The Latest Charlie Ross

The village of Crawfordville, O., an out-of-the-way place some miles from Tiffin, puts in the latest claim for the discovery of the missing Charlie Ross. It seems that last October, when the Westervelt investigation was being hotly pressed at Philadelphia, two men in a close carriage drove up to the residence of Mrs. Beebe, in Crawfordville, when one of them, giving the name of Skates, left the boy, stating that he had business to transact in the neighborhood for a day or so, and did not wish to be bothered with him. The little fellow remained at the lady's house for several weeks, when, nobody calling for him, he was placed in the infirmary. Some weeks ago, another lady took a fancy to the boy, and with the consent of the superintendent took him home and sent him to school. A few days ago, some of the school children made the remark that the little boy might be the lost Charlie Ross, which awakened a feeling of curiosity among the people. A photograph was taken of the child and sent to Mr. Ross at Philadelphia, and a telegram was immediately received in response, stating that the photograph resembled the lost Charlie better than any that had yet been sent him, and ordering the parties to keep him concealed until further orders.

The little boy is about six years old, and says his name is Charlie Skates, his father having brought him from a place he called Cincinnati. The supposition is that, if he is the identical Charlie Ross, the abductors were doubtless fleeing from the East with him when the Westervelt trial was in progress, and thinking they were hotly pursued by detectives, they left him.