, 1889-12-19
THE FRANK MYSTERY.
A Seattle Girl Who Claims TO
Have Seen tho Missing
Man Recently.
She Says "All That He Asks OF
His Family Is to Be Let
Alone"
Iscnttlc post.Intcllipcneor.l |

ago, anu winch IlNoiNeS "'.""' 80
mystery Seattle family by the
name Of Marsh, living little south
of Grant street bridge, has been
greatly puzzling one of Pinkerton's
st. Paul detectives, who has been
here for over "a week, and also the
local police department..
Two months ago, the principal In
the case, Emil Frank, who Is SO
years of age, was n clothing mer-
chant I'm Colfax. For some time
previous to his sudden departure,
Frank was regarded by his fellow
townsmen with suspicion. There
had been an attempt to burn the
store occupied by him, and 1t was
strongly supposed that he had conf
mitted the deed for the purpose of
getting the insurance on his stock.
There was no proof, however, that
such had been his intention. He
strenuously denied the allegation.
The insurance companies, notwlth.
standing this, withdrew their in
surance on the building, and then
dropped the matter.
Frank appeared to be worried
over the light in which he was held
by the towspeople, and one day he
disappeared without even telling his
clerk where he was going. Some
time afterwards several of his credi-
tors, who had learned of his disap-
pearance, investigated his affairs,
and the result was mystifying. 1t
was found that Franks assets were
$4,000 over and above his liabilities.
When he left Colfax he took with
him $4,000 in money and checks,
and all of his personal effects, in
Guiding even trinkets, pictures and
letters, and articles of u like nature.
He made no disposition of his stock
of clothing In the store, and left at
the Merchants bank quite sum to
his credit, which he has, not yet
called for.
shortly after these discoveries his
parents, who reside in New York
city, were notified, and asked If he
had been there. They had heard
nothing of him, and becoming
alarmed, visited Pinlerton's New
York agency, and laid the facts be-
fore the officials there. The st.
Paul house was communicated with,
and Detective Mobiles was detailed
to work up the case. He arrived at
Colfax two weeks ago, and ascer-
tained through some source that
Frank had gone to Spokane.
Thither the detective went. He
found after much hard work that
Frank had been there. He also
learned that he had departed three
days before, leaving his. two satchels
behind him in wholesale liquor
house, where he was acquainted.
Detective Mobiles further ascer-
tanned that upon leaving Spokane
Frank had declared his intention of
going to Seattle.
lowed. Fannie Marsh, Seattle
girl, had written Frank to come
here, and it is supposed he followed
her dictation. AT any rate, the de.
tective arrived in Seattle last Mon
day, and at once resumed his task of
hunting the missing man, and set
about looking up the girl. She lives
with her parents, a little south of
the Grant street bridge. She is
about 20 years old, and is quite
pretty.
When the detective called at her
house last Monday and asked If she
knew Frank, the girl seemed some-
what agitated at first, but said she
had seen him the day before. Fur
ther questioning availed nothing.
She would not say where he was
concealed. Her father was present
and appeared to try to make her
answer, but she would give no fur
ther information.
The detective stated that Franks
parents were concerned about him.
The girl answered, II saw Emil
yesterday. He Is alive and well,
and all that he asks of his family is
o. be let alone"
Further questioning on the de-
tectiye's part was unavailing. The
family has been visited by the de-
tective two or three times and also
by member of the police force, but
would give up nothing more. A
fact that puzzles the detective is that
during the past two or three days
he has caught the girls father shad-
owing him in different parts of the
city, and otherwise acting in u mys-
terious manner.
Yesterday prominent business
man of the city and n friend of the
girl, who had been apprised Of the
affair, saw her in company with the
detective and offered her $50 if she
would tell all she knew about Frank.
She refused the offer and steadfastly
declined to give any formation about
him.
The detective is greatly puzzled.
He can assign no motive for Franks
determination to keep out Of the
way, and Fannie Marsh's connec-
ton with the missing man is yet
question unsolved.
Two or three have called at the
Marshs' home since Friday, but
could not gain admittance. II fany-
thing had happened to Frank the
family Is certainly aware of ii, but
all efforts 10 far on the part Of the
authorities have been ms naught.
Fraak is still missing, and all trace
of him is lost.
Detective Mobiles is here, but will
probably depart In a day or two.
There can be no longer any doubt
but that Emil Frank, who so mys-
tcriously disappeared from Colfax
some time ago, Is alive and well. In
the light of what appeared In the
REVIEW yesterday morning, the fol-
lowing letter Is conclusive evidence.
The letter Is to prominent mer-
chant of this city and from a private
detective, one A. +. Noble. 1t Is
dated Seattle:
~ have to-day received telegram
to discontinue and return home. 1t