The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-11-26
A MISSING MERCHANT.

Mysterious Disappearance From
New York City eta Wealthy South.
erner-A Case Of Supposed Murder
Efforts OF the Police 10 Fathom
the Mystery.
About three weeks ago, says the New
York Times, Mr.. George NJ. Pray, q
merchant of Louisville, Kentucky, who
had recently retired from business. LETT
his home in that city and came on to
New York. On arriving here he put up
at the Brandreth House, at the corner OF
Broadway and Canal, as he had for
some time past been acquainted with
the night clerk named Martin. He re-
NAMED at the Brandreth House few
days, and then changed his quar-
tiers, to the st. Nicholas. AL
though staying at the latter
hotel, his friendship for Mr.. Mar
tin attracted him TO the 'Brandreth
House, where he generally spent his
evenings. On Wednesday evening, the
18th inst, he Gale at the latter named
hotel, aud was there introduced to
Mr.. Lumley, a respectable merchant,
with whom be remained playing bill
lizards until q o'clock on Thursday
morning. At that time he lett to 60 to
the St. Nicholas Hotel, and has since
disappeared. Mr.::Martin accompanied
the missing man to the corner o.
Broadway and Canal streets, and saw
him start up Broadway in the direction
OF the St. Nicholas Hotel, aud this was
the last that was seen Of him by any OF
his friends. He failed to return TO the
hotel on Thursday, but his non appear.
ance did not excite any suspicious until
several days had elapsed, when search
was instituted, but no trace OF the
missing man could be obtained. The
records at police headquarters were
searched, but the name OF the dlsap,,
reared merchant could not be found
among the arrests or accidents. The
hospitals in this city were thoroughly
searched, but without success. Becom-
inc alarmed at his continued absence,
the friends of the m s-ing man tele-
,raphed to his brother, who is Justice
Of the Peace 10 Louisville, and that
gentleman came on at once to this city
to assist in the search Tor his missing
brother. 1t is stated that the missing
man, on the day previous to his dIsaP-
psarance, drew from the Nassau Bank
$1,000 dollars in greenbacks. and Is
supposed to have had this money IN his
possession when he disappeared. He
also had on his person an old
fashioned god watch and two
valuable pearl shirt studs. 1t
is further stated by his friends that
when he left the Brandreth House to
90 to the ST. Nicholas Hotel he was
perfectly sober. He was not addicted
to the use OF intoxicating liquors but
very careful and steady in bis habits.
His wife and seven children are in
Louisville overwhelmed with grief at
his unaccountable absence His do
mestic relations are said to have been
extremely felicitous. He was man Of
considerable wealth, and his wife is also
no, sessed of considerable property in
her own right. His affairs are said to
be in good order, and there appears to
be no reason for voluntarily alb
senting himself. His brother and
friends fear tnat he has been
robbed and murdered, and have sought
the aid Of The police in searching tor
the missing Kenturkian. Detectives
TiIlev and Heidelberg, Of the Central
Office. have been detalle for this duty.
Mr.. PRAY is about forty-five years Of
age, stands nearly six feet high, and
weighs nearly two hundred pounds. He
was dressed in a dark suit and wore a
ight-colored overcost and tall hat He
is known to have generally carried q
Derringer pistol and a peculiarly shaped
bowie knife. A full and accurate de
scrrprion of the missing man has been
placed in the hands OF the detectives,
who are exerting themselves to find