The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-10-24

after the child was kidnapped. The
younger generation know nothing OF
the Charlie Ross case. Except per-
haps they occasionally hear a minstrel
or comedian get off a gag on the
name just as he will on the question OF
"Who struck Billy Patterson" But in
the time of its happening, the Charlie
Ross case was the sensation or the
day His parents lived at German
town, Pa, the aristocratic suburb OF
Philadelphia. On the afternoon Oh
July 1, 1874, he and his brother were
playing near the house. A covered
wagon drove up and stopped. A man
stepped up, decoyed the children by
offers of candy, got them In the wagon,
and drove rapidly away. There were
two or three men in the wagon, and
good description OF it was obtained, but
the police were never able to locate the
kidnappers. Charlie was then years
and 2 months old. His brother was
found next morning, having been turn
ed loose by his captors, but from that
day to this Charlie Ross whereabouts
has remained n mystery. Teiegraihs
were sent to the police all over the
country. The newspapers published
columns and columns about the case.
The European police were given de-
scriptions and pictures, but all was Oh
no avail.
A large reward was offered for news
of the boy and naturally every stray
child picked up was a Charhe Ross
Mr.. Ross travelled thousands and Ihou-
sands of miles, following up supposed
clews. In several cases stray children
were found in various parts oil the coun-
try so closely fitting the description OF
the missing boy that Mr.. Ross made
long Journeys to identify them. lie
lost his health, and spent a fortune IN
the search, but with no success. once
Mr. Ross could have recovered his
child. That the idea OF the kidnappers
was to receive heavy ransom Tor the
restoration of the boy was the theory
form the start. 1t was the correct one.
The kidnappers opened up negotiations
with MIR. Ross. who submitted all cor
resnondence to the police. But 1t was
no use laying traps for the guilty
narties. Mr.. Ross was himself shad-
owed and the conspirators knew that
he had communicated all their offers
10 the police. There was a time when,
~ no had made an appointment alone,
I'm an out-of-the-way place, he could
have got his darling boy back. Par
entail affection would have led him to
accept the offer, but the police dis
suaded him. 1t is pointed out that II
the conspirators were successful in OBJ
tanning q ransom, that Thereafter no
rich mans child would be safe for 4
day. and kidnapping would become a
lucrative profession.
The police thought that they could
capture the men with the child on the
clews furnished by the negotiations.
II is now thought that the police got
closer to the conspirators than the
former knew, and that they killed the
child to get rid of him when hard
pressed. Anyway, the negotiations
suddenly ceased. Not a line was ever
received afterwards. 1t has long been
believed that Charlie Ross is dead;
either killed by his kidnappers, or else,
dying on their hands. they saw no use
in possible exposure by further COM
munications with the family. IL liv-
ing he would now be 26 years old. and
Il is clear that he has never learned
who his parents are. If dead, 1t is UNI