The daily gazette., 1883-10-25
CHARLIE ROSS.
The Latest story Examined Into by the
Unfortunate Father.
rPhllndelDlia InQuire

Mr.. Christian X. Ross returned YESTERDAY
morning from the West, where he has beer
following up another of the thousands o
stories which seem to furnish clues to tht
whereabouts of bis long lost son. The clue
was furnished by District Attorney Yeager
of EdwardsVille, Illinois, who originally OBJ
tanned his facts from an alleged detective
named Price. The latter pretended to repre-
sent prisoner whom the Dlstrict-Attorney
was prosecuting on charge Of burglary.
Unfortunately Mr.. Ross was unable to satisfy
himself as to the correctness or falsity OF
this story.
Mr.. Ross, when interviewed about his
trip, said his investigation of the Edwards
vile story was blocked by the revelation oi
his identity. On his arrival in st. Louis he
consulted with General Fullerton, who al
once took great interest IN the case. The
alleged Detective Price turned out TO be an
Italian, he says, who held no commission,
and supported himself partly by to loring,
Tho man from whom he was supposed to
be receiving his information is named Don.
nelly. lie was arrested in Madison county,
H., iu conjunction with two other men, Oh
the charge OF burglary, and taken to Ed
vaudeville for trial. Before Mr.. Ross ar.
rived West Donnelly had been convicted
and sentenced.
Mr. Ross at first held no communication
with Donnelly but confined himself to Price,
and upon an intimation from him that he
wanted money, Mr.. Ross satisfied him that
be would be liberally rewarded If he would
assist IN any way to find the child. He
then said the boy was at settlement of ne
groes known as Wood River, between Ed
ward willie and Alton. With the assistance
Of General Fullerton, Mr.. Ross made pre-
parations to gain possession of the boy if
Prien'R atatamput ahOuld nrnVa tn hp trIIn
but was disappointed.
Price visited Wood river In company with
another man and returned shot in the leg.
He said the wound had been inflicted by the
inmates of the house In which Charley was
supposed to be confined. The injury was
self.inncted. Mr. Ross concluded that Price
was not tn be relied upon, and went to
Edwardsville to see Dounelly. This man
pretended to know something OF the where
abou:s Of Charlie. A Catholic priest, whom
he called in to assist him, revealed his
identity, and after that there was no liliuli-
hood OF getting any information. Tho priest
atterward visited Donnelly but the interview
was abortive. lie did not impose secrecy on
the priest, thinking the character of his
Office was sufficient to keep him from re-
vealing what was intended to be kept secret
When asked whether he intended to fol
low up the, clue, Mr.. Ross, said:
"Some time, perhaps; but shall have tc
wait until this breeze blows over. thought
at tirst it was a blackmailing scheme, de-
vised merely to eXtort money from me, and
am not yet sure that it is not, but there
are several features connected with it which
cannot explain, and which led me TO be-
lieve there may be something in it. If it is
hoax, all can say is that it has been very
cleverly devised, and by parties having a
thorough knowledge of the facts of the
whole affair"
In regard to the story from Portland, Me-,
of boy there now aged 10, who believed
himself to be Charlie Ross, the father say
he had examined into the story months ago
and satisfied himself there was nothing tru,
in it,