the child, while
it was evident that there were ut least
four persons engaged in the abduction
and conccalmcnt of the boy. Since De-
ccmbcr, 1874, every effort has been made
to confirm the suspicion against Mosher
and Douglass, discover their confeder-
atcS, find out the place where Charlie
WAS concealed and who were his custo-
dians, and to ascertain whether lie is now
dead or alive. All this detective work
has been done secretly, and, it is believed,
without result. Mr.. Christian X. Ross,
himself, has been equal to Il host of de-
tectivcs. lie has been aided by Chief
Jones and Captain Helms of Philadelphia,
Superintendent Walling and many New
York detectives, by 4 retired Massachu-
sctts merchant, who has devoted time
and money to his aid, and by Philadel-
phia tradesman, who hGs been equally
generous. To these may be added the
thousands of amateur detectives that
newspaper reading produces. DIR. Mary
Walker credits herself with having aided
in the search, and her theory that Charlie
was never stolen is well known.
In the search for the boy the widow OF
VIM. Moshcr, who with confederate,
VIM. Douglass, was shot and killed in
December, 1874, while attempting bur-
glary 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 Twentieth ward with
her little girl, her two boys being away
J at school.
Mrs. Mosher, who is tall, cookbook
ing matron, is now'wrctchcdly poor. OF
one of the amateur detectives she spoke
impatiently. Under the prctcnSe Of Civ
ing her Il little amusement. he once took
her to the Fifth Avenue Thcatcr to see
"PiQuc," expecting that she would be-
tray Il guilty knowledge, but she was
not moved by the play, the plot ofwhich
hinges on the abduction of Il child from
cstrangrd parents, and their rcconcilia-
ton through the search for linn. She
told him she was offended ut the rusc
lie asked her to confess her husbands
guilt on the promise that it would help
her brother out of Moyamensing prison,
where he was sent for alleged completely
in the abduction. He had brought her Il
paralline imprint of her dead husbands
hand. purporting to have been nodded
by the spirits, and said if she had courage
enough he would bring her Il cast of his
face; but she told him that if her dead
husband walked into the room in which
they were, dragging his collin after him.
it would have no meaning to her. She
had nothing to confess, and thought that
after all the trouble that her husband
had brought on her she should be allow
ed to live in peace, and bring up her
children, whom she loved as dearly Us
Mr.. Ross loved his boy.
| OF Mr.. Ross Mrs MoShcr spoke very
kindly. For him she said she had deep
respect. They met whenever Mr.. Ross
chose to call on her for information, and
she told him frankly whatever was in her
power to tell, and had concealed nothing
from him.
In regard to the missing boy, Mrs.
Moshcr said: "Why shouldn't he be
alive? Isaid that if the boy was alive and
wcll-as | have every reason to believe
he was-siX weeks after the abduction,
with all the hue and cry after him, the
person who had him then could just as
well keep him out of sight for six years. y
About herself the wife of the dead
burglar said: Il was quite young girl
when met Mosher. was only fifteen
and wore short dresses. l am young
woman yet. My father was Il gunsmitll.
He lives and is respected. / did not
know of my husbands real occupation
for long time, but this ! will say, that
if had to select q husband over again,
l would do as / did, for he was a good
husband TO me, us good one rs | could
wish for. He was always what is called
in trouble and in 1873 broke jail at
Freehold, Monmouth county, n. j., and
kept out of the way Of the authorities.
We moved to Philadelphia, and hired 4
house in Monroe street. William can
vassed for picture dealer, and was so
well liked by him that he could have
gone in business with him. knew moth
ing of the abduction, but this do know,
that on the 4th of July, 1874, the day
that the boy was stolen, | and William
sat at the window of our house in Mon
roe street and saw our children letting
off tirccrackcrs. l was with William
constantly ut this time, and well re-
member that while stood ut his side he
read with apparently rs much interest
us did placard on a fence in Philadel-
phia relating to the abduction. We
moved to New York in August, and al-
by the police, | didnot know that it was
on suspicion that he was concerned in the
abduction. / WIS with him all the time
he was in hiding, but / did not think
that his crime was so serious, for we
had often walked in the streets, and lie
did not appear to he afraid. Oh, what
stood by one all night while he said that
he would give 4 thousand dollars to
know where my husband was; and in
Philadelphia they searched the house
without avail in which my husband was
hiding. | was with him up to the night
before he was killed. We stopped at III
east side hotel near police. headquarters.
That very night he talked about the Ross
case. and said that if any one should
steal his child he would have the scoun-
drcl's life. His death found me in sad
condition. / had not dollar, but man
aged to bury linn. A month after |
buried my baby-the sixth ofthc children
| bore Moshcr.
H'I can never be impatient or unkind
to Mr.. Ross. but wish he and Mr.. Wal
ling would help me TO accomplish the
aim of my lifc-to free my brother. They
have sid that he is innocent, and they