The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-28
MISSING DIR. +. F. MILES.
"A NEW YORK MINISTER'S SUDDEN
AND MYSTERIOUS ABSENCE.
His Family Grief Stricken and Parish
ioners Troubled Traced TO st. Mary's
Cottage Hospital This City, and In
terviewod by an Appeal Reporter.

There rs patent In quiet ~ mary 8
College hospital, away out at No POI Bass
avenue, who was once distinguished and
brilliant divine; man who stood high
in the councils Of the Episcopal church OF
New York, and filed with ability the pull
pit OF the magnificent Church Of the Atone
ment on Madison square. But today he
is a wreck in mind, and apparently in
body. He is q man about forty-hve years
OF age, and still retains the out
lines Of once handsome face and
address The unfortunate gentleman Is 10
less person than the Rev. DR. l.. i. Miles,
Of New York city. II was in the latter
part OF December last that his wife and
admring parishioners were shocked and
distressed nj the sudden and unexplained
absence 81 the reverend gentleman. They
were unwearying in their search for him,
and the inquiries reached every part OF the
country. The theory was finally advanced
that, suffering from sudden mental abcrra-
ton, he had wandered TO some distant
city and was confined In some asylum for
such unfortunates, or, perhaps, had fallen
victim 10 his own insensble hand.
What had produced such n change
In his once scholarly mind was a
mystery. no far M was known his do-
nestle relations were OF the happicst
and all his worldly wants supplied by n
wealthy and devoted flock.
Where has he been all these weeks,
what doing aud why has lac not sent word
of his whereabouts 10 his anxious wife and
fricnds2 These latter reasons will be UNI
solved, perhaps, for some time TO come,
A. .
been spent in the city Of Memphis,
ence here was made known 10 sew
oral Of his fellow divines. On the
above day be arrived at Gaston's hotel aud
remained thu re for week or more. The
cause OF his departure from that hotel Is
not gwen in any spirit OF oecnse, but
merely 20 throw light ON his present sad
condition and most probably ns a solution
for his abrupt and unexplained absence
nom New York. lie was very quiet in
manner, but was observed 10 keep
his room and bed most all the day
nj the hotel II was quite evident TO tho
servant thai his condition was that o. u
drunken man, and that he was con,nu-
ally under the influence Of liquor. The
managers attention WIS called 10 the fact,
and he explained 10 the divine that while
his conduct had been that Of q gen
1eman, he preferred not 10 have
any habitual drinkers in tho cstab-
hshmcnt For several days he
checked up, but came 10 the manager ono
morning. the day that lac left the hotel.
and begged of him zone drink. Just weak
little toddy,' and IL WIS furnished 10 him.
The doctor lclt the hotel, and nothing
- l.. a.
whom dispatch from New York paper
came 10 u correspondent here that DR..
r.. L. Miles, the missing divine, was ut the
above hospital, An ArrE,L reporter via.
tied the hospital short time alterwarl,
and luckily or unluckily was met at
tho door by the reverend doctor himself
In response 10 the question that the ~
porter would Ike to $50 In. Miles, hc said:
THAT 70 my name, sir what do you
want with ine7'
here In Memphis AMI nj this hospital"
81 am the physician In charge OF tht
hospital
'HNhcn did you come 20 this city from
New Yofk, and Why did you leave thcreY'
THAT II. my business, air, and not yuurS
or any nowrpapoTa | do not like b. ap.
pear disoouricous, but tho public have no
right 10 inquire Into my personal affairs. "
The rcripl oi tho telegram from the
Now York paper was mentioned,
aud tho doctor was asked whAt
church he was rector Oi thcrc, and this Is
the way he rcpl,cl: Il am not minister.
am Apmciicing physician in New York,
and have been Tor the past twelve years. v
you state then positively, that YOU arC
not q minister
II do, and don't care 10 b. put 10 the
trouble OF repeating H."
"whcn do You think Of nturning IA
New York and what explanation aro you
willing 10 give ioT your absence from
homeF
II iclcgraphej my vito today that ]
would leave fcrc for home tomorrow. and
Ioxpcct Ia do 20, Ny absence from homo
IN entirely domestic, aud | shall not speak
al II. Iou will please excuse me trOn
saying anything iufthor."
q