The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-06-08
K. southor Says lie Ia Not the
Missinr charlie Ress

NlbNlhB OnaIllp NSuS
The Washington II. O., Post Of
Tuesday says
Il i~g your pardon. but | am not
Charlie Ross. said Mr.. John Is
Souther when shown the following spe-
cial dispatch to The Post from Elmira'
y. y:
Elmira n y, June i.
Mrs. Joseph 5 Bates formerly OF inns
city. now living at 1906 New lamp
shire avenue. Washington. ID. C., has
told an Elmiran recently that she is
keeping house for young man who Is
the missing Charlie Ross Mrs Bates
il the widow of n wealthy man VINO
once lived here. The adopted mother
Of the young man now IN Washington,
was a friend of Mrs Bates THIS lady
died a year or so ago, and Mrs. ha''s
said that she told her on her death pea
that the young man was not her son
but was the missing Charlie Ross. She
said that the boy was brought to her 10y
a tramp. and she had him several days
before she found out who he was Ihen
being afraid that she would be impli-
Gated and arrested she never told any
one about the affair. The young man
has visited in this city several times.
Mr.. Souther manifested great sur
prise at the dispatch
VERY ILL AT THE HOSPITAL.
When asked if it was possible TO see
Mrs. Bates. he said she was very Ill at
one Of the hospitals in the city, and
could not be seen lie would not say
-. L. ,,l, h,apttul oh a. located
Il am sure that am not the person
meant in the message from Elmlra'
he said 81 am twenty nine years Old
and | have every reason 10 know that
| am not the boy who was stolen so
many years ago. So far as | know,
have never heard the case mentioned
except asa topic of general interest.
The other day when | went over 10 see
Mrs. Bates at the hospital, she spoke
of the abduction II Marion Clarke and
compared it TO the KIDNAPPING OF
Charlie Ross, which occurred so long
ago
why are you 50 certain that you are
not Charlie Ross Y' asked the Post re-
porter.
because | know that am not, 30
answered Mr. Souther
"Will you not give your reasons for
being so positive"
Il really desire to be courteous, but
do not see why you should be 80 IN
quisitive about a matter that concerns
one own private affairs. | can see
that there might be "A foundation for "A
vague rumor in this respect but do
not think that it would be- Of sufficient
weight for the public besides. II Is only
matter Of personal interest
RESEMBLANCE To CHARLIE ROSS
"Did YOU ever have any connection
with the case Of Charlie Ross ho was
asked
Yes. did but IT was IN AN iudi-
rect way. 1 was adopted when very
Young by a family of the name Of
Souther We were living near Erie.
Pa. nj that time. and when n Was
known that Mr.. and Mrs Snu'hcr were
not my parents an inquiry was insti-
tuted ~ ascertain whether or not wts
the child who was kidnapped II is
true | bore striking resemblance g.
Charlie Ross. but the matter WAS thor
oughly investigated and 10 WAS proven
10 the satisfaction Of various e1plr That
/ was not the child In fact. had for
gotten all about the affair 10y the time
was twelve years old. and had 90 he
reminded Of it in later years
Il do not believe that Mrs S1nihor
made the statement u Mrs Bates. ~
purported in the Elmira telegram, nor
do believe that Mrs. Bates said that
Mrs. Souther said that she did. II ]
thought that | we're Charlie Ross !
would most willingly declare my iden-
tity but as | am certain that ! ann not,
| | prefer 10 have nothing said concern
ing the matter.
Mrs. Bates was located NJ the llomco-
pathic Hospit'l but her physician re-
fused TO permit her 10 talk.
THE ABDUCTION OF CHARLIE ROSS.
At the time Of the abduction, the ease
If Charlie Ross excited the widest inter
est and sympathy. Throughout the
country there were lengthy press reports
on the mystery. Clew after clew was
Investigated, each in turn 10 fail.
The circumstances surrounding the
case were peculiarly dramatic. Charlie
was a boy about four years old, living
with his parents near Germantown, Pa.
| one hot summer afternoon. July ], 1874
be was playing with another little boy
in front Of his father home, when two
| we'll dressed men came by in buggy.
They invited the children tOa ride, and
the Ross boy eagerly entered the car
rage Since then he has never bee
seen again. Advertisements were IN
serted into the newspapers. which
brought forth reply from the abductors.
They demanded a ransom Of $50 900
| The father, Christian Ross said that
he would pay this if he could He wa'
| himself comparatively poor man, and
some efforts were made to raise the sum
for him
This transaction was not consum-
mated, and meanwhile, the city OF
Philadelphia offered a reward of $50,
600 for the recovery of the child and fol
clews as to the identity of its captors
The prize put every detective IN the
United States upon the alert. th'
police in every city and In every towr
worked arduously, but without accom-
plishing anything. Again and agar
reports were received that the child haC
been seen in this or in that section o.
the country Finally, in December
of the same year-1S74-two BURGLAR
were shot at Bay Ridge. They were
fatally wounded, aud just before thei
death they confessed that they were the
ones who abduced Charlie Ross. They
died without disclosing any facts as t.
the whereabouts of the child, and thu
crime remained within a veil Of mys
terry.