Evening star., 1932-03-06
EARLY K|DNAP|NGS
RECALLED IN i. S.
Ross and Cudahy Cases Left
Mark-U. S. Law Just
CryStaIIizing.

KIDNAPPING INTO the realm OF major
crimes in this country and started the
movement-only now crystallizing-to
make abduction of children an offenst
against the Government.
The kidnapping of the 4-year r-old Ross
boy on July l. 1874. at Germantown
a suburb of Philadelphia, aroused the
Nation as no similar crime before
had done, and as other kdnapings fol-
lowed in later years, the public aglta-
ton for adequate Federal laws became
more vigorous.
The most insistent demands for Fed
eral legislation came with the Klonap-
ing of 11-year-old Edward Cudahy IN
Omaha in 1900 but, with the sa1e
return of the packers son and the I'M
prisonment Of his abductor, Pat Grove,
public clamor died down and Congress
did nothing.
Results Now Expected.
Indications are that the kidnapping
of Baby Lindbergh will result IN prompt
and effective action by Congress that
will provide authority for Federal In
yestieative forces to wage relentless
warfare on kidnapers.
The demand for ransom, the attempt
to negotiate. the hundreds OF 1alse ana
heart breaking clues run down py
police and the widespread indignation
of the people in the Lindoergh case
recall similar events which marked tle
Charley Ross kidnapping.
Charley. curly-haired son of Chris
tian Ross, a drygoods merchant, was
kidnapped from lane near his home IN
Germantown by two men, who drove
i'm in a carriage and invited him 10 go
for ride. His parents never saw MIN
again.
Charley was playing with an older
brother when the men approached.
The strangers had accosted the boys on
several occasions before that, obtaining
their friendship with br1Oes OF canoy
and toys. The boys readily consented
to go with the men Wnen they were
invited to take ride.
Older Boy Left Behind.
TIL men drove for a short distance
and then asked the older boy to go into
a store and buy himself some hre-
crackers The boy left, and the men
whipped the horses up and the carriage
disappeared.
The frantic father notified police and
then inserted in a Philadelphia news
paper an advertisement as follows; r
''Three hundred dollars reward will be
paid to the person returning to NO D
North 9Th street a small boy, A years
old. having long curly f1aXen hair, hazel
eyes, clear light skin, round face,
dressed in a brown linen suit with snort
skirt, broad-brimmeo straw hat and
laced shoes. Child lost from German
town on Wednesday afternoon, 1st in
slant, between and o'clock"
A second ad repeating the offer OF
reward was inserted on July 6.
On July there appeared in the Per
sonal' column of the Phlladelphla
Public Ledger the item: "Ross-We be
ready to negotiate"
On the same day the father received
an anonymous letter demanding $4,000
for the return of the child. The letter
said the boy was in good hands" and
was we'll cared for and explained that
the large sum asked for his return was
necessary because it has cost the par
ties concerned" a large amount Of
money to obtain the boy.
Insist on $4,000.
The father answered the demands in
an advertisement which said: Ross
will come to terms to extent OF his
ability"
The father had been we'll to do for
some years, but had lost most of his
money in the financial panic of 1873.
When he was advised through another
advertisement in the newspaper that the
kidnapers would be satisfied with moth
ing less than $40 1000, he replied in an
advertisement: Ross is willing, but
have not got it. Am doing my best TO
get it."
Came the reply in letter: 1--WE
know you are not worth much money,
but we are aware that you have rich
friends Of whom you can borrow. If
4Lnt1 or
its blood be on your own head"
That was the first threat that the
child would come to harm unless the
ransom was paid. Other letters fol-
lowed, with threats of inhuman cruelty
and death to the boy.
One letter said, ANY attempt to as
certain the childs hiding place will re-
suit in its entire annihilation We will
turn the child up on our own terms"
Another said, 1--WE know our business
and we are going to fight it out"
The father announced in an adver-
tisement on July 13 that he had Sc
cured the sum demanded and was ready
/ to pay.
Promise to Act in Good Faith.
He received letter saying, I'VE will
act in good faith with you and We do
not expect you to act falsely toward us.
If you DO, the consequences will be on
your own head. We do this to show
you that we will act fair with you, that
others may know that we keep our
word"
Another letter conveyed the informa-
ton that the kidnapers had taken the
Ross boy by mistake" but that, since
they had him, they would hold out for
the money
In response to an advertisement by
the father asking how the money should
be paid, letter was received giving
minute instructions. The father was
directed to bring the money to lonely
bridge in an open location in the coun-
try where. in return for the money
Charley would be returned. The father
was warned not to bring any one with
him or to notify the police. He was
told he would be accoSted some distance
from the bridge by a stranger who
would greet him with Good evening.
The father was to return the salutatior
and proceed until he met a second man
who would say How do you do?" Thii
greeting must be reciprocated, it wa
explained. and then the father must gt
to the bridge, where he would meet
third man, to whom he should give tht
money
After turning the money over to tn,
third man, the letter said, there Woult
be a short wait and then the boy woulC
appear
Father Carries Out Plan.
The father carried out his end of tn
bargain. but he met no men and waitet
in vain for his boy If the letter wa
genuine. the kidnapers probably wer
scared off by fear of a police trap.
The letters from the kidnaper
ceased abruptly after that. During tn
anxious months that followed, the po
lice in various parts of the country in
testigated many false reports concern
Ing whereabouts of the boy or his kid
napers. A number of men were arreste
on suspicion, but were released for lac
Of evidence against them.
Neuxpaper editors sharnlv criticize