Evening star., 1932-03-20

Walter Ross, mho accompa panied his
brother Charley, but ThO iUas released
by the kidnapers.
unknown 70 the family and the police author
tiles.
There was some delay in getting word TO
the chief of the detective police, but since he
first got information, believe he has worked
earnestly diligently and faithfully to get upon
the track of the child and the thieves with
out intermission TO the present time. Whether
all has been done with the best judgment or
under the best advice, it would be premature
to say at present. So the matter rests, with
out result, so far as We know, down to the
time when this goes to press.
The declared object Of the thieves, or OF
those for whom they acting, is to extoEt q
large sum Of money by way of ransom. after
the manner of the brutal cut-throats called
'brigands in Italy and Greece. Herein they
have committed fatal blunder as well as
most atrocious crime. This is not the city m
which such business can be carried on We
have had traffic made of a great many
extraordinary subjects but an attempt to trade
upon the heart agonies of the mothers Of q
whole community will not do. There is but one
way open to the brigands and that is to restore
the child with the least possible delay and then
get away from Philadelphia as fast and as far
as possible
THOUGH comfortably fixed at that time,
yet Mr. Ross not wealthy man. He
had wife, three daughters and four sons, in
cluding Charley, and kept two housemaids.
cock and gardener, and it must be borne in
mind that $4,000 at that time was considerable
of a fortune, equal nowadays to at least five
times as much. This amount he did not have,
although undoubtedly he could have borrowed
it. Indeed at one time the amount was offered
to him as a gift from a stranger and refused.
Referring to this incident, Mr.. Ross has said:
He called upon me the same day, and after
introducing himself added that he had sought
this interview not from motives of curiosity,
but because he thought he might render me o
service If I felt inclined to talk freely with
him. He then asked me If had confided to
any one my pecuniary circumstances and
whether 1 had freely and fully expressed my
inmost feelings to any person regarding the
present terrible afliction.
Il replied, To no one outside of my own and
my wife's family, from whom nothing had been
concealed
The gentleman then said If you will tell
me your real condition I may be able to assist
you To this unhesitatingly acceded and told
him everything he desired to know of myself
and the abduction, at the same time adding
that as to the taking away of the children and
the keeping of Charley was absolutely and
entirely ignorant, both of the parties who had
done 1t and their object, except as it was re-
vealed in the letters I had received; that TO
me it was more perplexing mystery than II
could possibly be to any one less interested.
He replied DO you wish to pay the ransom
and run the risk of getting the child In i've
hours? If you do, will give you $4,000 and
never ask Won to return cent
Such an exhibition of generosity and prac-
tical sympathy was unprepared for. 1t over
whelmed me for moment On recovering my
self replied I thank you, sir, cannot accept
your generous offer; for, having taken the posi-
ton that I would not compound the felony,
prefer continuing to make efforts to find the
criminals hoping, if successful in getting them,
that will recover my child, and probably pre-
vent repetition of child-stealing for ram
SON.
He then asked what were Mrs. Ross
feelings the subject; to which replied that
had no doubt she would make almost any sac
rifice to get her child back, as any mother
would do; but that she also was willing to en-
dure il her family and friends thought it best"
I iERE, indeed was the exhibition Of a mar
veloW piece of self sacrifice for the bene-
fit Of the public coed Patrick Henry, when he
said Give me liberty or give me DEATH" and
Nathan Hale when he uttered those immortal
words, MY only regret is that have but one
life 10 lose for my country" were not one bit