The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1871-12-19
A MYSTERY.

Mr.. JAS. SMITH, SEN, OF WASHINGTON, ILL
INo1s, DIsAPPEARED--HE Is LAST HEARD
FROM AT CAIRo--A BIO REWARD.
About the first of December Mr.. Jas
Smith, SEN, IN old and highly respectable
citizen of Washington, Illinois, left his
home in that city TO go to Chicago to trans
act important business, and since which
time nothing has been heard from him.
At the time of Mr.. Smiths depart
urc from home he had in
his possession about one hundred dollars
in money. Not returning 10 his home af-
ter reasonable time his family became
alarmed for his safety, and one of his sons
went to Chicago TO look for him. Arriv-
ing in that city he repaired to the hotel at
which ii was customary for his father to
stop, AMI ascertained the following facts.
The old gentleman had came to Chicago,
and as on former occasions Put up ut this
hstel. He had supper, lodging, and
breakfast at the house. At the break
fast table, however, he complained of feel
the hotel no one in all that vast city could
be found who had seen or heard Of him.
Failing in his efforts to gain any further
information and filled with despair, Mr..
Smith, Jr. returned TO his home at Wash
ington. A day or two after arriving at
home from Chicago, however, he received
an express package from the old gentle
man, marked From, TINS city. The pack
age contained $685. although the marks on
it indicated that II should contain but
$40. Another of the sons of the old gen.
tleman, took the first train south and
arrived here on Friday morning last,
and at once began n through several of the
city, but failed TO gain any knowledge
whatever Of his father. He, too, failing
in his Efforts to find the old man, become
discouraged, and returned to his home.
On Saturday or Sunday, Mr.. Ross, Of
Washington, arrived in town, and has, in
company with detective Arnold, been
endeavoring to work up the case, but up
to this time has met with nothing tending
to give them any clue to the old man
whereabouts.
Mr.. Smith was one of the mos,
highly respected citizens of the
community in which he lived. He
was heavy contracting builder, and at
the time of leaving home was engaged
in the erection of "a thirty thousand dollar
building at FL Paso, and several other
buildings Of less value in other localities
He was a member of the Presbyterian
church in good standing, and was looked
upon by all the community as an honest
and honorable gentleman. In one of hi
letters which ne enclosed in the expires.
package he spoke of it being better for hi
family that he should be away from them
although they were to all appearances a
happy and .contented household. This fact
taken in connection with the fact tina
he placed in the express package
$50, and marked on the envelope, $40 ha
Id his friends to the belief that he ha
became deranged. There is no doubt tina
he was in Cairo, but what has. become Q
him, or where he has gone, is hard gu c:
ton to answer.
a reward of 500 is offered for hin
But, should he be taken up by any Office
or citizen, IT Is especially requested tina
he be treated kindly as his absence fror
home is attributable to no crime. /
another place we publish an advertisement
giving q full description Of the man.