On July 1, 1874, 6-year-old Walter and 4-year-old Charley Ross were playing outside in the front of their home when two men drove by in a horse and carriage. After riding by a few days earlier and offering the boys candy, imagine their delight when the same men offered to buy them firecrackers! Charley and Walter both jumped into the men's wagon and rode off to town to stock up on fireworks for the upcoming holiday. When Walter went inside to make his purchase, Charley stayed with the men, who quickly rode away, leaving Walter behind. This is the story of the first kidnapping for ransom case ever documented in United States history, and what lengths his father, Christian, went through to try to bring his son back home.

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Intro & Extro Music: Undersea World by Dragonov

REFERENCES:

23 letters: A child lost forever

A notorious 19th century kidnapping in Brooklyn

The father’s story of Charley Ross, the kidnapped child

The kidnapping of little Charley Ross, 1874

The story of Charley Ross