The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-11
THE CHARLIE ROSS CASE.
The Famous Abduction of Nine Years
Ago Recalled.
Discovery of Two Letters from the Alb
ductors Which Were Not Delivered to
the Father of the Stolen Boy.

NEWARK, N. j., sept. lO.-Ine EVenlng
News revives the story of the kidnapping of
Charlie Ross, on July L, 1874, from in front
of the family residence in Germantown. The
chief of the detective police of Philadelphia,
VIM R. Helms, recently died, and among his
papers the family found two letters tied Sc
curely in a separate package which, on being
examined, were found to have been written
to Mr. Ross by the abductors, declaring if he
did not come to terms the blood of his son
would be on his own head. The letters were
not shown the father of little Charlie 'be
cause it would only distress him more" At
that time Mr.. Ross was so Frustrated
that all letters and information con-
cerning the case were turned
over to his brother-in-law, Joseph Lewis,
who then consulted Helms head of the de-
tective squad. The letters just discovered
are dated Nov. % and "a, of the year of the
abduction. In the first letter the abductors
say
I'VE have now arrived at a critical point.
We have decided to fix day when this mat
ter must be settled. We must have 500 900,
or you will never see your boy. 1t seems to
US you think more of the money than You
do of your child, or you would have settled
this business long ago. You can look at
your 500, 900 thousand times, but it will
not bring your child. l have never been
blessed with child, but it seems to me if
! was a father l would long since have
paid the money and got possession of him.
We are not mrrderers yet; God forbid!
But unless you meet Us in New York on
Tuesday, the 9th of November 1874 this
business will be over forever. Two of us
kidnapped the boy and two have had him in
k11,u CIV
would be only. $5, 900 apiece; that is nothing
to what we expect to make out of a scheme
in hand. If we bad known your financial
condition we would not have taken your boy.
Now that we have him we must have ran
som, and on Nov. "a we must have the
money or his blood will be on your head,
You say you wantmor proof that we have
got your boy. You fail to meet us or our
agent in New York, on Nov "a. and you will
have such awful proof that we have him.
Then the father, who never gets glimpse
of these dreadful threats is directed to
change his signature, Saul of Tarsus," to
newspaper advertisements notifying the viii
lains of the reception 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 be-
fore, and waited some time, but you did not
come, and we left. We give you four days
more. If you don't meet US, that decides
the fate of your child"
The second letter was then sent in which
Ross is impressed with the gravity of the
situation. This, the last letter ever opened
blythe actors in this great crime, bore the
postmark New York." and was dated Nov.
%, 1874. as
1--WE wrote you yestarday," it begins,
'saying we would settle this business on
Tuesday, Nov a. This is such serious
business that we write you again to let you
know that 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. Ii 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 no power on earth
can restore him TO you alive. This matter
then, must be settled by Tuesday, Nov. "a at
noon, or never. ii you want your child
alive, keep true faith and meet us in New
York"
Upon the heels of this third letter came
1t proved to be the one dated Nov % with
an additional foot note, saying: I'VE send
you copy of letter mailed to-day This
subject is SO important that we send you two
letters, so you will be sure to get one or the
other,n