Growth in Ear Identifies Ross Almost Certain. . . Practically Definite Now That Long Lost Man Has Been Found. . . Starrs Seem Certain
Announcement practically may be made that the long lost Charlie Ross has been found. After an extensive investigation of the facts, Mr. and Mrs. Pierre C. Starr of New York, the latter a cousin of Charlie Ross, announce that they have accepted the Denver man as their relative.
Here are the immediate plans:
The Starrs will take the former Julius C. Dellinger north, where they will introduce him to their relatives and friends as Charlie Ross. They will subject him to blood tests to ascertain what modern science has to say in the way of clearing up the riddle. And they will put him under observation under the most favorable circumstances for a period.
Meantime, however, this is to be said—
That the Starr family, both Mr. and Mrs. Starr, have come to the conclusion absolutely that Dellinger is Ross. And Mrs. Starr has documentary evidence, a book thick, to back up her belief. Her quest has unearthed some startling facts with relation to the history of certain events in this state, which would make spicy reading if they are ever disclosed.
Her evidence includes an affidavit from the negro that spirited Charlie Ross away from Gaffney, S.C., after Mr. Frank Gaffney and his friends had concluded that the boy was the kidnapped lad. The child, as was formerly told, was spirited away to Bellton, Ga., by night.
The negro who executed that errand is now living in Mt. Holly, this state.
When Mrs. Ross, the mother of Charlie, died in Philadelphia some 18 years ago, her last words were said to have been: “If you ever find Charlie look for a growth in his ear. That will tell you it is the boy.”
When Mrs. Starr got out of her limousine on the rainy night in April last at Dellinger’s home in Denver (it was near midnight) and went into the house, the first thing she said, after looking Dellinger over from head to foot was: “Well, I believe I have found Charlie.”
Then she said: “Let me look in your left ear.”
Dellinger, not knowing the significance of the act, bent his head, and his cousin exclaimed: “Yes, the growth is there.”
The man, as has formerly been told, also had two moles on his back as the lost Ross child had, and a foot with a scar on it.
Just when the man now recognized as Ross will be taken north is being kept a secret, to avoid publicity, it is said; but the trip will be made soon. And it is expected Mr. J. frank Gaffney of this city will be a member of the party.
It was Mr. Gaffney, it happens, that supplied the missing link of evidence in the chain. It seems Mrs. Starr for two years or more had been convinced that Charlie Ross was alive, and was making a persistent investigation to endeavor to get trace of him. At the same time Dellinger, living in Denver, was also persisting in his endeavor to find out who he really was.
The two trials of investigation met in Mr. Gaffney. It was his evidence thar forged th eli;nk in the chain of circumstance.
Then the negro was found who had spirited the young child away from Gaffney by night.
Then a close relative of the woman was found who had run away with McHale. Then the antecedents of the Julius Dellinger episode were traced down.
From the front page of The Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., Monday, May 17, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn97064509/1926-05-17/ed-1/seq-1/
