The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-07-07

il. Then followed q long and eXhaus-
tive search for Mosher and Douglass,
which lasted four and a half months,
during which time Mr.. Ross received
sixteen letters p%urporting to come
from the abductors. but all 50 careful
~ worded that &c clue could be found
to the writers.
Meanwhile the citizens of Pbiladel.
pbia ard many people in other parts
Of the country had been worked up to
a fever heat Of excitement. Nolun-
teers stood guard over almost every
| letter box in the CITY. hut with no re
suit. Men Of business a~Jsrdoned their
pursuits snd hecame amateur detect
ives. Books were written on the al
al sorhing subject, some of which ad-
vapced he most wildly impossible
| theories ard were nanifestly the
emanations of crarks Lecturers we're
DEVELOPED. whose theme was the
Charley Ross kidnapping" and 1t is
even said that a number OF men who
; t. ok up the search became insane be-
; cause IF their inability to solve the
! great mystery.
TIE late Detective John Sharkey
AID his partner, Charley +. Miller,
who still survives, were convinced
that the Mcsher Douglass clue YVES
| the correct one, and confirmation of
| it came through William Westervelt,
| a brother in law of Mosher. who, it
| was conclusive]y shown, had acted as
a eo.between in tke attempted negotl-
! atoms between Mr.. Ross and the kid
nappers. Once during these negotia-
tions Mr.. Ross actually took $4,000
to New York TO pay ever to the burg
lars, but the police were in the scheme
ard the abductors evidently found it
out, for they failed to put in an ap
! pearapce at the place where they were
| to meet the stolen boys father
Westervelt was evidently willing to
sacrifice Douglass, but he was anxious
TO protect his brother in law. He gave
sufficient information to indicate that
be knew of Charley's whereabouts,
| and was promised an appointment on
the New York police force if he would
! reveal all he knew. This he refused
10 do until the appointment was made
| ont. This vas never done and be
|! maintained his silence. In the mean.
time the search for Mosher and Doug
lass was being prosecuted with vieor,
and the two men were UNEXPECTEDLY
found on the night of Decemh r IA,
when according TO the ideas of the
| police, the whole mystery was cleared
up.
Ga that December night the resi-
dence Of Judge Van Brunt, at Bay
Ridge, Brooklyn, was brokea into by
robbers. 1t was unoccupied, but was
connected by a burglar alarm with
the house of the Judges son on the
other side of the street. The son
| aroused his son and two men servants,
and the whole party armed themselves
and surrounded the Judges house.
The burglars finally came out and
were called upon 10 halt. They re-
piled with pistol shots, and the quar-,
tette oponed fire on them. The scene
that followed was dramatic.
One robber was dead, with his emp
ty revolver under his head. The
other lived about two hours. The
neigbbors came rushing to the place.
WHO are you, and where did you
come from2" several asked Of the dy-
ing man.
Men, / won't lie to YOU vas the
reply. my name is Joseph Douglass,
and that man over there is William
Mosher. Mosher lives in New York
city. 1 have no home. l am a single
man and have no relatives except a
brother and sister whom | have not
seen for twelve or fifteen years. Mosh-
err is a married man has five children.
I have $40 in my pocket. l wish to
be buried with it. It's no use lying
now. Mosher and I stole Charlie
Ross from Germantown"
why did you steal him"
ITO make money"
who has the child nowY'
'Mosher knows all about the child.
Ask him."
"Mosher is dead. Can you tell us
where the child ISL"
God knows l ellthe truth" he re
piled. II don't know where he is.
Mosher knew"
Walter Ross was taken to Brooklyn
and in the Moreue identified the
bodies of the burglars as those of the
men who had taken Charley and him
in the wagon on that fateful 1st OF
July. Former associates of Mosher
and Douglass were arrested all over
the country, but they could or would
| not throw any light on the mystery.
| Westervelt was brought to this city,
| tried ard convicted of completely in
the conspiracy to abduct the boy, and
was sentenced TO seven years IN the
| Eastern ~Penitentiary. In the presence
| of Detective Miller the wife Of thecon-
victed man begged him to tell what
he knew of the crime, but he main
tanned a stolid silence. He served his
| sentence and is supposed to have re-
| turned to New York.
Once, when his wife was urging
| him to reveal his knowledge of the
| case, Westervelt said in a tone that
| carried with it conviction of the truth
| Of bis statement:
They will never get the boy"
"Why Z" his wife asked.
Because he is beyond reach," he
relpied sullenly.
"Wtat do you mean2' demanded
| Detective Miller.
Because he is tesord life said
| Westervelt.