The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-03-08
J. =. Ellifritz.


last week concerning the request said to
have been made of Joseph Ellifritz by
Mr.. ]. H. Richards, that he convey $500
to his son Ed. There was nothing OF
the kind suggested. Otherwise the
statements we're correct up to date.
There were then and have since been
so many wild rumors afloat, that it was
hard to tell what to rely on.
Thursday evening mass meeting was
held in the court house, at the call OF
the Mayor, and after much discussion
and the expression Of deep sympathy
with the afflicted family, committee
was appointed to raise funds by sub.
scription for the purpose of offering a
reward. At a meeting the next evening
they reported nearly $500 secured.
At the second meeting letters were
read from Ed. Richards, of Chicago, and
the agent of the Ellifritz firm in St.
Louis.
Mr.. Richards said he had looked
among the unidentified dead, and the
suddenly insane, in Chicago, but could
get no trace of Ellifritz. He had talked
with Chicago's Chief of Police, and that
official advised against offering any re-
ward, as the Chicago police and detec-
tive force would do all in their power
without any extra incentive.
When Joe Ellifritz reached Chicago
he wrote at once to the St. Louis agent
concerning the advisibility of visiting
that city. His letter and type written
copy of the agents reply, were forward
ed to Joe's brothers here. The letter
advised against any visit to St. Louis,
as there was no business in woolens and
no hope of any.
1t also seems that, despite Mr.. Eli
fritz cheerful letter to bis folks, he had
really found no trade in Chicago. He
had hoped to dispose of his present
stock to Marshall Fielts. Failing in this
and receiving unfavorable advices from
St. Louis, and being thus convinced that
he would be unable to return to Hills
boro with the means Of securing an ex
tension of his paper, he may have been
80 discouraged as to lose his mental bal
ance, and be wandering about Chicago
This is the theory of many and i!
strengthened by letter from Will Nc
Surely, Esq, to his father, Rev. W. J
. McSurely, in which he asserts conf
+, IDENTIFY that he saw Joe. Ellifritz on th'
23d, or six days later than the last trac
his friends had OF him. He had no
then heard that Ellifritz was missing
. and did not speak to him, as he was
little distance off. But he is sure b
saw Ellifritz.
Il All efforts to get any trace of his bag
gage at depots or express Offices. eithe
in Chicago or st. Louis, have utterl
- failed.
= A letter yesterday from Ed. Richard
. to Mayor Davis, says that Ellifritz tol
: a Chicago merchant at two o'clock o
- the afternoon of his disappearance, thi
he would be in Cincinnati next day.
a Richards has had descriptive circular
y printed on which is an excellent pictul
Z of Mr.. Ellifritz. These will be MALE
to all towns and cities of consequent
- in the West. The Chief of Poli'
y thought that reward of S25 on the
10 would be sufficient to inspire an intere
% on the part of marshals and police
- small places.
~ There have been several rumoTs
~ more or less sensational character aflo
'o to the effect that Ellifritz had been
40 Gated, but all are without foundatio
He has not yet been heard from.