Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-10-26
MURDERED INNOCENT.
A New York 0ficiaI's Theory Of I.
Little Charlie Ross.
DROWNED BY THE BRUTAL MosH.R
A MYSTERIOUS Craft in the Sound lis
Rough Captain and the Finding
ola Little BOYS BODY on
the Jersey Flats.

NEW York, October 25.-The publication
OF a special dispatch from Pittsburgh yes
terday, stating that very promising clue
to the whereabouts Of Charley Ross had
been discovered, and that Mr.. Ross had
started for q place In Illinois where 1t Was
alleged he might be found, has revived the
belief in the minds uf Q few that the boy
may yet turn up, safe and sound. There
are many others, however who still are
pronounced in their convictions that the
lost boy has long since gone to his grave,
and that he was murdered.
Among the latter class Of thinkers II
Robert Kelly, chief assistant to Warden
Green, OF the Kings county penitsntiar
DO think Charley Ross is alivs?p said
Mr.. Nelly in conversation with q reporter
10 day. No more than Guiteau and III toll
you in very few words why am Of this
opinion.
On an October Neraing
in 1879 the Rev. Father McCullom, pastor
Of the Church OF the Sacred Heart, Brook
lyn; Mr.. J. J. McCiosky, then stage man
ager OF the BroOklyu Park Theatre, but
now clerk Of the Marine Court. New York,
and myself, then the advertising agent for
Stapleton, l.. l., on little excursion. We
remained there until about o'clock, when
We again seated ourselves in our boat and
prepared To return 10 the city. We were
moving along slowly and chatting over the
pleasure We eLaieGperlenCed daring the day
when nay
Attention Was Attracted
to Il small ssii GOAT anchored between Rob.
in's Reef light aud the Jersey Shore.
She was sloop rugged and pNint,d dark
hue Thinking II strange that vessel
should I've anchored just at that point, and
suspect.ng that ii might be a private craft,
| suggested that We board her ani aSccr-
tain ShO and what She was. roSsi tos.
nrds the boat, but just before reaching 1t
Father MC'uilum advised that We should
not proc, Ell further, as We al no suthority
TO board a strange vessel. JUst then there
appeared on deck
A Hard LOokiug Character
about five feet ten inches la height. lie
wss barehead,d, and wore blue oyerhauls,
Ted undershirt and n pair OF heavy bro
gans. lie had. red, sandy whiskers, sprink-
led with gray, and saw distinctly that the
cartilage Of his nose had been eaten away.
rs We approached the vessel he seemed
alarmed, but nevertheless remsined on
deck AN nNious'y watching our movements.
We finally concluded that IL would be dan.
EerOus to attempt boarding the boat, and
left the man, who stood In the same posi-
ton for rs long q time rs he WAS visible.
We then remarked upon the suspicious ap-
Dearance Of the craft and its navigator,
but scarcely anything more was said after
our arrival home concerning what we had
seen.
MoshcF Recognized.
About month later Mosher and Doug
dead hy nephew OF Judge Van Brunt,
who caught them robbing the latters
house at Bay Ridge. The bodies were re.
moved TO the morgue ON Carlton street.
brooklyn. On the day Of the removal, |
visited the morgue Tor tnht purp,s-
our surprise, on examining Moshers body
y both recognized IN il that Of the mys'
terious person Of the sail boat The ab'
s,uCe OF the cartilage of the nose led Ia tots
stories were then being
circulated connecting Mosher With
the Abduction Of Charley Ross.
Il was alleged on good authority that he
had treated with the father under an as
sumed name for the restoration OF his
child. A week or two later tho body OF
boy OF about nine years, answering ~
nearly NJ could be 10 the description oi the
lost boy as he might hsye grown since hts
In ln1t, was found tossed up
by the waves on the Jersey Flats near
Robins Reef light. The remains were 80
decompOssd A. TO be almost unrecogniza
ble, but the feet we're clad In mems bro
pars similar 10 those worn by Mosher tho
day We discovered him In the boat.
Rts BeIisi.
81 believe that Charley Ross was abosri
the boat with Moshsr that day. ] bslieve
that Mosh.T, having given up oil hope oi
ecuring a reward for the recovery OF the
Lild. threw him overheard, and that IL Vas
y body which was washed ashore on the
'Is,y ats. The brogsns, bslive, which
,,re found on the boys feet, were worn
y Mrh,r when we FIRST saw him. Tue
ail-b0at vas found anchored of Ray Ridge
u tie morning after Nosbsr and Douglass
re rhGt This proves 10 ny ,atisiacuon
Ia 10 iist Of several others TO whom ]
sve related this story, that Moshsr on the
aii-toG',
Moshev the AbdaetoP
end Moshsr the burglar are one and the
,sme person. Douglass, when shot, Was
rot instantly killed and tried 70 'Psst.
mi. wound prevented his doing 80 and he
died soon after. Had be been sbl. 70 ssy
Int four words think they would have
been, 'MOsher drowned Charley Ross