Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-07-19
Staunton vindicator.
FRIDAY MORNING. JULY 10, 1889.
LOCAL.
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE
OF JAMES A. PATTERSON, JR.

OF JAMES A. PATTERSON, JR.
THE STRANGE ASSIGNMENT OF A VEAL.
THY MERCHANT MILLER-INvEsTIGA-
TION yINDICATES HIM-WHY HE LEFT.
&C., &C., &C.
Reported for the Staunton VINDIcAToR1
WAYNEsBoRO, VA, July 49, Moved
by an impulse to clear from suspicion the
name of gentleman who has long held the
esteem and admiration of his associates,
your correspondent stepped from the ex-
press train this morning and was soon
driven to this little village. The thrifty,
but usually quiet town, presents just now
to the accustomed visitor somewhat
changed aspect. Foot passengers were not
hurrying about in the usual walks of a
business life, but stood in groups on the
street corners, in the stores and hotel Office,
in earnest conversation. So the Indifferent
loOker-On, having no information, would
imagine them discussing some national
calamity. Buff the little town was stirred
to it's depths by local calamity that
many would perhaps have regarded more
serious than any likely to befall the nation.
The sudden and mysterious disappearance
of Mr.. J. A. Patterson, Jr., one of her most
wealthy and esteemed citizens, shad put
them all to thinking. Madam Rumor had
full sway and each narrator had his own
speculatiOns. Newspaper correspondents,
too, had their theories and gave to the
public press, throughout the State, the
benefit of their views. 1t was therefore to
examine into these theories and specula-
tions that your correspondent visited the
town, and, if possible, to find the true one,
whether it were for OF against the accused.
Toward this end number of citizens,
from every walk of life, were interviewed,
but more particularly those with whom
MI. Patterson was well acquainted, and
who should be in positions to best judge Of
his action. Had a pail fallen over the
community there would scarce have been
more grief and surprise shown, OF more
sympathy manifest for the afflicted wife
and children.
He was an elder in the Presbyterian
church, for many years most important
factor i'm the commercial community; was
chairman of the County Democratic COM
mittee, and was prominently mentioned
for the State Senate this fall. In 1885 he
came before the nominating convention of
his party as candidate for the Senate, and
received strong support. On the 18th inst.
no oh q 6a1onota IN fha Stata napn-
ocratic Convention.
AS far as ascertainable the facts are as
follows: Tuesday evening, the 9th inst,
Mr.. Patterson had left for Staunton, where
he proposed to spend the following day,
and Wednesday night was to join Mr.. r.
G. Wright, Of this place, and in company
proceed to Richmond, where Mr.. Patter
son had business engagements. Mr..
Wright, with his little daughter, whom he
was taking on professional visit to DR..
White, an occulist of Richmond, boarded
the east-bount train Wednesday night, but
Mr.. Patterson did not join them from Staun-
ton, as he had promised. Several days
passed, and Mr.. Wright, who had been de-
tanned longer than he expected, returned !;
but to the dismay of the now frightened
Mrs. Patterson. could give no account of
her husband s whereabouts. An investiga-
tiOn at once commenced. In Staunton it
was shown that on Wednesday, the 10th,
he had assigned all his property, in trust,
to Mr.. A. C. Braxton, a prominent young
lawyer and the city's commonwealth
attorney, and left for parts unknown
that night by the G.. & o. west-bound
limited, Capt. Casen in charge. A thou
sand-mile ticket took him to Huntington,
W. Va, where he purchased another ticket
to Cincinnati. From that place to Chicago
he travelled in company with a railroad
official. who afterwards sold him transpor-
tation over the Burlington & Quincy route
to some point on the Pacific slope. Seattle
a thriving town of 5000 population in 1890
and the county seat of King county, il
Washington Territory, is said to be the
place to which his ticket was bought
This last, however, is not stated on abso
sute authority.
At the clerks office, in Staunton, tn
deed of assignment recorded showed hi
assets to he far in excess of all liabilities
there being cash enough to his credit in tn
Augusta National Bank to meet the whole
leaving untouched his real estate and per
sonalty. The most careful estimate of hi
assets places them at about $4,000, will
liabilities of only about $4,000. Mr.
Braxton, the trustee, has unlimited power
and acts for Mr.. Patterson. in all things
as if the property and business were hi
own, only requiring an annual settlemen
before the Commissioner, of accounts, an
not holding the trustee liable for any losses
except those arising from gross neglect c
fraud. Mrs. Patterson and the childre
are provided for, though not directly, bytf
terms of the deed. The house and furnitul
and half interest in the store of Patterso
& White We're left her but the half intel
est in the milling property stands in tt
name of his wife, Mamie c., and was lei
her by her father, the late John B. Smith
wjto WIS some years since joint partne
with Mr.. Patterson. The remainder {
the estate is so arranged that it can be sol
and the proceeds held subject to Mr.. Pattel
sons order; or should he return, til
property would pass back to its rightfl
owner.
These were the acts Of a paan usually S
self possessed and cautious that they wei
inexpi cable to his friends. A man in I'll
full enjoyment of a handsome competenc
surrounded by host of devoted friend
and fast rising to pSlitieal prefermen
Such were Mr.. Patterson1s surrounding
vet domestic troubles, involving his iidelit