The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-04-20

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first intimation which the public re-
ceiyed OF the abduction was gathered
from the following advertisement
which appeared In the Philadelpma
Public Ledger on July 8, 1874:
Il ,ost, on the first instant, a small
boy about four years Of age, light COM
piexion, and light curly hair. suit
able reward will be paid on his re-
turn to q. L. Joyce Central Station.
cornerof Fifth and Chestnut streets"
Fie father ofsthe missing child Mr..
Christian K. Ross, did not mention
Els own name in this advertisement,
az lie did not wish to alarm his wife
yhoiSas spending aitew weeks At At
iantic City. 1t was on July ! that the
crime was perpetrated. When Mr..
ROSS arrived home that evening he
found that his two, youngest children,
#altsr and Charley, were missing.
N Immediate investigation disclosed.
DE de- fact that two strange men, pass
Ing the house with d horse and wagon
that afternoon, had persuaded the
boys to take ride 'w''h them. After
driving about eight or nine miles
they set Walter down and drove away
with Charley
The Ross family were residents OF
Germantown, suburb of Philadel-
sphia. The community became panic
stricken and the entire police force
of Philadelphia commenced vigor-
Gus search for the ktdnappers. But
ii was quickly realized that this was
more than a local matter; the GRIM
irals had doubtless removed them
selves from the city, perhaps from the
state, and the police forces OF Penn
syivania, Delaware, New York and
New Jersey were speedily enlisted in
the pursuit. AS days passed by and
jnoSclue, was obtained the whole ,coun-
try became agitated; even Europe was
Interested, perhaps on account Of the
good social status Of the parents. lt
seemed impossible that the criminals
could long remain undetected.
on the eHeningsof .Bllys, 4-,Ntr. Ross
received the first communicationifrom
the abductors. It was unsigned and
ran as follows:
tJuly 3. Mr.. Ross: Be not uneasy
you son Charley bruster be all writ
we Is got him and no powers on earth
can. deliver him out OF our hand, you
@il,taY two pay us befor you git him
ffonfllis, and pay US a big cent to. II
any aproch is maid to his hldin place
that's the signil for his instant anihi-
flation"
Along correspondence followed with
the abductors through the medium Of
the press, in which the criminals de-
clared that they would not deliver up
the child without heavy ransom.
Upon the advice OF the authorities Mr..
Ross decided; to refuse all payment,
and instead offered. a large reward for
the recovery Of the child and the. cap
ttIre and conviction of his abiuctors.
AT the request Of the citizens OF Phila-
delphia the mayor Of that city offered
reward of $4,000 for the return of
the child to his, P3rents,, Upon the
publication of this offer a letter was
letei9ed 8t6m the abduetbts. q III Vas
datef Phfi4dehfbhS, July s49S and ran:
sWe have Nm - that we feel at
ease AGAINST alh the detett1Ss force in
the8codtitry76 ever feritin him OUT the
authorities have offered $200OO'tfor
the Recovery of the child an detec-
ition OF us If they had yu interest at
hart this would be the worst thing
they could do. this is only otferfn
d reward for the sacrifice Of yu child"
Much correspondence followed, the
criminals endeavorlng to induce Mr..
Ross to pay overlthe money to them
in return for the boy. Finally this
ceased. Hope began to be abandoned.
At that time the superintendent Of
New York's police force was the able
and energetic George w. Walling. On
August 2 he sent a telegram to Phila-
delphia requesting that detective
he sent to New York with the letters
Of the kidnappers. On the following
day Captain Helms Of Philadelphia
and Joseph Ross, an uncle Of the lost
child, went to New York and met
Mr. Mailing at police headquarters.
sSir WaIlIng informed them that he
had obtained q. clue through Captain
iIiedden9 ot the Thirteenth Police dis
( tffct. The suspects were two men
named William Mosher and Joseph
lDouglasi I
This information had come about in
the following manner. A policeman
named Doyle went to the superlntend-
emit and informed him that he had
been talking with "Gil" Mosher, a
brother Of one Of the suspects, who
Informed him that he believed his
brother had been implicated in the
crime. "Gil" Mosher was promptly
discovered and taken to police head
quarters.
.tWhat are your reasons for sus-
pe6ting that your brother WillIamtook
psrt In the kidnapping OF Charley
RESIDENT HODGES 70 SPEAK:
q 4. ~ Silfts I5tIltlT--CU ilVuias =.