The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-01-10
Mysterious Wanderings of
Well Known Utah Man.
LONG MoURNED AS DEAD
Discovered at Modesto, CAL, by Mr..
Powers Of Logan.
He Again Disappears, But Powers Still
Pursues Him-story of His Sup
posed Death at Logan-Grief
of His Family.

CalU Lake IMAM looll' HANKS. ne WAS
born and raised here, and his sunny dis
position made every one who knew him
his friend. Several years ago he married
an estimable young lady in this city, and
they finally settled down at Logan, where
''Sell'' engaged in business. He became
as popular there as he had been in Salt
Lake aud appeared to be prospecting.
On Oct. q, 1890, Mr.. Hanks decided to
go across the Logan river to look at some
hay, and took dinner with his wife. On
leaving home he kissed her affectionately
and in driving through the town met his
children. He stopped and kissed them,
and after buying them some candy bid
them good bye and drove on.
Hanks was driving somewhat rickety
cart, drawn Oy a mule, and about dusk
he called at Aaron Farr's farm and asked
for burr, stating that the nut had come
off the wheel of his cart. He was given
one and put it on with his hand, declin-
ing the use OF wrench.
THE LAST SEEN OF HANKS.
That was the last seen of him. His
wife waited for him all night, and the
next morning a search was instituted.
This resulted in the discovery of one
wheel in the river, while the cart and
part of the harness were found on the
| bank of the river nearest the town. La
ter on the mule was found running IN the
| field, and the conclusion was reached that
the burr which he borrowed, not fitting
the axle closely, had come off in the mid
die of the stream, and that the unfortu-
nate man, in falling, had been kicked by
the mule and drowned.
SEARCHED FOR THE BODY.
Acting on this theory, parties were or
gained, and the river was dragged for
miles. Boats and rats were employed,
and giant powder exploded, but
only some letters and receipts, which
pockets were found. When it began to
| look as though the body would not be
discovered the distracted wife begged to
be taken to the river and when her request
was complied with, the scene which fol-
| lowed was the most narrowing ever wit
messed by those present. The poor woman
fell upon her knees and begged God to
give back to her the body Of her husband,
| and the affair affected her so that her life
was despaired of.
! The search was kept up for weeks and
rewards were offered, but still the body
could not be found. This mysterious
affair created a profound sensation, and
| it was not until weeks had passed that
some people began to doubt the theory
that Hanks had been drowned. 1t was
said that his life was heavily insured and
that his financial affairs were in bad
way, but investigation showed that the
insurance on his life was comparatively
small, while his affairs were in better
shape than was supposed. 1t became
known, too, that he had quite large
sum of money on him when he left home,
and people finally settled down to the be-
lief that he had been murdered OF
drowned.
EQUAL TO THE STORY.
Mrs. Hanks was, of course, convinced
that her husband was dead, and putin
on the widows weeds, took up the task
of caring for her little ones. An insur-
ance policy for "a, 600 was to have been
paid her recently, but about that time,
Dick Taylor, of Ogden, who was well
acquainted with Hanks, sent word from
Stockton, CAL, that he had seen the mis-
sing man there. This stopped the pay
ment of the policy, and Mr.. Powers, a
hotel keeper of Logan, at once decided to
go on to California, his main object being
to identify Hanks. Arriving in Sacra-
mento, he learned that the object of his
search had been living lat Modesto fol-
over year, and he promptly visited that
place. After meeting Taylor, however,
Hanks evidently became alarmed over the
prospect of an exposure. and skipped out,
but MIR. Powers found photograph OF
the missing man which had been taken
at Modesto. This he sent tc
Salt Lake, and all who were
acquainted with Hanks recognized it al
once. On Sunday it was shown to his
mother, who also recognized it as the
photograph of her son.
ON HANKS TRAIL.
When last heard from, Mr.. Powers hac
located Hanks again, and announced his
intention of proceeding to that place al
once, and "having IL out' with Hanks.
The news of the result of the meeting
is awaited with interest.
While the mystery surrounding the
disappearance has thus been solved the
cause of the mans strange conduct is as
much of a mystery as well. There is nc
woman in the case, and financial diff
Guilty could hardly have been the cause,
but whatever actuated the man he Ger
tainly succeeded in bringing upon his
wife and family more sorrow than usually
falls to the lot of mortals to endure
Naturally those who are familiar with
the recent developments are very indig-
nant over the course Hanks has pursued,
and it is doubtful if parallel to this re-