Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-02-06
SOMETHING OF A MYSTERY.
/ Sons Long Search for His Mother.
Lost i'm This Vicinity.

On the 18th day of August, 1850, Patrick
ROak, his wife Bridget--and, two children,
accompanied by his mother-in.law, Mary
Quigly, aged GS, left Pittsburgh in a tive
horse wagon, en- route to the Valley Of Vir-
ginia, where they intended TO settle. On
reaching Little Washington, however,
Roak, for some reason N Town. came
toward Wheeling, making his camp on the
night Of August 18th or 18Th, on the hills
near Elm Grove, a few Il les east o. the
town. While there, according to the story
subsequently told by Roak, about mid
night, the camp was approached by some
persons who requested the lOan OF a
horse. Roak refused to grant the request
at such an unreasonable hour, when the
would-be borrowers opened fire on the
wagon with 8 revolver, but fortunately do.
ing no damage. After gratifying them
selves in this manner, they took their de-
parture, and nothing more was seen of
them. Roak represented afterward that
his mOther.in-law was much frightened by
this nOcturnal visit, and early the next
morning slipped of from the camp, with
the svOwed purpose OF returning to the
home OF her son in Pittsburgh. Shortly
alter the old lady took her departure, ROsk
sent his little son after Mrs. Qulgly with q
ten dollar bill to pay her expenses, the
boy coming up with her on the pike some
distance frOUu the camp. ROak re
NAMED in camp until the following day,
when he suddenly resolved to start on
Mrs. Quigly's trail and bring her back. He
accordingly came on to this city, but in
stead Of notifying the authorities Of the
circumstances, he crossed the river into
Ohio, and from there sent g telegram 10
Mrs. Quigly's son, at Pittsburgh, asking ii
the old lady hid put in an appearance
there. The son was sick with fever at the
time, but replied that nothing had been
seen of his mother, at the same time tele-
graphing the Mayor of Wheeling Of the
circumstance and requesting aiG. From
some cause no attention was paid TO the re-
quest by the authorities, aud in the mean.
time Roak reCroSsed the river and retraced
his steps to Little Washington, going from
there to the Shenandoah Valley and thence
TO Georgia or Alabama.
As soon as Mrs. Quigly's son was able to
be about he came TO Wheeling n made
every endeaver to ascertain his mothers
whereabouts, but without success. In The
curse Of his search, which has lasted al
most uninterruptedly from the date OF his
mothers disappearance down to the pres
ent time, he has carefully examined every
poor house, hospital and inhrmary from
Pittsburgh TO Columbus, o., and eastward
TO Harrisburg, Pa, and has visited every
NllldSe dlu HaluleL dIOHS lne TOuVe, sIOp-
ping at farm hoOses, t~ayerns, toll houses,
and making diligent inquiry for his
mother. Mr.. Quigly has even visited New
York City, Baltimore and other seapOrtS,
examining the books in the steamship
CffCes, in the hope that his mothers name
might he registered among those returning
to the Old World, but his labors have been
unrswarded. He has not given up the
quest, however, and last night ne again
visited Wheeling, intending to 10 over the
ground in this vicinity again.
In the course Of a conversation NTH a
REGIsIER hiereogly phic makerlas evening,
Quigly said be had every reason to believe
that his mother had been murdered by his
sister and her husband. The old lady WAS
somewhat feeble, and required no little at
t~eHtiop, and he believes Roak and his wife,
looking upon Der as q sort of incumbrance,
made way with her somewhere on the rOu;e
between Little Washington and this city.
which belief is apparently justified by
ROaE S suspicious movements, and the ~
merous and conflicting stories he has told
Of the matter. The affair certainly de-
serves the attention of the authorities