Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1914-07-10
MYSTERY THAT
WAS NEVER SOLVED

the whereabouts OF Charles Brew
ster Ross, aged fourty-four, will
confer a favor by notifying-al
most anybody, anywhere. The
whole civilized world is interested
in the fate of Charlie Ross, who
was abducted forty years ago from
his home in Germantown, Philadel-
phia. Some of the nest detectives
and newspaper sleuths OF the
United States, Canada and Europe
have sought to solve the mystery
Of the disappearance of this four
year-rld boy, but all have failed.
Nnmberless clues were followed,
and although soTe of them shed
light on the motives of the child's
kidnappers, Charlie Ross himself
was never found. Both of mis-
parents arc dead, but other mem-
bcrs Of the family continue tn re-
ccive letters relating to the myster-
ious case.
Charles Brewster Ross was thu
son of Christian K. and Sarah Ann
Ross. well-to-lo and respected
Philadelphians. On the first Of
July 1874, Charlie was playing
with his nine year old brother
Walter, near the Ross home when
they were accosted by two men
in n buggy VINO offered to give
them O ride. The lads we're at
first reluctant but when the lure Of
candy was held out they could not
resist. After the vehicle hau gone
a short distance Walter was given
some money to buy Fourth-of-July
f~ire-crackers and was told to get
out. That was the last seen of
Charlie Ross SO fur as any certain
knowledge is concerned.
The kidnaprcrs demanded a ran.
snm of $50, 900, making their offer
through newspaper advertisements
and letters. Mr. Ross found it i'm.
possible at that time to raise the
sum asked but friends and ever
strangers Offered TO contribute t.
the fund. The whole world sym.
pathized with the bcrcavcd parents
and if money could have savcC
Charlie Ross it would have beer
forthcoming in almost any amount
The abductors were frightened by
the storm of public wrath they hat
raised and realizing that they coult
not get the money without risk
they finally dropped the ncgotia
tions. Most of the communication
were mailed in Trenton, NewarI
and Elizabeth but it was the belle
of the police that the child hat
hecn taken ia Canada or unsSibi,
to England. The police of Canad
ian and English cities joined il
the search. Net Il day passed with
out its clue, and the distracted
father made trips to Canada
Europe and California to see boy
who were thought to be his own.
In the December following
Charlie Ross abduction twO New
York pirates were shot while en-
gagged in q burglary in BroOklyn
One of them was instantly killed
but the other survived o LITTLE
while. and with his dying brcati
said something Of which only
"Charlic Ross was Ineligible. L
was then found that the police hat
suspected the two criminals Moshcl
and Douglas, of having abducted
Charlie Ross. Subsequent invrsti
cations seemed to bear out hi.
theory, but if the river pirate.
were the kidnapDers they carried
their secret with them to tn,
grave.
A reward Of $50, 900 was offer
cd for the return Of the boy but il
was never claimed. Until her d, atf
in 1912 Mrs. Ross firmly believed
that Charlie would be restore cd tC
her hut she was duomed to disap
pointmcnt. a numncr OF men have
rlaimed to be Charlie Ross, but
most Of them have been noinricty
seekers, or, at best, honestly mis-
taken. While it is possible tina
Charlie Ross may be living today, il
is very unlikely and there is ever,
probability that he succumhed Il
| hnmcsickncss and neglect within
a few months after his abduction
Exchange.