Year: 1878

Cincinnati Enquirer, 18th.


The Charley Ross abduction case has once
more come to the front, and this time it is
the discovery right in our immediate vicinity
of boy who is said to resemble in many
points the long-lost child, that has reawaken-
ed interest in the case. OF course this dis
covery may turn out to be like all the rest,
but there is a chance that it may be the con-
trary, and that the bereaved Ross family may
be made happy by the restoration OF their
stolen child. The facts concerning this latest
discovery as given to the Enqus'er reporter
yesterday are as follows: Some two or three
weeks ago party consisting of two men,
named Brown and Cunningham, with wom-
an and small boy who was called Willie Brown,
drifted down the Ohio from Pittsburg and
moored their boat at the mouth of the Lick
ing River, in Covington, Kentucky. Brown
opened news store near the Suspension
Bridge and Willie used to sell his papers for
him on the street. He is described as being
a remarkably smart boy, and his sharpness
early attracted the attention of his neighbors.
Night before last Cunningham and Brown
had a row about woman, and Cunningham
came over to this city, and out of spite, as he
said, told a remarkable story concerning HIM
self and the boy Brown to Mr.. Frank A..
Armstrong, Superintendent Western Union
Telegraph Company.


He first spoke of man who had beens hot
and mortally wounded about two years ago
while attem pting to rob house on Long
Tc1 hn lo1 I,
his dying breath made statement to the ef-
feet that he, with an accomplice, had stolen
littlo Charley Ross from his fathers house in
Washington Lane, and that the other man
at that time had the child in his possession.
Now, Cunningham claims to be this other
man, and says that shortly after this occur
renee he came to Pittsburg, bringing the
boy with him, and got acquainted with
Brown. Thus far Cunningham's statement
as given to the Enquirer man is clear
enough, but just at this juacture woman
(the one about whom the trouble was night
before LAST appears on the scene. After this
all is kind of mixed up. Through some un-
explained transaction, in Cunningham's
statement, the boy is found to be Willie
Brown, and the man Brown is declared to be
his father. Then they come down the river
to Covington, and then occurs the row be-
tween Cunningham and Brown, and Gun
ningham's subsequent disclosures.


In order to satisfy himself of the truth or
falsity Of these latter, Mr.. Armstrong yesier-
day telegraphed Christian r. Ross at Phila-
delphia, and likewise informed Colonel Ira
Wood of the matter. Colonel Wood detailed
Captain johnson and officer Ramsey to
work up the case, and they went over the
river and took Pat Bolan, Covingtons Mar
tI,oI {<Nl l,r0&~
been working the matter up and watching the
parties interested. In the meantime Mr.. Ross
answered the dispatch sent him, and sent
long list of questions to be asked the boy
III order to determine whether he was the
genuine Charley or not. At this time little
Willie Brown, who was on the street selling
his papers, was told to go into Marshal Bo-
lan's office, as that gentleman wanted pa
per, He was then questioned by Captain
johnson and Bolan, and, althoug n some of
the answers were such as the real Charley
would be likely to give, yet the interrogators
were not satisfied. Willie showed by his
talk that he had resided in Baltimore, Pitts
burg and Philadelphia, as he knew the names
of many of the streets in their localities.
And now for a description of Willie Brown,
or Charlie Ross, whatever one may please to
call him. He is described as being quite
smart, lively fellow, and appears to be about
ten or eleven years Of age. He positively re-
fuses to say any thing about his former
name, and emphatically denies having ever
had any other name but that of Brown.
He said that he would be nine years old next
November, and that his mother had died
when he was two years of age. His ques
TONERS never mentioned Charley Ross to
him, as it was part of their policy to steer
clear of that point.


After this interview with the boy watchpen
were put to watch the boy, as, even If he
should not turn out to be Charlie Ross, it is
evident Brown has not come lawfully by him
and the case is certain to develop some sort
of sensation.


The Enquirer man, after hearing the
above story, started to find the ''Wille
Brown" for SO the Brown boat is named;
but, although he hunted around considerably
he failed to find it. He did, however, run
across an individual who calls himself Van
Hagen, but whom he believes to be Cunning
ham, who told him that the Brown family
had pulled up stakes and departed about 8
O'Clock last evening. He either was very
much intoxicated OF he acted like he was.


The above information was obtained with
considerable difficulty, as the police authori-
ties endeavored to keep the matter as quiet
as possible until it was definitely decided as
to whether the boy was Charley Ross or not.
It is singular fact in connection with the
story as now told, that a detective agency in
this city in October last received letter
from man in Philadelphia, who stated that
the boy was in the West, within eight hours
ride from Cincinnati, and that if a certain
amount of money was furnished him he
would bring forward man who saw the alb
duction and was familiar with the faces of
all the parties concerned in it. He referred
to several business men in Philadelphia and
in Cincinnati for testimonials as to his
honesty.


The Story Relating to Julia Rire- Kings