Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-11-17
THE MYSTERY" SOLVED.
Arden ii. Humphrey Returns to
His Home
After an Absence of -Four Years---IIis
Parents supposed lie Had Been FouIIy
Dealt with

After an Absence Of -Four Years---IIis
Parents Supposed lie Had Been FouIiy
Dealt with.
The Arden Humphrey mystery is
solved. Tuesday the young man appeared
to his parents, who now live in Rutland,
calmly announcing that he had been i'm
British Columbia for the past four years
that he had known nothing of the efforts
made TO find him; and that it was only
recently that the idea had been trephned
into his head that his friends might be anx-
ious about him He said he had been
numbering up and down Che Pacific coast.
and had spent good deal of time on Van
couver island lie was in love with the
country and was going ba k there Tues
day afternoon Humphreys mother went to
the hotel where Judge J. NJ. Tyler. one of
the trustees of the Brattleboro Retreat, is
staying while holding court in Rutland,
and sent up her card. when Judge Tyler
went down to the parlor, Mrs. Humphrey
introduced her son. the long-lost Arden.
This was the tirst that any Retreat official
knew of his return. In conversation with
Judge Tyler he failed to give any satisfac-
tory reason for skipping the town and
country.
The Disappearance.
The case is one which will always possess
a certain interest and it is worth while to
recall its leading features. Arden II. Hum
phrey came TO the Vermont Asylum. known
now as the Brattleboro Retreat. in july.
lSSS. He was then 70 years old. and n
young man OF ordinary appearance and
capablity His father and mother lived
on a farm in Baltimore, ia the south part
Of Windsor county which enjoys the dis
tinctiou of being the smallest town in the
United States. Their post-ofiice address
was Gassett's station, Hum 1hrey lived
and worked with the other farm hands.
whose quarters were in the farmers hall
Just In the rear of the main asylum build
inCs. He remained there performing the
usual routine of farm work until June -.
lSSH. The weather was then very hot and
the seasons having was i'm progress. On
the evening of that day. which was Tues
day. he went with the other farm hands
down to the West river where the others
went In bathing. but lac complained that
the water was too cold and returned TO the
farmers hall After the others came back
they all spent some time IN singing gospel
hymns, soon after o'clock they closed
this diversion and prepared for bed. At
this time Humphrey went cut, and the fact
that be- did not return attracted no atteu-
tiou at the time.
When the next morning came it was
found that his bed had not been occupied.
his best clothes were in his room. and in
the pockets was a small sum of money.
some s. or s.. About So in wages was
also due him from the asylum. The farmer.
Nj. Pierce, reported his absence % Dr.
Draper, the superintendent. thinking Hum
phrey might have been iil or called sud-
denly home Dr.. Draper presumed he had
taken fancy 20 90 home and wired his
father. saying that the young man had dis
appeared, and asking if hr was al home.
Mr.. Humphrey replied that he was not.
and Immediately came here % investigate.
Dr.. Draper promptly advertised the Young
man 5 disappearance IN the village paper,
and used every available means 10 learn his
Whereabouts Mr.. Humphrey. senior, was
allowed to occupy his son room IN the
farmer, hall. and 10 associate freely with
the men. from whom. If possible. he might
/ obtain some clue a, TO what had become OF
his son. He was furnished a team and a
man 90 90 with him To drive about where
+ ever he wished Later the mother cam,
. here, and was entertained a. the asylum
farmhouse A long As she chose TO stay.
Every thing possible, in short, was done h1
the asylum officials o. solve the supposed
mystery, and every opportunity was fur
nished Humphrey parents 90 make InyeS
tiCatuu.