The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-09-15
From the Daily CT Thursday.
SUICIDE OR DESERTION.
The Mysterious Disappearance Of
A. D. Potter.
Evidences of Another Paul Bean
Case.

Case.
A. D. Potter, who figured before
the public last month in the role of an
injured husband has again created
sensation by suddenly making him
self scarce in the community.
Whether he has permanently ab-
ssnted himself through the medium
of suicide, or has sought relief in
flight, from both troubles and fami-
ly responsibilities at the same time, is
matter upon which public opinion
seems to differ. 1t will be remem-
bered that on Sunday, August 5th;
Potter conceived the idea that his
wife was unfaithful to her marital
vows, and in aft of jealousy went
cunning for the lady's cousin, q
young man named LaRoach.
Subsequently, however, he pub
Gshed card in the city
papers, in which he asserted his wife's
innocence and denied all reports
which had been circulated rejecting
upon her konor. The couple contin-
ued 10 live together, and there was
nothing in Potter's demeanor toward
his wife and child to indicate that
his affection for either had been in
the least estranged by the occurrences
of that fateful Sunday, but from re-
marks from time to time dropped by
him, it is believed that a morbid fear
took possession of his mind that
La Roach would seek revenge tor the
shot he had fired at him on that
Sunday morning.
Potter disappeared from his home
on last Friday morning, but the mat
ter was kept very close until Tuesday
afternoon, when the queer actions of
his dog, which wbined about the top
of the Valley mine shaft and refused
to be driven away, gave rise to the
conjecture that canine instinct and
devotion were likely to clear up the
mystery, by the discovery that Potter
had made way with himself
by plunging into the shaft. and the
City Marshal was notified of the
facts in the case. A party OF citizens
Immediately commenced search,
and the shaft, half filled with water,
was dragged as thoroughly as pos
sible with poles and rudely-construct-
ed graphing iroLs, but without re-
suit. It was intended to renew tie
search yesterday with better grap-
pling appliances, but the irons not
being completed it was postponed
until to-day.
A MINER reporter yesterday called
upon Mrs. Potter, whom he found
with her three months old infant in
her arms, in the deserted home, near
the ruins of the Leggat planning mill.
She seemed deeply affected by the
unfortunate circumstances surround
ing her, and told the story of her
husbands disappearance with evil
dent pain. She said her husband had
given no intimation of any intention
to desert his family, nor had he ever
said word indicating that the
idea of suicide had entered
his mind. On Thursday
night they spent the evening at a
neighbours house and he seemed in
particularly happy frame of mind,
and evinced more than ordinary af-
fection toward herself and the baby.
On Friday morning he arose very
early and hearing him about the
kitchen she asked if she should not
prepare his. breakfast for him. He
replied mo, you are not feeling we'll,
I'll cook something myself AS she
had suffered from an acute headache
during the night she was feeling
badly and allowed him to continue
cooking his break fast. Having eaten
his breakfast lie left the house at 6 a.
m. and that was the last she had seen
or heard of him. She did not think
he had made way with himself, he
was not the kind of man
who would commit suicide.
She had heard of his saying he
was going to leave the country and
she thought the shooting scrape had
worried him until he had concluded
to leave. He had left no money with
her or any provision whatever for the
support of herself and child.
The reporter also called upon Mr..
Sherwood, the blacksmith, who is
Mrs. Potter's father. He didn't
think Potter had committed suicide,
he wasn't that kind Of man. He
did think at first that he might have
jumped into that shaft and had Of
fered to make graphing iron with
which to drag the bottom, and he