The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-02
n! ANTlC DISPOSITION.
Put on by Fred Dunbar, q Literary
Recluse Of Connecticut
Farms, N. ].
His Nei9hbors Tried to Manage
His Business Affairs
for Him.
IL Would Not Let Them, So They Whis-
pered Evil of Him-Hts
History.

CONNECTICUT FARMS, n. j., Aug. Tired
Dunbar, the so-called eccentric old school
teacher whose wife's disappearance has
caused SO much gossip in this tiny village
has now taken himself away. The lonely
house where the aged couple have lived for
nearly thirty years is closed and the blinds
are drawn, and yet there is no reason to be-
lieve the wild stories of the neighbors that
Dunbar made away with his wife. Ihey
had always lived peacefully together.
There is no doubt that Dunbar had long
been unpopular among the villagers. He
is known among them By the title invented
by once prominent statesman, "One OF
them id literary fellers." Connecticut
Farms lies little more than three miles
northwest of Roselle, on the New
Jersey Central railroad. Farms are
all around. It is hard country
to keep house servants in. New
Workers won't stay out here in the loneli-
ness, and all the girls round about are OF
independent means and too proud to go
out in service. Maybe that is why old
Fred Dunbar never hired any one to help
take care of his wife, Mary Jane. when she
lost her mind after severe illness four
years ago. The doctors said she had soft
eninp Of the brain. Her memory dwindlcd
to a shred and she became as helpless as a
child. She is a year and half older than
her husband, who is now in his sixty-hrst
year.
Dunbar came to this neighborhood thirty
wears ago from Connecticut. He was a
bright young man and taught school. He
married Mary Jane Wade, daughter OF a
prosperous farmer, and lived happily with
her. The devotion Of the couple to each ca
other, until her illness came, was remarked
BY the people round about. 1t was unfash-
ionable, to say the least. and therefore rep
rehensible. When the civil war broke out
Dunbar had many bitter arguments with
his neigkbors. He was pronounced abo-
litionist, they gay: while they were all good
rights. It is rather hard to believe that a
quarrel dating so far back could lead to
whispered accusations Of wife-murder. But
right there seems to be the root of the pres
emit trouble. Dunbar did not go out to
fight. He stayed home and argued with bus
nsighbors. They never forgave him fol
thaf. Furthermore, ne was 'literary." and
to be s'literary' is also an offence past FORE
giveness.
Dunbar lost his school in Union and got
q Job teaching in the Newark High School
about twenty years ago. When his wite'e
father died Dunbar quit school teaching and
he end she took possession of the old Wade
house and the farm of twenty acres. The
Dunbars lived ON seemingly good terms
With their neighbors until Mrs. Dunbar's
severe illness four years ago.. When, aftel
her convalescence from a long attack Of
it was aGund that t she the was Sa a' ts
Conneoticut Farms people began
to say that it was might,
queer that Fred Dunbar wouldn't
keep nurse for his wife. The old coupl
had no children. Dunbar cared for iswlf
alone. Somewhat careless of his own dres
tn him n
being negiectful of her. Tho old schoo
teacher heard these stories but pretended
that he did not. Not the least ditferenc
did it make in his daily life that his neigh
bors were Whispering about him. he love,
her, He wrote abort sketches for small
poem 81 his read ut g. A. b. encampmen
But the neighbors kept talking. Dunba
could not help worrying. He grew moody
"a didn't speak to people in the street
This at once became . further proof thai
neikhbors when he saw them coming. HI
uaed to 90 to Newark or other towns once
- xvice 4 week. leaving his wife locked ur
q ~ hnnae. Then she would pound OF
door al on the walls until some one CAME
nesr Che house. The sound Of voices al.
ways quoted her. AZ last DunDar grew
tired Of beiae naeeed BY his curious neigh.
aI'll take her away and leave her with my
folk ii Connecticut" said the old mar
About this time to one OF the few friends he
had loft. ssTN put her where all her neigh
bors mind their own business"
Now, if Dunbar had been an ordinary
man he would have gone about this bushes,
IN the ordinary way. But he was soured BY
the malicious gossip of the people around
him. His wife's niece, too. Mrs. Jenkins
Of Orange, N. j., had visited him and
reproved him for not taking better care OF
the poor woman. The old man went to a
village five miles away and hired closed
carriage. Late one night he took his wife
away in it. He returned next day. STAYED a
little while at the house and disappeared
again. After weeks absence he came
home and found that his busy neiehbors
hid begun to hint that he had murdered
his wife. This was little more than be
could stand. Last Thursday he packed his
trunk and went away. He isn't coming
back if he can help it. He is going to spend
. month with his wife and then he will try
to sell of their home and farm. 1t is said
TO be worth about 5000. Mrs. Dunbar is
IN South Norwalk, Conn.,, with her hus-
bands sister.
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