Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-09-09
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.



| ( From the Memphis Register, Sept. 7.
Johnnie Wsggeuer, the son of Mr.. j. b.
| Waggener, of this city, was sent By bis
/ father, last Thursdsy morning, out to col f.
lect bill from man who resides near the
State Female College. He went to the
mans house, ard was informed that he
(the many was not at home, bat was in the
| city. The b y returned and SO informed
bis father, and was directed to to take a
stand on the corner of street, and he
would shortly, no doubt, see the gentleman
pass, 30 it would save him another trip out
to the college. About eleven o'clock, Mr..
| Waggener went from bis store, on the cor
ner of Madison street, over to Clark's cor
ner, where Johnnie was standing, and told
him to get on the street-cor and go ont to
the gentleman's house again, and try and
see him. Johnnie obeyed orders, and got
on red CIR, one OF what is known as the
fernando street and Elmwood line. He
states that be recollects getting on the red
car; that there were three ladies snd two
men In the car, bu. he does not remem-
Der any more ABOUT the car, and don't
know when, where or how he left
it. He does not remember anything that
occurred to, or about him from few mi
nutes after he stepped on the street car, IN
til shout half after seven O'Clock that n ght,
he found himself walking along railroad
track and it was dark. He concluded to
wall; on until he would come to house or
meet some person, so he could End out
where he was, as he felt completely lost.
BE soon met a negro man and asked him
what railroad be was On, and was informed
that it was the Mississippi and Tennessee
railroad. He enquii ed what locality he was
in, and which end of the road would take
him to Memphis, and was told that he was
three miles soGth OF fernando, Mississippi,
and that he Was going from Memphis. He
was utterly sstounded at the in formation,
and turned and made his way on foot back
to Hernandez, where he arrived about half
past eight o'clock. He got room at the
hoel and slept for the night, and after get
ting something to eat, went to the depot,
and th're asked Of some person what time
the train for Memphis would arrive, and I'M
derstood him TO reply, sat eleven O'clock"
He concluded that rather than wait so long
a time Tor the train, be would walk on TO
the next depot or farther, and get on it
there, as be was out of money. He had
not travelled far before the ain overlook
aud passed him. He hailed and
tried to stop it, but could not,
so he had to walk all the way home,
where he arrived about five O'Clock Friday
evening, and bis presence gladdened the
heart of an almost broken hearted mother
aud father. The reporter of the Register
had long int view with Johnnie yester
day, and got full statement OF all tho
facts that he could give. Johnnie says that
when he got on the red street car he had
only ninety five cents in his pocket, and
when he found himself trampiDg along the
railroad track, and at the hotel, he had the
same amount of money, and no more, and
that nothing had been taken from bis per-
son. He paid seventy five cents for lodging
at the hotel, and the balance he paid for
something 10 eat; that be mentioned the
circumstances Of his not knowing when he
left Memphis, nor how, to man 1T the
depot, when he got back to fernando that
night, and the man told him that he saw
him get off the down train that evening.
John"ie also states that he had no CONVEX
sation with any one on the street car that
he remembered, and that he had not drank
anything except water since he had eaten
bis breakfast Thursday morning, and that
he drank the water at his fathers store
some time before he got on the car. He is
q very moral youth, fifteen ears of age,
quite sprightly and intelligent, has been
keeping books for his father about a year,
and never drinks ardent spirits. He has
good renu alton for veracity, and
those who know him well give full
confidence in the truthtulness of bis state
ments about the affair. His father stated to
the Register reporter that johnnie had
never been sick but once in his life, and the
case was not of nature to affect the mind,
and t. at his mind had never been affected
in any way. Taking all these circumstan-
ces and facts into view, it is the str INCEST
affair that has ever happened in Memphis.
If he went to fernando on the train, the
question is, who paid his fair, and how did
he get from red street car, which does not
run to the depot of that railroad, but goes
away at right angles to the street that leads
TO il? Our reporter has eDdeavored % see
the conductor of the down passenger train
on Thursday evening, in order to learn if
he remembers who paid Johnnie's fare to
fernando, and what light h9 can throw on
the sffsir, if any, but failed to interview
him thus far. If this should reach bis eye,
we hope he will send to the Register office
any information or recollections be may
have on the subject, as Mr.. Waggener is
anxious to ferret out everything connected
with his sons disappearance, and if he can
find that any person was actuated by i'm
proper motives in a'ducting his son, he in
tends to prosecute to the extent Of the law.
We neglected to state that Johnnie
brought the bill which be was sent to COL
lect back with him, and the gentleman who
owed it had not paid it to him, nor seen
anything of him. .r.s ..a.