Year: 1875

WALAEh 5IOh1-IHE fhOCEEb1NSho IN FOAA~


PHILADELPHIA August 81 1875
AT about ten O'Clock this morning the trial fWest-
ervelt resumed the Court OF Quarter Sessions,
before Judge Elcock When the prisoner was placed in
the dock he looked somewhat paler than yesterday,
and as he read the morning papers which attendant
brought him his hands trembled Promptly at his side
was his wife pleasant faced little woman, In faded
black Before she took her seat beside him. but outside
the rangs she put her about his neck and kissed
him If she Is guilty Of completely In the foul crime OF
which she Is Jointly indicted with her husband
her appearance indeed bellies her It was unnatural to
think as she sat and caressed her own little
with mothers tenderness that she could steal away
another womans child Mr. Ross sat on the other side
Of the enclosure with his boy Walter his knees
while all were waiting for the proceedings resume
and, with thoughtful face watched this mother and
her children Mr. Ross is a spare man of the middle
height with thin red hair, and thick beard OF the
same color encrcling his face, but rather closely
trimmed He has sharp prominent nose, quick,
nervous looking eyes, decisive mouth and
TO characterize his expression manner briefly he
would be described "wde awake" There is an
alertness quick rowing of the eyes OF always
on the watch But with II all hts face has a
look and there are premature lines the forehead


wLrER,


the little child who kidnapped with Charley, and
fortunately returned sobout six years old, a year
older than the lost His features greatly resemble
Charley's but he has not his naxen curls He sat
gazing at everything In child fashion, and looked as
though he would have liked get down and play with
the little boy Of the prisoners who was apparently
about his age After while the child tired of the
dull proceedings and fell asleep q gentieman's lap
while his father was testifyng


The court room well filled with spectators, al
though not unduy crowded. and although the words OF
the actors scarcely audible thirty feet away the
occupants Of the distant visitors craned their
necks and opened their mouths, and sat patiently
throughout the day Several persons from Bay Ridge
among the witnesses in attendance, among them
young Van Brunt who fred the shot that killed Doug
lass the stableman who with him. and the consta-
BILE Of the village.


The proceedings were very slow and tiresome The
Court is behind the century. It has no stenographer
and after every few words the witness must stop and
wait until they slowly transcribed.


PROCEEDINGS


After the formal opening Of court Mr.. Ross who had
not concluded his testimony yesterday recalled
He up the thread narrative at the return of
Walter to his father by Mr. Peacock the gentleman who
found him He described the first search through the
suburbs and his visit the Central police station where
he told the story Captain Helms who detailed Detec
tive Joyce TO visit the place In the Kensington district
where Walter first found. He told how he and hts
nephew instituted vigorous search for a day and
night and how they then prepared the first advertise
ment which appeared in the Ledger Iaqrer and Press
of July 8


On the 4th Mr. Ross went to Atlantic City and informed
his wife Of their loss for the first time. He testified
that the 9th he received anonymous letter
through the mail at his store. The letter handed
him and identified but not read It Is believed TO be
the following 1t was taken from local box and post
marked 'Philadelphia:"-


We hsye child charley bruster Ross safe we'll
child otherwise he must die II yop are willing do bse-
~Ros We be ready to negotiate"


On the morning of the 7th of July the personal die
tated in this letter appeared IN the Phllc Ledger
"Ros. We be ready to negotiate"


On the afternpon OF the day whom this appeared Mr.
Ross testned received another letter This also was
handed 10 him by the District Attorney and identified
But 1t was not read to the jury The of Mr. Ross
testimony consisted In the Identification of letters
handed to him by the District Attorney and answers
thereto from the "PersonalsH Of the PHILADELPHIA
Ledger and the NYw YORK Herald This Is a sample
OF the rest Of hts testimony


Mr. Hagerwhen did receive this letter. the eighth
Mr Hagert-Dd you publish personal" on the 2ls. Of
Mr., Hagers-Nc 2 gentlemen. Did you receive sha. lei.
Mr. Hager-Did publish personal" the Ledger on
Mr.. Ross-it was published by the authorities


Mr. RossYes sr received Sa Ou SD the s5 'na'


Mr.: Hagert-No II. Just state whether you received
Mr.. Ross-Yes sir.


Mr.. Ross-On the 29th Of July.


The letters were none Of them read and were desr-
mated by Assistant District Attorney Hagert only by
their numbers and this portion of the testimony was
therefore not only uninstructive to the jury, but
actually unintelgibe. The letters were only offered
to DO identified as having been received The
District Attorney will doubtless offer 10 read them for
the enlightenment OF the jury further along This
point will be contested by the defence, very probably,
who will insist upon Westervel being connected with
them The most important point in the trial will hinge
upon the decision Of this question when II comes up


These letters have all been published in the HERALD
from tme to time Their reproduction here would take
up too much space II Is probable that they will be
read at some time during the trial


Mr. Ross concluded his testimony as follows after
detailing the long and fuess searches he has made for
his boy


Mr. Hagert-How recently has that search been con-
Mr. RSss s rstgTnsd Yesterday pm trip to the upper
Mr. HagerHave others continued the beside your
Mr. Ross-Yes SIR


Mr. HagerDid that search any distance through
Mr.. Ross-From Texas 70 California; In nearly all IN.
States Of the union in Scotland and Germany Ihave
case now being investigated by the United States Consul
Mr.. HagortHas your child bccn returned to youi
Mr. Ross-No sir; have not seen It since July 1874
number OF photographs Of the missing boy were
shown to Mr. Ross and he identified the Fsman one as



were altered 70 agree with the boys appearance when
he left


The photographs were shown to the jurymen and
compared by them


twenty minutes past twelve O'Clock the Court took
recess for half an hour at the conclusion Of Mr. Ross
examination in chief He was not cross examined
by the defence at the reassembling, and


DANIEL PRUDDY
called to the stand He testified in substance as
folows-


live at Germantown and know Walter Charley Ross,
they with two three days when At work az
Mr. Boutilers, nearly opposite Mr. Ross carriage came
along there on one OF these days with they
called the children to them and Walter candy and
Charley said Give :" they little further and
then gave tbom more saw them then the top the
hill the day this the 30sh Of june. and
had them before the 2sth 2h they opposite
Mr. Ross house the Goth and 9th In the wagon;
would call IL buggy; kind Of sloped front; the
horse bay and looked he had been driven very
hard the horse had long tail


PETER CALLAHAN
the next Witness testified
live Washington lane remember the day Charley and
Walter Ross were missing July a 20 up the
lane with handkerchief over his face and another IN