The morning news., 1892-03-31
DIR. QUARrRHMAN's SON.

His Mysterious Disappearance still
the subject OF Speculation.
WALTHouRvILLE. GA, March 29.-My
attention has just been called to an article
in the MORNING News OF this date from
Brunswick, Ga. March 2s, relative to the
mysterious disappearance OF my son, Ar
thur Quarterman, which is so erroneous
that / feel called upon TO make some oor-
reotions and present such facts as think
necessary TO place the case In a true light
before the public. Something over a year
ago, my son Arthur, then a youth OF II
years, left home very early In the morning,
without his breakfast and without notifying
any one Of the family, taking his gun with
him, for the purpose. as he stated after
ward. OF taking fish In a mill pond about
three miles from the village. On reaching
the railroad he found a freight train across
the road, taking on wood. Ho asked the
engineer II he would stop at the depot,
about a mile away from that point The
engineer stated that he Thought he would,
and Arthur jumped on an open car 30 ride
that far, intending to get off al the depot
and then continue his excursion 10 the mill
pond. The train did not stop at the depot,
but passed on at such q rate Of speed that
the boy could not get OF, and the train. be-
ing through freight did not stop at any of
the stations. only slowing up at Jesup, not
enough 10 allow his getting OF until be
reached Blaokshear. There he got Off, and
having little money, rs cents, in his
pocket, he bought few crackers and
ticket back to Jesup, reaching that place in
the night. There he asked the agent for
ticket to Walthourvllle, promising to pay
for IL when he reached home The agent
refused to do this, supposing him TO be a
tramp. He then boarded train anyhow,
hoping to come on that night, but by mis-
take got on the East Tennessee, Virginia
and Georgia railroad aud was
taken I'D to Surrency before he
found out his mistake. There
he found himself without money, friends or
acquaintance, in his hunting garb, and
suspected OF being tramp. He concluded
to work his way back home and walked
from Surrency TO Jesup, a distance OF
about twenty seven miles, killing number
OF partridRes along the route, which he
sold for something to eat and enough money
TO purchase ticket from Jesup to Wal
thourville, arriving there in the early morn
ing, and walked home, a distance OF three
| miles, without any one seeing him and al
most starved and completely worn out.
True, he acted very strangely in not tele-
| graphing to me, but he supposed the oper-
| tor would refuse and his inexperience, hav-
| ing never been away from home will ac-
count for his lack Of Judgment and bad
management In this escspade. He
has always been boy Of
the most exemplary character, a
truthful and most dutiful son, and respected
and beloved by all who knew him. He has
been in Douglas, Coffee county, Georgia,
| for tho past six months, engaged In mer-
chandising, and there has always proved
| himself an upright citizen, and is well
| spoken Of by every yone there. and has q host
Of friends there. as we'll as In Liberty
| Ha xraa nh ahUroh DO
night, March 20. with his brother, w. II.
| Quarterman, and after service went with
him to Col. p. A. Wards house. After
staying there with the family a short time
he left about 10 O'clock to return TO his
store and go to bed. The next
morning. not appearing at breakfast,
bis brother and Col. Ward went to the
store for him and found a plank leaning
against the back OF the store and footprints
around 1t on the ground, the window TO the
| upper story open, and the side door to the
| building unlocked, but closed, the kegs lying
on the floor at foot of the stairs, his room in
disorder. the chairs knocked about, and his
clothes that he wore that day lying on box
| by the bed. nothing gone but his shoes and
underclothes His money, watch and chain,
two pistols and some jewelry. and a few
| pocket knives out OF his show case were
| taken away, and the money drawer left
| open with several drafts. orders and notes
left in 1t. The efforts to follow the tracks
| proved fruitless.
The idea Of mis- doing this for notoriety Is
preposterous. and altogether wrong, as
every one who knows him will testify. He
has been most foully dealt with by some
unknown parties, and The .,ood citizens OF
Coffee county are doing all In their power
to unearth the mystery and bring the guilty.
parties TO Justice. | arm just from the scene
of the tragedy, where have spent the last
week In a vain search for my lost son and
| know Of what speak.
X. A. QUARTxRNAN, M. d.