Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-09-15
The Disappearance of Mr.. Patton
from Lafayette, Ind, Explained
He EIopes with his First Love!

/ he Disappearance OF MI. Patton
from Lafayette, Ind, Explained
He Elopes with his First Love!
An extra from the ofice of The Lafayette
Courier. gives The following facts in regard
to the recent Disappearance from that city
of one of its prominent citizens:
LAFAYETTE, Sept. 5, 1859.
The remarkable disappearance of Mr..
Patton, leading hardware dealer of this
city, has been the subject of extended CON-
ment in these columns, and wherever MIR. P.
was known has excited the liveliest appre-
tensions as to his late.
| On the Sth day OF last month he left this
city, ostensibly upon short tour of recrea-
tion; accompanied by his little son, child
scarce five years of age. He took, as was
supposed. bat small amount of money
barely sufficient to defray his expenses to
Chicago and return but one change of
linen, and strange to say, was urgent in
pressing upon his wife to accompany him.
She declined TO GO, however, and expressing
his regret, he took his departure. His re-
turn by the next train was confidently ex-
pected by his family and friends. Their
agonizing suspense as days and weeks
elapsed, may be imagined:
| The seeming purity OF his private life, his
position as leading member of the Metho
.tdist Church. the seeming felicity of his
domestic relations-every circumstance in
fact, combined to preclude any solution of
his: absence, save upon the supposition that
he had met with foul play. We are panied
to say that subsequent developments-.the
result of a thorough investigation into ell
the circumstances attending his disappear
auce, reveal the fact that he has eloped with
Miss Adelin Potts, young lady who for
merly resided near Dayton. in this county,
and to whom he was at one time engaged.
It seems that they had been, children to-
gether-becaine lovers, and were to- have
been married on certain day. A brother.
residing near Craw fordsville, opposed the
match, and intercepted their correspon-
dence. A misunderstanding and an es-
arrangement ensued. At this juncture he
commenced paying his attentions to a
highly respectable young lady of this city,
and piqued by the seeming GOODNESS of Miss
! Potts, married ber after brief courtship.-
The interference of the brother, the inter-
cepted letters, and the consequent misun
derstanding and estrangement, were subse-
I'quently explained; and, as the story goes.
Mr.. Patton was heard to lament his ill-ad-
vised haste in the most unmeasnred terms,
protesting his "undying love" for Miss
Potts, and begging the privilege ofretaining
a portion of their correspondence as a SOU
venir OF the past.
Since thie period, which eome,inne
in February, '52, Miss Potts has resided in
Illinois and Wisconsin, with the exception
of few weeks, which she spent on visit
to tins city in '55. During this visit Mr. p.
paid her some attention, bot nothing occur
red TO occasion any remark 1t is now re-
vealed, however, that regular corrcspon-
dence has been kept up with her since his
marriage. A brother-in- law with whom
she resided at Janesvile, Wis, discovered
the correspondence abou: lS months since.
and made an unsuccessful effort to have it
| discontinued.
Mr.. Patton as we before stated, left this
city on Monday afternoon, August 9th, ar
rived at Chicago about 9 O'Clock ON the
evening of the same day. Early the next
morning, he went to the telegraph office and
and sent dispatch to Miss Potts at James
vile, as follows:
CHICAGO, Aug. 9th A. M.
"Meet me atBeloit." HARDING.
/ The disps.ch Eeached Miss Potts at an
early hour, and informing her friends that
she was expected to oficiate as bridesmaid
at the wedding of friend, at Belot, that
day, left for B., by the first train. Patton
had proceeded here, and had engaged rooms
, at the Hotel. registering himself and child
as J. w. Harding and Son, and informing
the landlord that be was expecting the ar
rival of his wife. They occupied the same
room that night.
The next day she returned to Janesville,
and informing her friends that she was going
on short visit TO Richland county, packed
her entire wardrobe, and left the same
evening. Patton doubtless joined her again
at some of the way stations between James
lille and Beloit. Here all trace of the
guilty couple is lost. 1t is the general sup
position that they went to New York and
sailed for California.
Miss Potts is known to have had con-
siderable sum of money, and it is not proba-
BILE that Mr.. Patton was as short of funds as
was at first supposed.
Mrs. Patton, whose case eXcites the most
heartfelt sympathy in the entire communi-
ty, has filed her application for divorce and
alimopY, on the ground of adultery and