The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-08-07
Charlie Ross Alive.

Ouarile ,1bOSS IN I uIlauclphkS nUOut Jill "
I. two years ago. This gentleman is the Wi
: liam Likens spoken of in arecent dispatch 8
: having left Galveston suddenly to escap
arrest as one of the alleged kidnapperi
. Likens is certainly well posted on the case
and tells his story with a degree of eau
ton, although he declares he had nothin
to do with the matter.
From Galveston Likens was traced t
Mount Holly. where he is stopping witt
relatives. He is very reserved in his con
versation, and 1t Ia with reluctance that b.
tells of some things connected with tn,
case. He claims only to know the facts II
detail, but how he became in possession
of them he does not make clear. 1t is al.
sole desire, he says, to reunite Charlie
Ross with his family. The abducted boy
who is now man in middle life, is equally
anxious for such q termination of the
tragedy. being in a position to spend
money to accomplish that purpose.
Joseph Likens says he was born at
Pointsville Pa, and from his appearance
he is about n years of age. For twenty
years he was employed In the gold fields
of the far west, and he came to Philadel-
phia about two years before the kidnap-
ping, taking to himself wife, but they are
not living together.
Since Charlie Ross was taken from his
parents, Likens has twice lived in this sec
ton. About thirteen years ago he resided
at Palmyra. and later he stopped here,
working as a carpenter.
Charlie Ross is living" asserts LikeHs
with positive frmness. 81 found that out
six years ago when left Mount Holly for
Galveston. Arriving there learned that
man was trying to find out who he was
staCing that he came from Philadelphia
became interested, wrote him a letter,
and by appointment we met at grocery
store. When got to the place crowd
was present, but Immediately picked out
the man and told him he was the missing
Charlie Ross. After that our friendship
increased and we were together much of
the time. The kidnapping was frequently
discussed and Ross remembered having
been placed In an orphan asylum at New
Orleans, where he was visited by a woman
he knew was not his mother. His hair
was light in color, and when they cut off
his long curls Charlie became mad. Max
ing inquiry at the asylum since attaining
manhood. Charlie found that the records
had been changed but that someone had
been there corresponding to himself.
mot liking his surroundings Charlie
ran away from the asylum because of bad
treatment. This is also the reason he
gives for leaving the employ of several
farmers. When old enough he became
machinist, and his education permitted
him to accept clerkship with the Union
Pacific Railroad Company, by whom he
is now employed. Charlie Ross has taken
the name of William Won Hodge. He is
well fixed financially, and Is still seeking
the whereabouts Of his parents.
1.-TWO years ago." continued Likens,
Charlie Ross came to Philadelphia. He
saw his brother, who would not recognize
him, stating that he was an imposter.
His mother would not permit him to enter
the house. Ross told this fact to nearby
druggist who arranged for meeting in
the store. The mother was not sure that
Ross was her son and he left the city in
disgust"
With reference to the kidnapping Lik-
ems says: "a carriage drew near the house
and Charlie was taken away. He was hid
In Philadelphia, being placed down coal
hole In sub cellar during the. police
search. Then he was taken to Trenton,
where the men became in need of money
Charlie was left there in charge of a wo
man while the sdbuctors went to house
near New Brunswick to commit burglary.
The house was connected with electric
wires but the family was absent They
made noise in getting away when two
neighbors came out and fred several shots
Mosher was killed and Douglass badly
wounded. / don't know what became of
him, but the woman boarded boat and
went to Wilmington, Delaware. She had
money of her own and continued her jour-
ney to New Orleans, placing Charlie In
the asylum there.
"The man In whose cellar Ross was con-
fined told me about the matter. He is
now living In New Jersey. but don't care
to say where. Charlie Ross was stolen for
a reward. 1t was expected that money
would be forthcoming for his return, his
parents and uncle being wellto-do people.
When the crowd met with this disappoint-
ment they kept the boy"