THE CHARLEY ROSS MYSTERY.

Kumara Times, Issue 860, 3 July 1879, Page 4

THE CHARLEY ROSS MYSTERY.

It will be remembered that over five years ago a child named Charley Ross was, whilst playing in the street, near his father's house of business, Philadelphia, stolen by two men. At the time the case caused great excitement, for the father being a man of wealth, the object of the Scoundrelly act was of course to extort money. At once Mr Ross offered a reward of l,ooodols (about L 200). To this there was no response. Then he doubled the reward, and received several anpnymopus communications, stating that the child would be handed over for 20,000d0ls —a sum apparently far above the father's means. Mr Ross tried to negotiate with his unknown correspondents, but suddenly the letters came to an end. Some time afterwards, in one of the Southern States, two men quarrelled and fought. One was shot dead and the other was mortally wounded. He only survived for a quarter of an hour after the fight, but before his death, confessed that he and the man who lay dead beside him, were the abductors of the child. He was proceeding to tell where the child would be found, when a death spasm seized him, and he spoke no more. It was then learnt that the child was in custody of some women—relatives or paramours of the dead men. These women were interviewed, but nothing could be ascertained as to; what had become of Qharley Robs. Then information reached the detectives that he had been sent away to Australia, but to what part was not known. Mr Ross thereupon instructed Mr John Lloyd, of Lloyd and Co's enquiry office, Melbourne, to spare no expense, but to have every possible enquiry made. Portraits and descriptions of the child were scattered all round the country, and the services of detectives everywhere obtained. Wo have now (writes the Bendigo Independent (something which will be read with interest to lay before our readers. We learn on the best authority, that a private detective, under the instructions of Lloyd and Co., has already traced Charley Ross to New Zealand. The detective, however, lost the scent at the Thames diggings, but ascertained that for five months he had been in possession.of some person staying in Auckland. After losing all traces of the child (or rather lad, for he is now over eight yearß old), Mr Lloyd received information that he had turned up in Mudgee (New South Wales), but that the parties who had him in charge had almost immediately left for Queensland. It seems (supposing the boy to be Charley Ross) that he is kept by two women, one of whom is thought to be a daughter, and the other a paramour of the original abductors. The search will not be allowed to languish, for we believe Mr Lloyd is in communication with Philadelphia by every mail. Mr Ross guarantees 4,000 dols, for the recovery of his little son, and the United States police authorities 1,000 dols. The father is a Philadelphia merchant in a fair way of business, but it is understood he is spending the greater part of his income in efforts to recover the stolen child.