The Bozeman courier., 1927-01-14
HOME OF CHARLIE
ROSS IS WRECKED
Recalls Famous Kidnapping
Case Of 1874.

Philadelphia. - BOwing to ume'
showing signs of age In its vacant
windows, and Its moss covered, drOOp-
ing verandas, bleak, weather-beaten
house, perhaps the most interesting
structure In Philadelphia except Inde-
pendence hail, today is crumbling I'M
der the blows of the pfckax and the
wrench of the crowbar.
This stolid three-story dwelling, OF
''the cupola era" rising on its high
knoll above one Of the declivities OF
Washington lane, In Germantown
once sheltered Charlie Ross, the boy
whose disappearance has remained
one Of the mysteries of America and
whose name through a half century
was carried in hope, anxiety and de-
spair to ali corners Of the earth.
Now 1t is being torn down 20 make
room for the progress Of a new gen.
Grafton which remembers little Of the
tragedy which came to the occupants
OF this house.
Mansion Became Church.
The Ross mansion, for the last dec
ade, has been the seat Of the Cliveden
Presbyterian church. With the growth
OF the congregation 1t was found in-
adequate and new church has been
erected to the rear Of the house. Now
the house itself is being razed and on
its site another church is to be built.
In the disappearance Of the Ross
Arr1 Gn1vNh&u 1NCoe 1TE
greatest shrines Of the curious. From
every section of the country have
come visitors to gaze in awe at the old
stone dwelling which has stood
throughout the years a mute reminder
Of the tragic search for the lost boy.
More than fifty-twO years have
passed since that July day in 1874
when golden-haired Charlie, four-year-
old son OF Christian K. Ross, disap-
| peared. The boy was playing on the
lawn of his fathers estate when he
was enticed away by two men be
neved to have been responsible for
his death. william Mosher and an ac-
compllce drove up to the estate in q
spring wagon and with promises Of
candy and a ride lured Charlie and
his elder brother, Walter, into the
wagon.
The four drove of and at the corner
drug store some distance away Wal
ter was given % cents to buy candy
When he returned with his purchases
the wagon, the two men and his little
brother had disappeared. Charlie was
never seen again by his family.
Until his death % years later, Chris
tian Ross, the father, spent his life
and fortune in an unsuccessful world
wide search for his boy, but no def
mite word was ever received concern
ing him.
Several times messages emanate.
from Mosher, promising Charles re
turn If a large ransom were paid, but
nothing came of the desperate father'l
attempts to comply with these re
quests.
Finally, without betraying the secre
Of Charles fate, MOsher and his com
rade were killed in another city dur
ing an unsuccessful burglary.
Stories Of Boy Plentiful.
Rumors Of all sorts spread over tht
country as to the fate of Charlie Ross
Some say he was killed by MOshel
or died while held a captive. Other
were of the opinion that he is aliv'
and from time to time claimants t
his name have appeared.
Shortly after the old Ross hom
was sold to the Cliveden church, Mrs
Ross died, on December 13, 1917
; Walter Ross, Charles brother, an
! his sister, Miss Sophia L. Ross, sur
. vive and are living near Philadelphia
Only the old, weather-beaten hous
has remained, the solitary reminde
to curious visitors Of the most famOu
kidnapping case Of the last century
That now is crumbling to dust, an
Charlie Ross, fading out as a memory
is crystallizing as a tradition.