Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-12-23
GIVEN UP.
Hone Abandoned in the McColl0ch
Case.
All Efforts esffied ard All Theories Base
less - The Case an lnscrutabIe
Mystery.

Six weeks have rolled by since the city
was first startled by the announcement
that Samuel B. McColloch was missing. In
that time, while each day brought forth its
own peculiar theory or rumOr, not single
Trustworthy or reliable trace has been di.-
covered. This, too, in the face OF the fact
that the most strenuous exerlions have been
made in that direction. Private and pu.-
lie means were used, but, bsilled and beaten
at every point detective and citizen alike
have at last abandoned the search. The
oar con,miite after weeks Of close. myster-
i,Us al d int orrsnt silence, which Eept
the interested on the rsgged edge, have al
length acknowledged they know nothing
at ell, and deem II best 10 discontinue the
the search.
Where the missing man is, is as much a
matter of mystery now, as il was on the
first Saturday, and there is no theory, then
advanced, that is not now as tenable. AT
the first blush, the belief YVES unanimous
that only death, disablement or force could
keep him away. 1t was on the eve OF an
important session of the Circuit Court
and the theory found plenty of sup
porters that McColloch had been foully
dealt Internationally some person
or persons, interested in court proceedings.
That he was murdered for purposes OF ROB-
berry was also believed, while the adherents
we're numerous of the belief that he was
Kidnapped and held by criminals to delay
the court and prevent indictments. Under
this belief, the city and surrounding coun-
try were thoroughly raDSacked, tn creek
was dragged ,culrefts and hilsides explored
ard even sewers examined. Three or
ioul DAYS passed away while this search
was being prosecuted Gnd when its trult
less results recsmc Rnrwn, public opinion
underwent GtC dfd charge. McCO!!och
must BE- alive, was the general verdict:
This belief gave rise tn p new COLLECTION oil
theories. Allow thut he was alive
WHY lid he abb mt himself
The first theory was that Of mental
der.pPemrnt and getting nsd-r tais,
tie whole "1uLtIy Was modified by means
y r.ivatc ana ihH Associated Press wires,
Agar time went by, and there was no
new. 1t is morally impossible that he
should have been in any city or town
without having been discovered and iden-
titled and the absence OF news Of him soon
dispelIed the alteration theory. Then
public opinions settled down into one
channel: He had gone and Of his own &C
cord. But why?
Tie answer was made variously. Many
believed that debt had driven him away.
Others said he had invested largely in the
Louisiana LOTTERY and had gone to New Or
leans on that business. Still others ha'
him out West to join Tingle. But none
bad any foundation for their theories and
each looked likely on that Of the other.
! so, after many days, the matter passed
out of the mind of the public as of first i'm.
portance, and only occasionally an nxious
reporter brought it back to the public in
working on a clue. The bar committee
maragcd to create some little excitement
10y close mouthed intimation that il i:new
oue;hnr, when it did not but finally
even that died out, and today the situa.
ZION is simply that MCColoch is gone, no
body knows where, why, or ny what means
Rewards are withdrawn, appropriations
covered back and committees discharged
and the McCoilOCh mystery gone to take
its place among the things which nobody