The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-09-12
CHARLIE ROSS.
Two Old Letters Written by the Abductors to
Bis Father Demanding $4,000 RansOa

Bis Father Demanding $4,000 Ransom
Probable Fate or the Chhd.
NEwARK II. J., Sept 10 The Evening
News revives tbs story of the kidnapping of
Charlie Ross, July 1. 1874, from in front of
he family residence. Germantown. The
Chief of the Detective Police, Philadelphia,
William r. Helms, recently died, and among
his papers the family found two letters tied
>ecurely in q separate package, which, on
bsing examined were found 20 have been
written to Mr. Ross By the sbducsors. declsr-
ing il be did not come to terms the blood
II his son would be on his own head"
Che letters were not shown the father Of lit
tie Charles. because Ii would only distress
him more" AZ that time Mr.. Il Dss was so
Frustrated that sill letters and information
concerning his son were turned over to his
prOther-iD-law, J .'eepa Lewis, who then con
>ul'ed Helms, the head of t1s detective
Quad. The letters jasr d covered are dared
November 30 aud ~ Of The yesr of tbs an.
CuCtiOu. In tie FIRST letter the s5ducslrs
sey:
We have now arrived at critical pOint. We
hsve decided tn dxae.E when This matter must
- settled. Wo must have O0olOr you sill
never see your boy. II serrIs 70 usYOu think mare
'bt MONEY thar, Won do of yOuF chlld, or yon
can ICOk 3, vour ,.9.GQ0 thouss umes, but it
viii lot bring you: CHI d. | have never been
ia'aer would lIng since have
Us the money ard got possession of him We aye
N tnnrder,rs yet Cor f0fbif but unless YOU meet
1874. this bu-iuess wi be over forever. Two of
s'dTspT<d he b y ssd two have mad him in thei-
% fst ssiOn ever stpCe Your go OO1 would be olly
sS.of a piece That IS uothi < TO what ex pee
70 nsbe Gus Il the schsme IN hand. II
Ve hid known your finance cDadition
We wOlld no. have taken your boy.
No " that we hsve hin we mist have rsns0ms. 81
that NoytIpe eF "a We mrs, have the money or his
waTt more proof that we have got your boy. You
fsil 20 meet as or our ssent in New YORK. NOvem-
Der -. and you viii have such awful proof that
We have him.
Then the father, who never gets glimpse
Of the dresdful threats, Is directed To change
his signature, saul of Tarsus" to "Ne~sps-
per Advertisements" notifying the villains
OF the reception of their Letters TO "Abra.
hem" The note proceeds:
This ia the last eharcs We will give you in this
business. We tried 10 meet you before and wailet
Give Won four days more 10 yon don't meet us
that decides the fate OF your child.
A second letter was sent. In which Ross is
impressed with the gravity of the situation.
This last letter il ever penned by the actors
in the great crime bore the post-marz Of
New York, and wss dated \ Jvember %, 1874.
I'VE wrote yesterday, it begins ''seving
we would settle this business Tdes-
day, November "a. This is such a seri
oas bUsinees we write you again to LIST
you know this affair must be settled. We
saw your boy as we came over, and be is all
right. Ross, this matter must be settled, or
it will be too late. Your boy is in chsrge Of
our two confederstes. II the matter is ss.-
tied satisfactorily we can send by wire, "all
right" and he is delivered all
right to you. III We send
"sll wrong" no power on earth can restore
bin to you alive. This matter, then, must
be settled by Tuesday, November "a at noon
or never. If you want your child alive
keep true faith, and meet Us in New lrk"
UIon the heels OF this third letter came. II
proved ~ be one dated November ~, with an ad-
diitcDsl foot note sas ing: I'VE send you a cDpy
of The letter mailed to-day This subj sct Is 30 i'm
portBnt tina: We send you two letters 80 you will
&c Sufo TO get ole or the o'hsr."