Child Who Disappeared in 1875 May Have Been Found in Shelby, N.C., March 24, 1926

Believe Man Near Shelby Is Charlie Ross, Long Sought. . . J.P. Gaffney of Shelby Says Affidavit Setting Forth Facts Will be Filed in Shelby. . . Man’s Name Has Not Been Given. . . Story Says He Was Left in Gaffney, S.C., by Couple Which Stayed Few Days

Shelby, N.C., March 24 (AP)—An affidavit professing belief that a man discovered near here is Charlie Ross, whose disappearance as a child in the east in 1875 caused a nation-wide search, will be filed here, according to J.P. Gaffney of this city.

The man says he feels certain that he is Ross.

Mr. Gaffney says he has been asked by the man if he will file such an affidavit. He added that he had remembered the man as a boy, coming to Gaffney, S.C., in 1875 soon after the child’s disappearance with a man and woman. They stopped, he said, a short time in the South Carolina city and disappeared, although he noticed at the time a close resemblance between the child and Ross. An investigation of the visitors was planned when they suddenly departed.

According to Mr. Gaffney he recently received a letter from the man asking if it was he who at that time conducted the investigation in the South Carolina city.

The man, according to Mr. Gaffney, is in correspondence with Walter L. Ross, brother of Charlie Ross, as well as having take up the question with the New York World.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, March 24, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-03-24/ed-1/seq-1/