The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-08-12
1 DARK MYSTERY.
Ahe strange Disappearance of Editor
Walls, of Paris. nj.

Ahe strange Disappearance of Editor
Walls, of Paris, HI.
The mysterious disappearance in Ghieage
on July 23.of Mr.. g. n. Walls, the editor of the
Paris Gill; fepublseda-Bed6on, and which at
the time excited much comment both from tie
press and tfs pHBiiG, Las finally cornne to be
looked upon by the friends Of the missing man
as a case of murder for purposes of robbery.
The police of Chicago have not ceased in their
efforts to find a eleW TO Mr.. Walls wherea9
honts but; SO far, they have been eminentlT
Unsuccessful. The Chicago Inter Ocean, CON.
menting editorially upon this dark mystery,
says:
A body was found in the lake on Thursday
which was thought at one time to be that of
G. N. Walls, editor of the Paris GIL Republican,
whose disappearance two weeks ago was widely
chronicled
The circumstances CONNECTED with this dis
appearance are among the strangest on record;
and rival in mystery the stories of Charles Reads
or Wilkie Collins.
About ten day., ago Willis thousands Of ex-
cited men and gayly- dressed women we're cheer
ing and waving their handkerchiefs over "a
closely contested race at the Jockey Club Park
gentleman in a prominent seat of the grand
stand fell suddenly back lii an unconscious con-
dition. There was hustle and stir in the dense
crowd Immediately surrounding him but the
great mass knew nothing Or paid little atten-
ton to one man in simple fainting fit
The bell struck sharply, ordering up the drip
ping horses for another heat and the unfort-
innate man, removed from the immediate pres
ence of the crowd, was left to work his way
back to consciousness, while the gay thousands
again turned their attention to the races;
Stranger though he was to these sur
rounding him, there would have been
plenty OF assistance rendered without
doubt had there not appeared in, the hustle and
excitement Immediately following the fainting
fit, two men, who seemed to be the strangers
friends, and who took charge of him. 1t is
now known that these men were unacQuainted
with Mr.. Walls, that they were without doubt
villains of the worst type and that under the
guise Of acquaintance they took the uncon-
scious man away with them, robbed him, and
probably ended the matter by numbering him.
That such thing should be possible in this
day, and in this city, seems too horrible to be-
ieve, and yet this conviction is forced Upon u.s.
From the moment they disappeared all trace of
these men and their victim was lost, and none
has as yet been found, unless the silent, float
ing body found in the lake proves to be the miss
ing man. 1t is understood that Mr.. Walls had
a considerable sum of money with him, and,
if murder has been committed, it was un-
doubtedly done to cover the crime of robbery
aud prevent all efforts on his part to identify
or capture the robbers when he should recover.
That murder was necessary to accomplish the
robberyis, of course, improbable. The man was
unconscious, and it is quite likely that he eon-
tinued in this state for some time as his fainting
was thought to have been the result of sun
stroke, from which he had once before suffered.
It is not unlikely that the man was eoolly muir
dered as the shortest way to get rid of him.
and the lnhumanity and fiendishness of the
crime scarcely has parallel. Thieves
are generally content to get away
with plumber, without bearing the
blood of victim on their hands, and even the
worst of men usually proceed to extremities
only as last resort. But if this man was
killed, as is generally supposed, it was need
less and causeless crime, even from the Nigh
wayman's standpoint, and is so shocking as to
be incredible without the evidence which
makes it 1nconrestible.
What occurred after the fainting man was
carried from his seat and placed in carriage at
the Driving Park may never be known but, on
the theory that he was carried to his death, it
may be imagined. Helpless in the
hands of fiends, no one in the busy
streets dreaming that the passing car
rage contained q friendless man in the
power of cutthroats, the horrible scene was
enacted. Perhaps the body, breathing but still
unconscious, was dumped into the lake, to be
foated ashore after days had elapsed, and
identified; or, if the body discovered
in the waves on Thursday proves to
be some one else then the victim
may have been carried far into the country,
murdered and hidden forever from sight in
rude and hasty grave. The fact that the men
who carried the helpless man away cannot be
found is of itself strong proof that their work
was villainous beyond description.
tNoTE.-The body referred to by the Inter
Ocean was not that of Mr.. Wallis and bore no
resemblance to the missing man.