St. Paul daily globe., 1891-04-30
''OLD HUTCH" is GONE
Mysterious Disappearance Of
the Eccentric Millionaire
Speeulator.
When Last Seen He Had a
Ticket to PenSa-
cola.
It Is Rumored That Business
Misfoptunes Unbalanced
His Mind.
The Condition Of His Finances
Is Not Yet Ascer-
tained.

CHICAGO. April -J.-D. L. hulClllll-
son, the multi-millionaire grain specu-
lator, known nearly the world over as
"Old Hutch," is lnysteriously missing.
1t is supposed that he is demented and
his business a financial wreck. Mir.
Hutchinson. whose tall, aged, yet erect
figure has for years been one of the
most picturesque sights on the Chicago
board of trade, left the city about mid
night last night, taking with him
small satchel and ticket to Pensacola,
Fla. None of his friends or relatives
appear to have known that he was 60
ing. The veteran operator, however,
never was much of 4 man for confidants.
How he occupied his last hours in Chi
cago has not been discovered except
that he paid lengthy visits to two of his
favOrite drinking resorts. and at each
place told the bartender in leaving not
to expect to see him again. 1t has been
matter of common rumor on the board
that business miSfOrtuneS had unbal-
anced "Old HItch'S" mind. His always
eccentric conduct seemed increasingly
erratic. For weeks at time his abode
has been his little office adjoining the
exchange. When some time ago it is
said his sons, in view of their fathers
Reported Heavy Losses,
following reckless trades, began toicon-
slider the appointment of cOnservatOr
to take charge of his affairs, the old man
was furiously angry. More than ever
he isolated himself, and on the board
appeared to speculate for revenge rather
Hbo icli hn
said to entertain for certain men,
bers of the board seemed
to settle into systematic hatred.
No one but "Old Hutch'' himself knew,
or for that matter yet knows, the exact
condition of hiSf nances. 1t was prac-
tically certain according to all indlca-
tionS that he had lost of late heavily
and steadily. This morning when the
news OF his queer departure became
noised about, almost the first question
was 'How much did he leave" 1t was
answered by the announcement of his
relatives that the missing mans out
Standing trades of 100000 bushels
could be settled up without loss to any
one. Whether any portion of the spec
ulators fortune remained they did not
say. The moment it was definitely
known that Mr.. Hutchinson had really
disappeared from the city. the oper-
ators who had deals with him
began calling his representatives
for margins. Shortly afterward w. l.
Hutchinson, youngest son OF the missing
speculatOr, formally announced the fact
that his father was missing, aud that
neither his family nor business assOci-
ates knew the old gentleman's where
abouts. This was coupled with the in
formation that as a result, the house
COu1TE Not EJuf
any margins. For time the announce
ment caused the widest excitement on
the floor, and the market sharply de-
clined. 1t was stated that "Old Hutch''
was inSolvent, and that his liabilities
would be 5000, 600 in excess of his as
sets. On the other hand, w. l. Hutch
inSOn, while saying, Il think fathers
mind is unbalanced, and that he has
wandered away" added: Il do not
believe he is insolvent. When
we can find how his af-
fairs stand l am confident every
thing will be paid in full, dollar for
dollar" According to the best infor-
nation that could be gathered from all
sources tonight the missing speculator
is long on July and ''short" on May
wheat in large quantities. He is also
'long" on large line of July and May
corn. These trades, it is said, are be-
ing carried by Baldwin & Farnum,
Elmendorff & Waffle. Boyden & Co.,
George G. Parker, Rosenbaum Bros,
and Russell & Barrell, all of whom, it
is claimed, will lose heavily should it
prove that Mr.. Hutchinson is insolvent.
Almost every broker i'll Chicago has
an individual theory to account
for the disappearance. Not the least
plausible is one that "Old Hutch" has
simply gone Oh his long-talked-of vaca-
ton, and will pretend the greatest sur
prise and resentment when he hears
that sensation had been made of his
going away. 1t is asserted that he has
taken but one vacation before in
twenty years.