The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-09-04
THE LATEST CLUE.
Highly Sensational and Altogether
Formidable.
Mary Churchill Thought to be in New
Mexico Beginning Of the Arguments
in the Frank James Cause.-The yell
low Fever Reduction of the Tobacco
Tax-News in General.

ST. LOUIS, Sept, 3.-The latest theory
about Miss Mary ChurchilPs mysterious
disappearance is to the effect that she is III
New Mexico with her old school teacher,
A. +. Caldwell, late merchant In Tope-
ka, Kas., and now q refugee from hin
creditors. For several years Caldwell WAS
principal OF the Stoddard school, and for
some time previous to his relnquishIng that
position Mary was known to have been
his pet pupil. Their intimacy was al.
most as marked as that Of former one
existing between Caldwell and another
young lady, who, since the sensation
created thereby, has been a society belle.
Caldwell was, and is now, a line looking
man, fond OF female society, and made
himself quite familiar with a number Of MS
young pupils His attentions were OF such
a fatterng nature and 50 adroitly addressed
as not to create suspicious Of evil intent.
Consequently these innocent girls, feeling
too well pleased with the compliments and
favors received from their handsome prin-
Cipal. did not care at the time to make
mention Of his attentions, even TO their
own parents, Now, however, this state OF
affairs has gradually leaked out, and in
more than one household Caldwell's
reputation as q ladies' man is well es-
tabished.
Col. Churchill said this morning: ~
do not yet know how much weight to
give the Caldwell clue. 1t wa, first
given me several days ago by detectives
under pledge OF secresy. OF course
am aware OF the fact that Mary was Cald-
wells pupil for over three yesrs, but | did
not know OF the existence OF any great in
timacy between them. He never visited
my home. occasionally met him on the
street, Du. have not seen him for eighteen
months at least. / am ready and anxious
all times 10 hear OF anything that NAV posi-
bly, throw light on the matter, and believe
in testfying all stories that come to
me. -
Mrs. Churchill could give no new in
formation to day. She said another man,
claiming to be private detective,
called at the house this morning and offered
TO take the case, but was not satisfied with
the reward plan. He wanted to be paid for
his time. She referred him to her husband,
as she had all the others.
She laughed when asked her opinion OF
the theory that the girl had eloped with
Mr.. Caldwell, her former school principal,
and declared 1t the most nonsenslcal story
she had ever heard.
A gentleman, well-known in the city,
but who begged to have his name sup.
pressed, said subsequently that he was
deeply impressed with the Caldwell
story, and would have jumped 20 the
same conclusion long ago had he known
Caldwell was here recently. He knows the
ex-principal well, and says that he was
never married but once.
A brief summary OF the reasons which
led to the belief that Caldwell and Miss
Churchill have gone away together, there.
fore, may be based upon their well-known
previous intimacy; Caldwell's reputation
and his presence In this city Iust previous
to her fight; her protrscted absence with
out communication with her family, which
can we'll be accounted for by
trip to Mexico, and also the
conviction entertained and eX-
pressed by her parents that 1t was case
OF elopement. Cadwells hasty and mys.
erious disappearance from Kansas City on
the Thursday following the Sunday Of Miss
Churchll's departure, which it is thought
was secured by the power of money, :"
and IL must also be remembered that even
young girl like Miss Churchill could
easily disguise herself so as 10 deceive any
one,