Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-01-13
NOT GUTR ENOUGH
HARRY MELVILLE CLAIMS TO HAVE FOUND
4 MISSING CALIFORNIAN,
But Alter Promising The Police to Prove His StoF7
He Fails 10 Show Up-He Wanted Tick
cts for Frisco

A lot OF people in Wheeling know
"Harry Melville" a resident Of East
Wheeling, who makes business Of
going the rounds with circuses during
the season, aud who spends his winters
here, at the home Of his mother, Mrs.
Piper, on Nineteenth street.
Harry came to Wheeling about a
month ago. and on Monday or Tuesday
the spirit moved him to send telegram
30 Mrs. T. Il. lyman, care Wells, Fargo
& Co., San Francisco, saying he had
located her husband, who has
been missing for about three
months, and that II S17O was wired him
for two tickets to Frisco, he would
bring the missing man on. This tele-
gram was at once turned over to the
l police at San Francisco, and they at
Tonce sent the following message to Chief
McNichol. which was received Wednes-
day;
"SAN Francisco, January IL.
"Chtef Of Police. Wheeling:
@Harry Melville telegraphs that he has
located DR.. Thomas lyman, missing from
California, and wants $40 wired him Tor
tickets to bring lyman and himself out
here. Ascertain if Melville is a fraud.
Melville will call at your telegraph othce
for telegram from Mrs. J.. b. lyman To-
morrow Interview him, learn what he
knows about lyman, or if he is beat
Mrs. lyman viii pay you one thousand dol
lars if you locate lyman and detain him
until she gets on and meets him. Answer
Rt my expense.
"Chief of Detectives"
Immediately upon the receipt Of this
Chief McNichOl directed his officers to
look Melville up, and Lieutenant
Lukens went TO the Western Union
telegraph Office, where Melville was
sure to drop 10, sooner or later, 10 get a
reply 70 his telegram. Wednesday
evening a telegram came to Melville, to
the effectthat money for tickets will
be wired you Tomorrow" the san
francisco people having determined TO
await news from Wheeling. AS soon as
Melville read the telegram he tore 1t
I'D, and as hedid so Officer Lukens took
charge Of him, and took him to head
quarters. There Melville was closely
Questioned as TO his knowledge or
lyman, and in reply be persisted that
be bad acted In good faith, and said the
missing Californian was in the custody
OF friend of his (Melyille's) near CO.
lumbus, and was being detained
through motives OF revenge. He said
he had found out that lyman was
being detained against his will,
and took the first opportunity
OF communicating with the prison
eFs friends. Before being released,
Melville promised to return 70 police
headquarters yesterday with proofs OF
the truth Of his stsry, but up TO mid
night last night he had not shown up,
and the police believe he has left the
city. The police also believe Melville
obtained his information about lyman
from the following, which appeared In
lhe current issue OF the Des MOiDeS, Ia,
DetectiUe, and that Melville was merely
J endeayoring TO get cheap tickets west;
"Sl, 900 E s5y aa S7a win ngo 9z sS 81
he whereabOu.s OF Dr Thomas T. lyman, dead
oral.ye, uh6t win lead me % ind him or bis re-
Nmains. he mySteri0usly disappeared non Sau
trapcisco, California on or ABOUT Sct9uet 10
1872 had written 70 his home from Modlsta on
October ID. that ne would be 40 home the Iol-
owing day. Since that time notnlns definite
is known OF him. Some suppose be went last
others that he met with foul play
u ssDr, lyman is about 90 years OF age; hair aud
beard white: rather small iight-blue a. eS; com
plexlOn rudy; height about feet inches
Eeighs about geo pounds; heavy built; right
thoulder a little stopped; right arm broken
above elbow and swings rather aimlessly; uses
left hand almost altogether.
"Dr. lyman was an Old pioneer OF Modesto
Stanislaus county, Cai., and has large property
Interests In that place HIS disappearance IS d
bad mystery % his family and friends. Nc
known cause for his disappearance except slau-
ferrous reports without any foundation, which
nav nave preyed upon his mind. 10 would be
we'll Co visit hospitals aud insane hSylums
Address al information through Wells, ta'go
n 90 MRS. T. e. lyman,
Modesto Cali"
Last night the San Francisco ErIln-
tler telegraphed TO this city for infor'
nation as TO Melville, and his story has
evidently excited interest there.