St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-26
MURDERED FOR HIS MONEY.
The Old Detective Tells How He
Solved Case OF Mysterious Dis


The Old Detective Tells How He
Solved Case OF Mysterious Dis
appearance.
''I'm not much of a believer in
GHOSTS" said the old detective, 'but
something happened several years ago
that completely upset me and has
always been a deep mystery to me. l
was sitting in the chiefs Office one day,
when in came an old white-haired man
with long flowing beard. He was
very handsome and elegantly dressed,
and it was plain that he belonged
to the better class of society.
Traces of deep care and trouble
could be seen in his face
and he talked in pathetic, tremulouS
voice. He told the chief most remark
able story.
II come to you," he said, "to solicit
yourfaid in unraveling the mysterious
disappearance of my son Robert. live
in Virginia and am blessed with large
possessions"
Here the old man stopped.
GLOW long ago did your son dlsap-
pear?" asked the chief.
"Three years ago, two weeks from to-
day." he replied.
"Three years ago! The trial is rather
cold by this time, but go on with your
story"
"My son was twenty-three years OF
age, handsome. stalwart youth, and
popular with every one," resumed the
old man. she was my only child and l
allowed him everything he wished, but
this fact did not spoil him. He
went to school in Virginia
and graduated with high honors.
| then secured from our congress
man an appointment for Roberts to
the naval academy at Annapolis, some
thing he had often wished for. We
made every preparation for MS de-
parture, and | took a hand in selecting
nice things for his room, fine clothes
and other trinketS so dear to the college
boys heart. His mother was almost
childish in selecting articles for ms
comfort, and at last erythlng was
ready. Robert took no pains to keep his
intentions quiet, and everybody for
miles around knew just what he had in
his trunk and all about his project. 1t
was the night of June 3. He was to go
at daybreak, and we three, Robert, his
mother and 1. sat together for last
talk. 1t was rather a fearful con-
versation, but our hearts were
greatly lightened by the knowledge
of the great confidence we could safely
repose in our boy. He kissed us both,
babe us goodbye, and then went to his
bed. When we aWoke next morning he
had gone. We wrote letters to him, but
soon learned to our great astonlShment
that he was not at the school.
Greatly alarmed, we hired detect
ives, 'but after six or elght
months diligent search, gave our boy
up as lost. One year afterwards, ON
June 3. we were sitting in the large
hallway softly crying over Roberts as
appearance. Suddenly to our great de,
light we saw Robert coming down the
stairway with his small hand Satchel.
We sprang toward him with glad
cry, but when he reached the
cellar door that opened in the hall
way he disappeared. Herror-stricken,
we knew we had seen specter. One
year after that we saw the same sight,
and he again disappeared at the same
place. In two weeks it will be June 3,
and we expect to witness the same
E'The old man ceased his story and the
chief and | were greatly affected. 1t
was decided that l should accompany
the old man to his home, and we jour-
neyed to Virginia. L took up my quar-
tiers at the residence and finally June
came. We took up our stations in the
hallway. The two old folks were breath
less with excitement.
sit always comes at 8 O'clock" said
the old man to me in asubdued whisper.
When the clock struck the specter APP
peared on the stairway. Down the
Stairs tripped the light-hearted boy, soft
ly humming a college song. l made
step towards him, and with a low cry
he disappeared at the cellar door
way. | could scarcely speak, and the
old folks were similarly affected. The
next day | investigated that old cellar,
and beneath the floor found the bones
and clothing of poor Robert. He had
been murdered for his money. 1t was
known that he would have considerable
money about him, and that he
would go to the station alone. The MUIR
derers probably secreted themselves in
the hallway, grabbed and murdered him
and then concealed his body in the Gel
lar. The ghost has never appeared on
the stairway since l solved the mystery.
Yes, the old folks both died of broken
hearts years ago."