Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-02-04
MISSING CHARLIE ROSS.
Interest iu the Abduction Revived by
the Recent Release OF W esferyclt.

known river pirates and thieves, named
William MoShcr and Joseph Douglas,
were more than likely 10 he the ab.
ductorS Of the boy, Search was made
for them \ boat expedition mp the
sound was organized for the purpose
Of finding some clue, il possible, 10 the
missing boy. 1t Was known that the
suspected men occasionally went ON ma.
rauding expeditions along the shores 81
the sound, mp the Hudson and around
Staten island and Newark bay. Occa.
Sioually they stole from vessels, but in
the main their pillcring expeditions
were among the dwellings in the vicini.
ty of the water. They removed their
plumber by means Ola sail-hoat owned
hy Mosher.
Superintendent Mailing believed ,hst
MoSher WAS the master spirit III the
abduction Of the boy, and that ii \
close watch was kept ON him, ultimatc-
Is the place where the lad was hidden
would be discovered. Allthe low dens
in this city and in Brooklyn were
searched. hut neither MoShrr nor
Douglas could he found. Apparently
they knew that they were liable To be
arrested, and kept out Of the way. The
summer residence Of Judge Van Brunt
of this city, situated about one mile
from Bay Ridge /. l., was brokvn into
Ivy burglars on the night Of Dec, II,
1871. Ii was unoccupied, hut was
connected by u burglar alarm with the
house Of Holmes Van Rrunt, the
Judges brother. In the latter house
ut the time were the owner and his
SON William. The latter was sent Ivy
his father to see what had caused the
alarm Creeping cautiously over To
the other house he soon saw that there
were thieves inside, and 81 reported to
his father. They secured the assist.
ance Of two Of MIR Van Brunt's en-.
ployes, Herman Frank and William
Shot, armed themselves, and waited
for the thieves To come out, An hour
passed, and rs they made no signs Of
leaving, William Van Brmt tried the
rear entrance The thieves heard him,
and, cXtinguishing their lights, fled
from the house. As the first one
emerged from the doorway, MIR. Van
Brunt ordered him to surrender. Ills
reply was two pistol shots, MIR. Van
Brunt was unframed, and he returned
the fire, slightly woundmg his antago-
mist, who then fled. As he came near
Herman frank, the latter fired full
charge of huckshotat him The charge
took effect in the abdomen of the thief,
inilicting frightful wound, and he fell
u the ground.
Meantime, young Van Brunt had
been engaged with the other burglar.
The latter had fired one Shot 1T the
young man, and i'll return had rccelv-
ed terrible blow on the arm from the
young mans gun But the weapon
was broken by the blow. The thief
again lcveled his pistol. but young Van
Brunt was too quick for him, and with
Il pistol shot the desperate through the
head and he fell dead. The other
thief lived for about two hours after he
received his death-wound. From dis
connected sentences it was learned that
his companion had been concerned in
the abduction of Charlie Ross, and TINT
superintendent Walling should be com
municated with. Word was sent To the
Brooklyn police and later to Supcrin-
tendent Walling. When the latter
reached Bay Ridge he ut once recogniz.
ed the thief whom young Van Brun,
had shot as Moshcr. The other was
Douglass. The superintendent was
much disappointed that the men for
whom he had been SO long in search
should have died, and should haze left
no clew MS to the missing boy. lie
was more than ever convinced that
Mosher was the man who was prin-
cipally concerned in the abduction oil
the boy.
1t was regarded as certain that he
must have had confcdcrates. Suspic
ion fell upon William II Westervclt
a brother-in-law Of Moshcr. He was
arrested the following April, and on
Oct 3, 1870 was convicted and scntene.
ed To seven years imprisonment and
TO pay n fine Of 81 Westervclt was
released last Thursday, and yesterday
came 10 this city, where his wife lives
He was questione ut length concern
ing his share in the transaction.
''Do you think Charlie Ross is still
liying?' he was asked.
"Why should think he is dead2'
was the cautious reply. "No one has ever
heard Of his death, so far as known
If the people who first had him in
charge were able TO keep him foi
many months without his being found
out, why couldn't they have kept him
for years just as safely? Why, hc
might be in any of the founding asy,
lums in New York city, and who would
be the wiser? The police have never
searched there, and if they did they
might not find him.
Westeryelt then described at length
the killing Of Mosher and Douglass.
Did you endcavor 10 find the boy y
he asked.
yes, went with the detectives to
several places, but We could not find
| him.
"Did you have anything to do with
the kidnapping Of Charlie Ross =
~ had nothing whatever to do with
| il. Because was Mosher's brother.in.
Inv All the detectives thought | must
have been concerned in the plot 70
steal him had upward Of fifty inter
views with Walling, and Pinkerton call
ed on me and offered to take me int
his detective agency, but wouldn't 90
/ Z Al. =. Vi