The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-22
WHERE'S Z. &. ESTEB7
The Ex-Seattle Attorney is
Wanted In Missouri.
ION THE sAsEsT or CRIMES.
Re psssrsea His wife, Abducted Their
GAIA - AbseosdsA VITA
Abess e3s, 500.

Ralph z. Estsb. the young attorney, who
became usIi known through his large GRIN.
inaa prscfsce during the few months thsf b
lived heye last year. and who returned 70
his FORMER home. Richmond, Missouri, last
fail, 4 wanted by Ksnsas authorities for
bsseiy deserving his wife, abductine his
shree.year-o.d child. and Ascending with
about $35. 900 in bonds and money, por.
ton Of which belonged 70 bis mother. he
also left isYes number Of creditors
Ralph E2teb and his fsfher. Colonel Z.
r. Esteb, who uas . very talented lawyer,
came 10 seattle from Richmond, No. IN
March Of last year. and opsned law oihcs
in the yesier block Colonel Esteb VA
taken "a . few weeks later and died in
Nay. Altar that Ralph practiced his pro-
fession alone. and secured large criminal
practice. Itwas not very remuneratiye, how
ever, heing largely in the line Of habeas cor
pus cases for criminals and defending cases
where the defendants could not pay large
YetaireYs. Among the cases he defended
were the Patsy Grim assault cases. the
John ID. Striker assault case. al escaped
Folsom peniterfiary convict. for whom he
secured Eve writs Of habeas corpus, and
many other Of the same class He was an
indelatieable worker, and was quite sue
cessfui In winning his causes. such rs they
we're. His family consisted Of his wife and
their 3year-oid boy Chester. and his
mother. who made her home with him
after her husbands death.
Esteb while here developed = strong APP
Petite for drink. and IL was often rumored
that be abused his wife. When he came
here be hoped to secure some federal ap-
pointment through the influences OF
friends Of his father. who had beer very
active Ia politics In this be was disap-
pointed. Last October his wife and
mother. becoming weary Of bis continual
neglect and abuse. insisted upon
returning TO Missouri and accordingly be
returned to his former home with them
about October Is. After his return TO
Richmond Esteb opened Law Office, but
be failed TO secure . lucrative practice. and
was more dissolnte than ever In his habits.
On the morning OF May ii the people OF
Richmond. which is q smali-sized city.
we're very much excited upon learning that
Esteb hsd deserted his wife and left
for parts unknown. taking with him their
only child. son about years old. About
May Esteb had sent his wife TO Kansas
City to visit relatives. and acout the same
time left with his mother for Cincinnati.
o.. and upon his return stated that his
mother would remain In Ohio during the
coming summer. A few days later he in
duced bis wife to return to Kansas City on
another visit. and requested that she leave
thsiY boy with his grandmother. Mrs. s. Il.
- - -
sas City on Thursday. three days later. and
bring the boy with him. He accompanied
hsr 70 Kansas City. returning home the
ssms evening. The next day he began set
thing up his business around town. and by
Thursday evening he had made
all preparations for his fight Al
the bank he had q safe deposit
box In which he kept the valuable
papers belonging 10 himself and his mother
among which WAS nearly $4,000 in bonds
II also contained other papers. al Of which
we're taken out except s2,5oe in bonds, TO-
gether with note addressed to his wife
stating that he had gone aud that the So so
Vas her property, and could not be touched
by his creditors.
After drawing his funds out OF the bank
he then went to the residence Of Mrs
Crispin. where be boarded. and asked hei
70 get his little boy ready. saying that be
Was going to Kansas City, where his wife
was. and would take the boy along His
request WAS complied with. and they left
ossensibly for Kansas City. since which
time nothing has been seen or heard Of
them.
Mrs. Esteb returned from Kansas City
m tA< fnff.ursn~ Cat - sxx1
reaching home and inquiring for her hus
band and son. was told that they had left
for Kansas City Thursday evening.
Then twas that she realized the fac
that she had been deserted and robbed oil
her only child. kilograms were sent In
every direction in hones OF experimenting
them. but 50 far TO no effect One Of
these dispatches was sent to NJ c. Web
her. the Kansas City rinkerton detec
tive who was here about a weel
ago. looking for Louis NJ. Nelson, q Kan
sas desauiser. The Pinkerton agency wa.
confident that Esieb would come TO Seatti.
as he had often talked about returnins
here during bis periodical fits of ill-humor
Detective Weber made inquiries concern
Ing Esseb while here. but learned nothins
concerning his present whereabouts.
Those who met Mrs. Esfeb while she wa.
here viii remember her as pleasant an,
very intelligent woman. She came OF ,
wealthy and highly connected family. ans
is = lady of high standing In the commnn
isy in which she Was raised. She Is nearl,
hear;-hroken over the terrible blow she ha
received and especially over the loss of he
chstd. She does not care about recoverin,
her faithless husband. but she viii neve
rest until her little son Is restored 10 her.