Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-08-17
THE MISSING OR. BRADFORD.
How He Was Noticed Wandering
About Kent County.

mately for Years--A Curious Feature OF
tho Physicians Disappearance.
Special Correspcndence Of Gazette and Journal
DOVER, Aug. 16.--Startling news was
brought to light here last ight that may
load to the discovery of the Whereabouts
of DIR. Thomas B. Bradford of Will
mington, who disappeared SO mysteri-
ously from his home in that city, re-
Gently. The clues that have been re.
vealed are reliable and arc worth look
ing after if there is any desire to find
the missing man.
James II. Todd, general agent for the
Kent County Fire Insurance Company,
who has lived in this section for the last
80 years and is acquainted with the
greater part of the residents of the
county, was driving down the bay
road, Thursday, July 9th. When near
the Holeomb farm, about two and half
miles from Dover, he saw man walk
ing down the road with q crab net in
his hand Mr. Todd overlook the man
and recognized him as DR.. Bradford.
He hailed him with, "Hello, Tom, il
you are going this way get in and ride"
The man said, "I'll get in and ride, but
you are mistaken, my name is Spencer"
AS they rode along he said that he
had come down to Woodland Beach on
the Thomas Clyde and had walked to
Dover and was on his way to Daniel
Slaughter's.
The stranger left Mr.. Todd when near
Slaughter's and arrived there about
night. When he saw Farmer Slaughter,
he told him he was Philip Jackson from
Chester, and would like to stay with
him all night, as he expected some
friends down from Chester the next
day on yacht and he was to meet them
on the beach at Lewis ditch.
Mr. Slaughter never knew Bradford
when he lived in Dover, but described the
man as dark.complextioned, with black
hair, black moustache, scar on lip and
wearing light suit and straw hat with
4 a wide band.
Friday morning the man started
toward Lewis ditch and soon arrived
there. He fingered ON the beach all day,
but the parties that he expected did not
arrive and he returnedIto Mr.. Slaughter's
and spent the night.
Saturday morning he was up early
and wendell his way to the beach and
waited patiently for his expected friends
to put in an appearance. Night came on
but they did not arrive, and he went
back to Mr.. Slaughter's.
Sunday morning he returned to the
beach and sat down to wait for the
friends that were TO arrive from Chester
in yacht.
During the day Thomas FINLEY, a
farmer in that section, went to the beach
with friend for the day. FINLEY has
resided in this section for some time and
was acquainted with Bradford, having
camped out with him and fished with
him in former years. FINLEY saw man
sitting on the beach only short dis
lance away and started toward him. AS
they neared the stranger he acted
strangely and was evidently trying to
eyade them.
FINLEY quickened his pace and soon
overlook him. He remarked, "Hello,
Bradford, what are you doing here"
The reply was, "You are mistaken, sir.
my name is Spencer" FINLEY said to
him, Then if you are not Tom Brad
ford you used to be-"
1t was now nearly night and the mys-
terious person returned to Farmer
Slaughter's and spent another night.
Monday morning he arose and said
that it was strange that his friends did
not come for him and thought there
must be something wrong. He said he
guessed he would give them up and
leave.
He,asxed Mr.. Slaughter how much
he owed him, but the hospitable farmer
refused to accept any pay. He then
tito Mrs. Slaughter and asked hei
how much his bill was. She told him
nothing. He said they had been very
kind TO him and taking some change
from his pocket gave her SIS cents and
told her to buy some coffee with it.
He also gave an old colored woman
tobacco pipe, having three with him
He was an inyeterate cigarette smoker
and made them himself. He then lef
Slaughter's taking his crab net with him
A stranger answering the same de
scIiption was seen standing on the
wharf at Barker's landing, St. Jonel
river, shortly after the steamer Mary U
Citizens left for Lebanon about two
weeks ago. After the steamer left h,
began fishing with line. Near by wa
Captain Daniel Tomlinson, fishing from
the deck of his sloop. Tomlinson is 81
4 h old fisherman and has made Dover hi
home for the past 25 years. The tive
men continued to fish until 1t began I,
grow dark, when Tomlinson put hi
tackle away and began to prepar
supper, which was soon done.
The stranger called to him and asket
if he knew where he could get some
thing to eat. Tomlinson told him h
did not have anything extra but if h.
would came aboard he was welcome Il
what he had. The stranger did so ant
Captain Dan recognized him and callet
him Bradford. This name the strange
denied and said he did not know Brad
ford.
They ate supper together and tn
stranger said that he had been sleeping
out and the "jiggers" had almost wor
ried the life out of him. Captain Tom
iinson advised him to take bath In sal
water, which they both did. They spen
the night on the boat.
In the morning the stranger said h
did not like to impose on the captain
any longer and asked him If he knew
where he could get something to eat
He was recommended to- a nearb,
farmer and started out to the place
Before he left he said he intended t
take the steamer Citizens on her return
trip and go to Bowers Beach.
A stranger also appeared at the littl
, grocery store of Farmer Cowgirl il
. Jones Neck, Mr.. Cowgirl says he tool
the man to be DR.. Bradford, but did no
question him. He made some small
purchases. 1t seems strange that non,
of these clues have been brought Il
! light before this, but it must be remem
bered that none of the parties, MI