The New York herald., 1872-11-24
MISSING MEN.
Theories in Vogue on the Peay and Other
Extraordinary Cases.
Searching the Depths-Ths Police Scouting ths
Murder and Robbery Side Of the Question
and Working to Establish tho Opposite
view-Tempsrance in Trouble.

Murder and Robbery Side Of the Question
and Working to Establish tho Opposite
view-Tempsrance in Trouble.
The disappearance OF Mr.. George M. Peay stn con.
tnues the subject Of general conversation through
out the city. The belief that he was led away
murdered and robbed is gaining ground, although
the detectives positively assert nothing OF the kind
has happened. Mr.. Justice Peay seems to have no
doubt whatever his brother. was killed, and ne is
conhrmed in this opinion by several circumstances
surrounding the case. When the particulars OF the
SAD occurrence were first made public it was stated
that the last seen of Mr.. Peay was when he left
the Brandreth House at half-past two O'Clock
on the Thursday morning. Mr.. Martin con-
Quoted him . the door and watched
him through the windows OF the door Until
he had gained the corner OF Canal street ana
Broadway, on the hotel side. 1t has since been
ascertained that night watchman, employed In
the neighborhO0d, SAVIOR thinks he saw-a gen.
tleman answering the description OF Mr.. Peay stop
In the middle OF the block above Canal street. on
Broadway, to talk to two other gentlemen, and
the watchman afterwards noticed the gentleman
he thinks was Mr.. Peay go away with these two
men. They first Earned towards Mercer street,
and after getting into 1t the three walked along,
going up town, until they disappeared out Of sight
Of the watchman. This comedies exactly with the
police theory; but If Mr. Peay Is still in town. and
number of the detectives insist he is, ,g.
WHY is HE NOT FOUND? 0..
Ten days have now elapsed since he so suddenly
and mysteriousy dropped out Of view, and II he
were in New York 1t seems reasonable to expect no
would have heard something OF the excitement
caused in the public mind by his extraordinary alb
sence. Mr.. Justice Peay has learned that his bro
ther met some men casually at the bar Of the
Brandreth House who afterwards introduced him
to two other parties, and the suppositiOn has
arisen that these men have had something to DO
with his going away. There seems to be no doubt
that Mr. Peay was shadowed for several days before
he drew the money from the bank in Brooklyn.
The men or women who were employed to do this
MS5e Of IN following him up woad no
amount paid to HIM at the bank. That
gentleman there is no question, but it was not ne
cessary to murder him to gain possession of his
Of his ee
sidewalk The thieves might even have killed him,
committed the robbery and left the body on the
chance Of never being discovered. The assertion
looks like q terrible one in great city at the
cent past will uy prove the possibility Of the oc.
currence. Mr. Peay might have strolled down to-
the docks, his mind became very much occSpied.
he might have .,e.sr..
FALLEN INTO THE RIVER.
II that was the case the body would assuredlY have
turned up before this and 1t is not likely he could
get SO near the river without having been seen b
sesence hn to the pooe Er JUSTICE Pssy Ss
learned that the missing gentleman made the ac-
tween New York ana some Southern. porls. NJ.
George N. Peay went on board thia steamer and
in command Of the vessel it is understood was
either native Of Kentucky Or very well acquainted
there, and It Is quite probable MT: Peay ana ne
that both knew. This would afford plenty Of mate
rial for conversation and would show good rea-
for the frequent visits to the vessel. He like
wise made the acquaintance OF the captain Of the
steamship City Of Brussels and went on board that
might have gone on trip in one OF these Ships or
perhaps, if he had taste that way, he might have
yet heard about. While all is stin uncertainty, Of
course anything is probable and the more cheerful
antest ante t. to adopt Superintendent Kelso was very
busy in the matter. Yesterday detectives were
sent out
TO scouR THE CITY
in all directions. Some were assigned to look
through hotels. Others were commissioned to ex-
anime houses OF not quite SO good character, and
three were sent to look through the most disreput
able dens in the city. Captain Irving Is personally
the authorities are convinced Mr.. Peay is still in
New York, there is some amount or hope they WAL
taken a strong interest in the case and is urging
on the officers to their utmost by every means In
his power, The disappearance OF Mr. Peay has as
sunled such q character and caused SO much con-
sternation in the minds OF the people that the po-
lice are thoroughly aroused to the necessity OF un
usual exerton to sustain the reputation and honor
of the department. The captains OF the several
precincts also doing all they can in their dis
Captain Byrne, with his two detectives, has made
complete examination of the Fifteenth precinct,
secreted in that locality. Captain Ulman has done
the same thing in the Fourth. Captain lyman is q
time eog tGe a and acs ss
OF the detectives as he started out yesterday from
Police Headquarters was handed portrait Of Mr..
Peay, with description OF him and The jewery he
wore attached, with special instructions in each
case. Detective Woodbridge arrived at the Central
ONCE during the afternoon with shadow OF cOun-
tcnance that bctOkened
SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
He kept it to himself very closely though, and
only renamed q few minutes at Headquarters
when he started of again. Detective Woodbridge Is
o. opinion taat t Mr. Mr. Peay Is IN New YORK alive and
question OF time and the gentleman is certain to
turn up. Some years ago this officer was engaged
The disappearance Of that man caused something
like the CONSERVATION that the absence
sSs,'' perance Lecturer 'A had ' been % in IA most most
disr%eputable dis % den, drunk mn the whole OF OF
temperance teacher was nung on the sidewalk.
Newspapers never get into these places and the
noise made about the great advocate OF abstinence
had found no echo In his haunt Another case
cited is that of lady who lived on staten Island;
Her friends were almost distracted for weeks and
months by her mysterious absence. 1t afterwards
turned out she had away with a gentleman
ana had settled in Italy. From experiences like
these the police argue. and lt Is @ TO be sincerely
hoped their views are correct. They scout the
idea OF murder, and confident Mr.. Pcay is alive
and will soon be with frienus
AN EXTRAORDINARY FEATURE
of police matters is that one case OF particular
crime or accident is usually followed by number
OF others OF the same description. A murder will
bring q multitude Of murders; burglary will be
followed by burglarles, and so on with the whole
catalogue OF crime. Mysterious disappearances are
now the feature before the public, and the number
OF persons calling at Police Headquarters for the
past few days to look after missing relatives IS ap