Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-07-01

child. The Philadelphia Evening Tei-
egrdpk gives the following account Of
the abduction. Charlie Ross and his
elder brother, Walter, were playing in
front Of their home on East Washing
ton lane Germantown, when two m"n
came along in buggy or light spring
wagon. These same men had passed
by on three or four preceding days,
and had given Charlie candy. On
this fateful day Charlie, according to
the story subsequently told by Walter,
had asked the men for ride. The
men told him they would give bin
ride from the top of nearby hilh
and also promised to give him fire.
crackers. The two boys walked 10
the top of the hill, and they were then
taken into the wagon.
Walter wanted the men to take
| them 10 Main street for the fireworks,
| but tie abductors said they would
I take them to Aunt Susie, fictitious
person. The men piled the boys wit h
candy, as the team was driven rapidly
toward Kenslngton Charlie cried AMI
begged to be taken home.
At Palmer and Richmond streets
Walter was gwen a quarter and di-
rected to get fireworks IN a cigar store.
The boy obcyed, and returned to hnd
the wagon, the men and his curly
haired brother gone. His tears brought
a crowd, and in the crowd was II g.
| Peacock, friend of the family, who
took the boy to his parents.
The elder brother told an accurate
and coherent story of the abduction
and gave full description of the al
ductors. His story was corroboratcl
and a general alarm sent out to tire
police. A reward OF $500 was offered
for the return of the boy and adycr-
usements were sent to all newspapers
in this part Of the country. Mrs. Ro's
was i'll at Atlantic City and the news
of her loss was kept from her for some
days.
The police were unable to discover
a trace of the child and it was not
until July 4 that anything in the na'
ture Of clue came TO the searchcrs.
This was in the shape Of a letter FROM
the supposed abductors. 1t was gross.
Is illiterate and evidently purposcly
so. The letter informed Mr.. Ross that
the abductors held the boy 70 securely
that no earthly power could reach him
and that he would not be delivered
without the payment Of a big ransom.
The father was warned that any at
tempt to recover the boy by detectives
would result in his instant death. The
writers promised to communicate with
Mr.. Ross within few days.
Two days later they wrote dcmapd-
ing $4,000 ransom for the return Of
the boy. This sum was promptly raised
by friends Of Mr.. Ross, but the police
stepped in and asked 10 be given the
conduct Of the case This was grant
ed and Mayor Stokeley offered a re-
ward Of $4,000 for the arrest Of the
kidnappers and the return Of the boy.
This immense reward attracted world
wide attention and set thousands Of
detectives at work and millions o.
tongues wagglng.
During several weary months Mr.
Ross received sixteen letters from the
abductors, but they were 20 carefully
disguised that no clue to the writers
could be found. The entire commu-
nifty had become intensely excited over
the case, and volunteers stood guard
over almost every letter box in the
city. bat with no result. Public in-
terest was at fever heat, and meetings
of citizens were held in every part Of
the city.
Stald men Of business dropped their
commercial pursuits and became ANA
teur detectives Others wrote books
on the snbject, some Of which were
serious and Of value, while others were
the emanations Of cranks Several per-
sons became absolute maniscs on the
subject Of the abduction. Two men
who had devoted years Of study 10 the
subject took the lecture platform, 10
addition to writing books, and kept
up the agitation until recent years.
What became Of the child was never
positively settled. II is generally be-
iieved that he was drowned IN The
North nyer, New York, while his alb
duetors were fleeing from deiectives.
But IT was pretty well established that
Wm. Moeher and Joseph Douglas,
notorious burglars. took the boy from
his home. They were shot while try
ing to rob the residence Of Judge Van
Brunt at Bay Ridge, n. Y, and in
their death throes confessed that they
had taken Charlie Ross. Walter Ross
fully identified them.
Tfy.ffs.,o yvoofzrysIf a brother.in