Daily globe., 1883-09-11
CHARLIE BOSS.

Another Installment of the Old Sensation
Two Letters Found Among the Cores
pondence of a Newark Dectective-Mon-
ey Demanded or the Blood of the Boy-A
Highly Improbable Story.
NEWARK, N. j., Sept. 1O.-The Evening
News revises the story of the kidnapping
of Charley Ross on July 1, 1874, from in
front of the family residence in German
town. The chief of detectives of police of
Philadelphia, William R. Heene, recently
died, and among his papers the family
found two letters tied securely in sepa-
rate package which, on being examined.
were found to be written by Mr.. Ross.
father of Charlie, declaring if he did not
come to terms the "Blood of his son would
be on his head" The letters were not
shown to the father of Lit.
tie Charlie, because it would
only distress him more. At that time Mr.
Ross was SO prostrated that all letters of
information were turned over to his
brother-in law, Joseph Lewis, who then
consulted the head of the detective squad.
The letters just discovered are dated No
vember 22d and oath of the year of the ab-
duction. In the first letter the abdactors
say: "We have now arrived at a critical
point. We have decided to fix day when
this matter must be settled. We must
have $4,000 or you will never see your
boy. You seem to think more of the money
than you do of your child or Won
would have settled this business
long ago. You can look at your $4,000
thousand times, but it will not bring
your child. l have never been blessed
with child, but it seems to ne if l was q
father would have long since paid the
money and got possession of him, We
are not murderers yet; God forbid! but
unless you meet us in New York Tuesday,
the Oath of November, 1884, this business
will be over forever. Four of us kidnapped
the boy, and two have him in their pos.
session and have had him ever
since, and your $4,000 would only
be $4,000 apiece. That is nothing to what
we expected to make out of the scheme on
hand. If we had known your financial
condition we would not have touched your
boy. Now that we have him we must have
ransom. So that is ALL We must have
money or his blood will be on your head.
You say you want more proof that we have
got your boy. You fail to meet us or
our agent in New York November "a, and
we will have such awful prosf that
have him. "Then the father, who never
gets glimpse of the dreadful threats, is
directed to change his signature, 'sSaul of
Tarsus," to the newspapers to advertise
ments notifying the villains of the recep-
ton of their letters to Abraham. The note
proceeds: "This is the last chance we
will give you in this business. We tried to
meet you before, and waited some time.
but did not come, and we left. We give
you four days more. If you don't meet
us that decides the fate of you child"
The second letter was sent, IN which
Ross is impressed with the gravity of the
situation. This is the last letter ever
penned by the actors in the great crime,
and bore the postal mark of New York
and was dated Nov. %, 1874. "We wrote
you yesterday" it begins, Saying we
would settle this business Tuesday, Nov.
"a. This is such serious business we
write you again to let you know this affair
must be settled. We saw your boy as we
came over, and he is all right. Ross, this
matter must be settled, or it will be too
late. Your boy is in charge of our
two confederates. If the matter is settled
satisfactorily we can send by wire all
right and he is delivered all right to you.
If we send all wrong, then no power on
earth can restore him to you alive. This
matter, then, must be settled by Tuesday,
Nov. "a, at noon, or never. If you want
your child alive, keep true faith and meet
us in New York"
Upon the heels of this letter came, it
proved to be, one dated Nov. 90, with an
addition of foot note, saying: "We send
you copy of letter mailed to-day. This
subject is so important We send you two
letters so you will be sure to get one or the
other"