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A story of brigandage in the United States is told by the Philadelphia correspondent of the Times.On the afternoon of July I two boys, aged seven and four years respectively, were stolen from their home in the northern portion of that city by two men, who drove off with them in a light waggon. After driving an hour or two, the men left the elder boy in the street several miles from home, and disappeared with the younger. This child of four years, named Charles Brewster Ross, has not since been found ; but two or three days after the abduction his captors began writing letters to his parents, indicating that they had stolen him for ransom, and threatening to kill the boy if the money was not forthcoming. The father, when he first placed the case in the hands of the police, offered a reward of 300 dols. for his return. The letters from the thieves, which were sent by post, demanded 20,000 dols. ransom, a sum which the father was at first unable to raise. For about ten days the correspondence between the thieves and the father went on, he advertising his replies in the Public Ledger. The detective police set industriously to work to ferret out the criminals, but they have not been able to accomplish much. The father, it is believed, despairing of the police operations resulting in success, has managed to borrow the money demanded, and is now willing to pay it for his child, his more recent advertisements indicating this intention. But here (the writer says) a strong public sentiment has intervened, the case having attained wide publicity. The people are determined that the crime of child-stealing for ransom shall not be introduced here through success in this instance; and the authorities, while relaxing no effort to detect the criminals, are at the same time on the alert to prevent any compounding of the felony. The active interest taken in the case is shown by a meeting of leading Philadelphians, who raised a fund of 20,000 dols., which they have given the mayor to offer as a public reward for the recovery of the child and the apprehension of the criminals. The mayor of the city accordingly offered this reward by a proclamation which has been telegraphed all over the country. ‘
Newspaper Details
London Week News
London, Middlesex, GB
Sat, Aug 08, 1874
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Samantha T.
IN, USA 21 Aug 2017
Other Publications Near London, Middlesex
Bingleys Journal
Arminian Magazine
London Daily Mail
London Stars and Stripes
London Daily Universal Register
