Wichita eagle., 1889-02-15
E. 7. BROWN MYSTERY.
Is BE DEAD OR DID BE ABsOOND;
A Pinkerton Detective Says He Is Alive
and Can be Produced-Mr. r. T.
Beans Afidavit-Pubic
Sentiment.

A PinkertOn Detective says De Is Alive
and Can be Produced-Mr. B. T.
Beans Afidavit-Public
Sentiment.
The question of what has become of E.
T. Brown, whose mysterious disappear
ance on the night of Saturday, January
10, has, and probably will long be mys-
terry, is revived by judicial proceeding
instituted in the district court of this
county, in which the Fourth National
bank of this city begins an action to at
tach the property of E. L. Brown, on the
grounds (as stated by the president of the
bank, Mr.. R. T. Beam that Mr.. Brown has
absconded.
All of the facts in connection with Mr.
Browns disappearance, the various
theories as to why he should, or why he
should not have run away, his financial
condition. his happy domestic rela-
lions, his well vouched business integrity
his payment OF numerous sums OF money
before his disappearance and all the phases
of this mystery. both pro and con, have
been thoroughly detailed in the EAGLE.
While the action of Mr.. Bean (who occu-
pies position, as the most active person
in endeavoring to ascertain the truth con-
corning this disappearance is not a posi-
tive assurance of the truth of the theory
that E. T. Brown is still alive, still it must
be taken as strong circumstantial evidence
pointing in that direction. Mr. Beams
information is derived through the med
ium of person, who has probably, or at
least should have made the most exhaus-
tive search that has been made in this con-
nection.
The person was, as is currently known
in the city, an agent of the Pinkerton
Detective Agency of Chicago who was
employed by the city council to look into
the matter and ascertain whether or not
this was the work of murderer or the
ruse of person trying to avoid creditors.
This Pinkerton man his report few days
since and gave it as his opinion that MIR.
E. T. Brown is still alive and it is stated
further that he said he could have him
back in Wichita inside of ninety days, if
that was desired. No action of that char
acter has, however, been taken.
For the first day or two after the affair
happened number of persons suggested
the absconding theory, but as circumstan-
ces developed, the idea that he had been
murdered strongly gained ground and be-
came almost universal. However, since
the several rewards offered, aggregating
81 500 in all, 5000 of which is for the body,
dead or alive, have failed to bring any
trace, public opinion has seemingly under
gone another change and now the abscond-
ing theory is the opinion of the majority.
One of two things, at least, is certain,
and that is that if he was murdered ltwas
the work Of a person who understood
the work undertaken, or if he has abscond-
ed Brown displayed degree of unmanli-
ness not before accredited to him and
cunning worthy of better application.
Be the truth as it may, there are still
many who will not believe he has not been
murdered until they see him again, and
more who will not believe him dead until
his body is found Taken all in all each of
these opinions is but one of an individual.
In petition for attachment flied IN the
office of the clerk of the district court OF
Sedgwick county, filed February 18th 1889,
by Messrs Dale and Wall, attorneys for
plaintiff; the Fourth National Bank of
Wichita, Kansas, il plaintiff and E. L.
Brown, defendant.
The petition is as follows:
PETITION.
Plaintiff for cause of action against said
defendant alleges:
That at the several times hereinafter
mentioned, it. said plaintiff, was and Is
now corporation, duly and legally chart
cred organized and existing under and by
virtues of the laws Of the United States,
in relation to national banks.
hot on or ah 1T
D. 1888, the defendant Z. T. Brown, exc
cuted and delivered to plaintiff his certain
promissory note of that date, wherein and
by the terms whereof he promised and
agreed to pay to the order of. plaintiff,
thirty days after the date of said note, the
principal sum of three hundred dollars
$500 90 with interest on SAID sum after
the maturity of said note at the rate of
twelve per cent per annum until paid:
That the said note. true copy of which
is attached hereto made a part hereof and
marked Exhibit A." is wholly unpaid.
Wherefore plaintiff demands judgment
against the defendent, Z. I. Brown, in the
aforesaid sum of three hundred dollars
$4,000 with interest thereon at the rate of
Il per cent on and after the 14th day of
August, A. D., 1883, until paid and for
cost of suit. DALE q W ALL,
Attorneys for Plaintiff.
Mr.. r. T. BEANS AFFIDAVIT.
The affidavit made by Mr. r. T. Bean,
president of the Fourth National bank,
and who was also the business friend and
next door neighbor of Mr.. Brown and the
party who has had in his charge the inves-
legations as to Mr.. Browns fate or his
whereabouts, is as follows
STATE OF KANSAS,
Sedgwick County,
R. T. Bean. being duly sworn, states
that he is the president aud agent of the
plaintiff in this, the above entitled. action;
that the nature of the plaintiffs claim in
said action is a certain promissory note,
executed and delivered by said defendant
to said plaintiff, bearing date July 10, 1883,
due in thirty days after date for the
sum of three hundred dollars, with inter-
est thereon from the maturity of said note
at the rate of twelve per cent per annum
till paid.
That said claim is just. That affiant be-
believes the plaintiff ought to recover on
said claim the sum of three hundred dol
lars, with interest thereon at IL per cent
per annum from August IA, 1885, till paid.
That the defendant, E. I. Brown, has alb
seconded with the intention to defraud his
creditors; that he has left the county of
his residence to avoid the service of
summons. and that he so conceals himself
that a summons cannot be served upon
him.
[Signedl r. T. BEAN.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this,
the 18th day of February, A. D. 1889
lSeall 5. w: SHATTUcK,
Notary Public.
Ionuarv ~