The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-27
STORY Of CHARLEY ROSS
History Of the Case Which Has In
terested the World Seven
teen Years.
The Long and E'ruitless Search for
tho Golden Haired
Boy.
Believed to Have Been Drowned-A Con-
Wet Who Kneps, But Who Would
Not Tell.

The July sun of just seventeen years ago
set on the fate of Charley Ross. While a
vast majority of people believe that he is
dead, there are many who still think he
lives. If the latter were right he would to-
day be a voter. But the preponderanoe of
evidence goes to show that the curly haired
boy whose abduction furnished, in the en-
suing search, the most sensational incident
in the annals of American crime met his
death under the waves of the North river
while his abductors were GLIDING pursuit,
says the Philadelphia Press.
1t was \ face that Rubens would nave
loved to paint in his cherub band-framed
in curls that that July sun kissed to its
W Roman golden hue. 1t was a face
that made one stop and look at it and
think of bette things. 1t was a face that
one sees in good dreams and that the old
artists liked to paint as a frame for the
Virgins face. And, if the detectives are
to be believed, it was that face that,
SCARED and dirty and shorn of its glory of
golden curls. went to it's last sleep under
tbs waters of the North river. And all for
the greed OF a ransom hat would have
been paid ten-fold if the eager rush of the
detectives for the reward had not compaased
the boys death, which was the only intern
alive to the escape of the abd2ctors.
1t Is more than a twics-told tale, but one
with q charm that will live as long as hu-
man interest is felt in the romanticism of
crime. and as long AS the admiration for
pate nal devotion lasts.
Charley and his elder brother, Walter.
were playing i'll 'front.' of their home on
ElpGf IA pg,1 tl- {f.rS ur,r-
teen years ago, when two men came
along III a buggy or light fpring wagon.
These same passed by on three or four pre-
ceding DAYS, and had given Charley candy.
On this fatetul day Charley had. according
to the Ht"ry told Subsequently lay Wal
ter, asked the men for a ride. The men
told him that they would give him a ride
from the top of the hill, and also promised
to give him fire. crackers. This bows walked
to the top of the hill and thcy were then
taken into the wagon.
walter wanted tina men to take them to
Mann street tor the fireworks, but they said
tloy would take them to Aunt Susie'g.n n
FICTITIOUS person. Ike men piled the bows
with CANDY, whl!4 tbs tam was driven ran
1diy toward ~henslngton. Charley crl6d
and begged to be taken home. At Palmer
and Richmond streets Walter was gwen a
quarter ana directed to get fireworks in Il
cigar store. The boy obeysd and returned
to ind the wagon, the men, and his curly
haired brother gone. His tears brought a
crowd and IN THIS C OVID was II. G. Peacock,
afrlend OF the family, who tool the boy to
his parents.
HE recovered child told an accurate and
coherent story of the abduction and gave q
full description OF the abductors, wbe
boys stoly was corroborated and report
was msde to Sc geant Buchanan (now
llsutenant) and a general alarm was sent
out to the police. 4 reward of $500 was
offered Tor the return of the boz and nd
vertisements were sent to all Newspapers in
this part OF the country. Mira. Ross was