Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-06-21
A Queer Case.

Judge Chester II. Krum disappeared
from St. Louis on the afternoon of the
Goth of April. He was then engaged in
several important matters of litigation,
and his presence in the courts was at
that time almost indispensable to his
clients. His father appeared on the
call of cases in which the firm was in
terested, and for several days an
nounced in open court that his sons
absence was caused by illness In Chi
cago. The courts indulgence was
granted under the circumstances, and
many cases were continued upon the
supposition that be would shortly re-
turn. Counsel on the other side with.
out exception extended every courtesy
and consideration. and it was generally
understood that Judge krum had been
attacked away from home with dan
gerous malady, spoken of by his father
as recurring trouble from childhood;
that mis- wife had gone to his bedside,
and that his recovery was simply a
question of time. The days and weeks
wore on, however, and nothing was
heard of the absent Judge. The mem
bers of the family manifested
PECULIAR INDIFFERENCE
when his name was mentioned. His
most intimate friends at the bar shook
their heads and declined to assign any
reason for his mysterious absence.
while some of them were frank enough
to admit that they had no knowledge
OF his whereabouts, and that his family
had ne knowledge. Judge Krum's
cases were at length arranged in the
courts ON the theory that his return was
indefinite. The theory of his illness at
Chicago was exploded by Geographic
inquiries on the part of attorneys who
were interested to know his wherea.
bouts. 1t was discovered that he had
been in Chicago, but was not detained
there by illness: moreover, that Mre.
Krum had not visited him. Subse.
quently there were rumors that the
judge had repaired to New York city,
and this vas confirmed by the entry Of
his name on the register of the Abe.
marie Hotel the last day of April. The
family remained reticent, and
DECLINED TO SAY ANYTHING
as to the rumors sAoat concerning the
judges absence, which took every
shape. Yesterday morning a telegram
was received by Mr.. G. H. ThieI, the de-
tective, from his St. Louis manager,
Mr.. G. F. Newcomb, en- route eastward
from San Francisco on Central Pacific
train, in cipher, which stated that Ches-
ter II. Krum was ON the train. Mr.. Tnel
knew that his manager could not be
mistaken as to Krum's identity, be-
cause when Krum was United States
district attorny MIR. Newcomb was chief
deputy to his father, G. A Newcomb,
United States marshal for this district
On receipt of this information, Mr..
Thiel at once wrote the following letter
to Mrs. Chester H. Krum, and dis
patched it by his Office messenger to
the lady:
ST. LOUIS. June 10, 1883 - Mrs
CHESTER h. KRUM-M Madam: Mr.. Krum
is on board a Central Pacific train to
day on his way to Salt Lake, where he
will arrive Monday morning. Shout
you or the friends who have been in
teresting themselves in his whereabouts
desire to say anything of s. confidential
character to him, it can be. done
through MIR. Newcomb, to whom | can
send q telegram in cipher and he can
impart it to him. Will wait at my Of
flee til P. NJ for your decision A fter
that | can he found at No. l ,S21 La
Sale street. Respectfully.
Mr.. Thiel had been EN- ploYed by Mrs.
Krum through Mr.. William Patrick,
the ex district attorney, but at Mrs.
Krum's direction.
THE SEARCH,
as far as Mr.. 1biel was concerned, was
dispensed with, Mrs. Krum stating that
her means would not enable her to bear
the expense of any further movement
in the case; but through sympathy Mr..
Thiel was moved to send the above
note, Newcomb being on other business
when he discovered the missing lawyer
Imagine Mr.. Thieps chagrin when the
following chilly note was returned to
him as a reply:
Mr.. THIEL: / had understood that by
my decision Mr.. Patrick had requested,
some two weeks since, that all further
Investigations on your part or on the
part of any of your employees should
cease. am greatly ANNOYED on that
account py luls III SsedBe tG-uAys hli uO5
able to dcfray the expenses of your ser
vices, and will now repeat to you thank
ing you for your efforts, that / do not
desire any further search made Tor Mr..
Krum. Respec fully,
MRS CHESTER II. KRUM.
St. Louis, June 10, 1888.
1t is now believed that his family
were
CeGNIZANr OF HIS WHEREABOUTS
throughout his whole ABSENCE. Judge
Krum had charge Of the Ford estate.
At its last session the probate court is
sued citation for the missing judge to
appear at the present term and show
cause why he had omitted to report or
make settlement in the estate of Chas
w. Ford. At the last term of the court
Judge Krum, ss administrator, had
been ordered TO give new bond. His
sureties were William II. Benton and
Constantine Mcguire. The Judge was
likewise administrator for the estate Of