Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-07-08
An Incident That Recalls the
Charlie Ross Case.
A MYSTERIOUS VALENTINE
A Ten-Year.OId Boy Whom the
Philadelphia Police Are Look
ing For Because of His Re-
semblance to the Kid
mapped Boy.
HOPE AGAIN REVIVED

lue bnOruity OI tne CRIME ana tAo con-
summate skill of the kidnappers WAS not
appreciated at the time, but it was not
long before it dawned on the detectives of
the city force that the case was one of
unparalleled magnitude, and one that de-
manded skill in its solution, if solution
was possible.
During the six years that have elapsed
iunumerable lost boys and Charlie Rosses
have been produced, but the latest and,
perhaps, the strongest clew to the where
abouts OF the kidnapped child has just
come to light The present story, though
but one of thousand, is apparently more
worthy of belief than the majority of
them, and, as the clear-headed Captain
Helms observed to a reporter yesterday,
sis just as likely as not to be the one
ticket out OF ten hundred that takes the
capital prize" At any rate the details are
interesting, and as far as could be ascer-
tanned, are as follows
A week ago last Saturday well-dressed
rustic paid visit to Mr.. Christian X.
Ross, and said he wished to have private
conversation, having information of per-
haps great importance to divulge.
MIR. Ross willingly granted the man
hearing, and asked him to state his bust
ness and who he was.
The stranger replied that he was a
farmer, and resided at Hartsyille, Pa,
where he owned stock aud land and was
well known. He had formerly officiated
for several years as constable of that
place. His visit to Philadelphia was owing
TO his interest in the Ross case, and the
fact that he had met walking along the
road leading from Doylestown lad bear
ing sc close a resemblance 10 the lost one
that he had felt impelled to question the
wanderer.
This interview had the effect of not only
strengthening the suspicious already
formed in the mind of the ex-constable,
but convincing him that even if the youth
were not the one he so eagerly hoped him
to be, he was certainly the subject of
mystery of some sort. He was about 10
years of age, had light hair, dark eyes and
other features just such as time might
have changed from those which half
dozen years ago were familiar to every one
as the lineaments of the kidnapped child.
He wore a short suit of blue, and had his
curly locks partly covered with jaunty
little black Derby hat. There was nothing
about him to indicate that he was q coun-
try youngster. His hands were remarka-
bly, small and smooth, and his language
and manners bespoke him youth of more
than ordinary intelligence and refinement.
In answer to the salutation, ''Heighol
my boy, it's a hot day to be travelling over
the dusty highway" from the farmer, who
was at work in a field, the young pedes-
trian halted and said
"Yes, sir, it is, can assure you; but
there are worse things than that fellow
has to put up with sometimes" he added,
in a half-ssd tone.
"Where do you hail from s''
"Doylestown."
..HsN "Have y! you walked all the way'"
"What did you do in Doylestown?"
II worked for three days for farmer
there, but wasn't strong enough to do
the work that was required of me in a
manner satisfactory to him 30 this morn
ing he paid me what he owed me and
turned me out. lie was not an unkind
man, ana aon't blame him for not
wanting my services. A.poor chap like
me isn't of much account at hard labor"
"Where did you come from before you
went there?"
"trom Philadelphia
"Do your parents live in that city ?"
The boy hesitated for moment and
was good contidant, said
mo. l do not know where my father
aud mother live. have not seen them
for g long, long time, and now I cannot
call to mind how their faces looked or
where ] saw them last. They often come
TO me in my dreams, and when / wake |
try to recall the picture of them, but it has
faded awsy and | cannot form it, / lived
~, pbiladatrhia wifi, fny aunt no. n la.o
time she kept me locked up in second
story room and would never let ME go out
alone. She had me taught how to read
and write, and always let me have plenty
of books and papers to read. can Just
recollect man that used to come to see
me every night for long while, but who
he was 1 never knew. The aunt told me
some story about his being our benefactor,
and he was always very pleasant with
ME, though with her he sometimes
disagreed. The mans visits ceased all of
n sud6en.n
Where in Philadelphia did your aunt
live 2" queried the ex.otiicial
"On Front street, was the answer.
"Mhat is her ngme?"
Valentine" promptly replied the boy.
zine same nGnle Ms mine, he added ex-
planatoriiy.
This was the information and conversa-
ton given by the farmer TO MIR. Ross, who
immediately began to look into the affair.
The Hartsyllle farmer, upon returning
TO his home, where he had installed the
boy for safe keeping while looking up the
case, was disappointed to find him gone
Unfortunately he had said to the lad, Il
au going 10 advertise you and find out
who you are, /" and this probably frightened
the youpgster, who was very averse to
returning to the woman he had stated was
his aunt.
Upon an investigation being made it
was discovered that the lad had left the
neighborhood, having bought ticket to
| Philadelphia. Inquiry on the train which
he took for this city discovered that he
had been noticed by persons on board, but
it was impossible to ascertain whether he
had come sll the way here or got off at
some way station.
On Monday Mr.. Ross paid visit to
| Police Captain Helms, whose exertions in
the CASE have made him one of the best
posted officials on the subject of the miss
ing boy. He explained the circumstances
substantially rs above related, and the
| Captain agreed with him that the matter
was worthy of some attention. Captain
Helms recommended that the farmer at
Doylestown be first seen, and that the
ex Constable also be further interviewed
as there were many details omitted which
would throw much light ON the affair.
What course MIR. Ross pursued is not yet
known. He said, however, that he should
pay some attention to the clew, as even if
it was not his boy, an inquiry might clear
some other mystery and relieve some
other hearts.
Captain Helms first telegraphed a
description of the youth to the various
police headquarters, and then made
search through the directories for woman
named Valentine, who has been living Oh
Front street, but, singular to state, no
person of that name and character was
recorded as living on that thoroughfare
since 1875.
The matter at present depends on the
discovery Of the Valentine boy, and the
statement which the Doylestown
farmer may have to make. II is hardly
probable, however, that the latter person
has been made confidant of the lad.
| Ms Inekwood the Iadv lavvar of