The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-12
A Horrible Mystery.

Last Thursday this community was
thrown into some excitement by the an
nouncement that VIII Vail had COM
mitted suicide by drowning in the Kaw
river at Wamego. The father and
brother could give no definite infornla-
ton, and the story was not believed I'M
til tile following special to the Kansas
City papers was read in the Times of
Thursday.
special dispatch was received by The Times
from Wamego, Kan, In which II was stated that
body was found floating In the Kansas river at
that place at about O'Clock last evening. On
examination there was found bullet hole In the
head and a +-calibre ball In the brain. The body
had been wired and sunk with some heavy
weight and was so badly decompesed as 70 be
hardly recognizable, On the person were found
Waterbury watch, some money, pearl ham
died knife blue SIX handkercnleI, enamois
small pocket comb, and also a laundry slip dated
May 81, and sent 10 the Great Western Laundry,
OF Kansas city, from room 81, metropolitan
hotel, by a man named VAIL There was also
found marriage certificate, dated May s, 1884,
OF James 4. Browne and Ella Wahl, OF Kansas
City.
on investigation at the Metropolitan hOtelit
was found that Mr.. Curtis, proprietor OF the no
tel had just received letter from WahlS broth
ers, at Abilene, requesting him 10 hand an en-
closed letter TO their brother, should he be seen
Although the enclosed letter was addressed TO j.
VAIL Mr.. Curtis, who is acquainted with the
parties is quite certain that II was intended for
the VAIL who occupied room 80 and registered
| as W. VAIL. on May 70 W. VAIL registered at
the Metropolitan and was there until the 27th, In
| company with his bride, when they departed for
/ Kansas Mr.. Curtis thinks that VAIL had Just
been married IN the east, somewhere near Chica-
| 60 He was brother OF Vail brothers, BUTCH
| ers OF Abilene. From the tone OF Wahls broth,
ers letter TO Mr. Curtis, they supposed that their
| brother. who had evidently been absent for some
DAYS from Abilene, would return TO Kansas City
| and stop at the Metropolitan again. Mr.. Curtis
| on being made acquainted with the facts OF the
specfal at once wired the brothers the contents
/ In the city it was learned that W. Vail was
l about "a years of age and had just received a
diploma from medical college in Chicago, hav-
ing studied medicine for several years Nothing
movements after he left here. How, when or
where he was killed remains a mystery.
ON Friday Mr.. Peter Clines father tn-law Of
| Mrs VAIL, widow, and Mr.. Ed. Vail OF Abilene,
| brother OF the murdered sWilliam VAIL whose
| body was found floating "wednesday evening,
| went to Wamego and Mrs VAIL made the fol-
lowing statement: She is % years old and " as
married to William VAIL at Peoria, H., May s,
1884, They went together from Abilene to Peoria
| and were married the next day after they left
home. They went from Peoria to Bloomington
and were there a week, from Bloomington to
| Kansas City and were there one week, and lef'
Kansas City Tuesday, May "a, for Manhattan
and were at Manhattan two days. She then said
when left for Abilene he gave me $50 and he
had SO. | can't tel how much money he hac
when we started TO get married. Heknewa mar
In Manhattan by the name OF Warner. Thi:
man Warner lives In Abilene. and Is by occupa
| ton stock raiser. He saw him on Wednesday
before left for home. My husbands parents
| are In good circumstances. do not know wheth
| er INV husband had pistol or not. He went Il
| the train to see me of. He kissed me when b.
| bid me good by. He had dark brown muStache
There was one lacy in the room when we wer'
| married do not know her name or the name o
| the minister who married us. My husband pu
| the marriage certificate In his pocket"
At Wamego, Kan, the mourning friends wen
| to the cemetery to visit the grave and place
temporary headStOne Mr.. Edward Vail is a dent
| tst, recently graduated in Chicago, and had no
seen his brother for some time. There are n
clues yet to the murderer. Mrs. VAIL took wit
her some cabinet photos OF herself and husban
taken on their wedding trip, and there is now n
doubt OF the identity OF the deceased. The cloth
ing and features were the same. hat wa
; found in the river here Friday evening, May 81
l Immediately as belonging TO her dead husband
This would locate the murder near Manhattan
, and probably on Thursday or Friday OF last weel
1t is not known whether VAIL com
mitted suicide or was murdered.
: brother of Vail committed suicide
t Bloomington, ILL.,, some eight yeal
4 ago. But the fact that VIM. VAIL
arms were pinioned leads to the belle
that he was murdered. 1t ishOped tia
: the mystery will be cleared away an,
g the facts become known.