The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-12-07
WIFE AND CHILD DESERTED
A Story Which, if True, Brands
John Henderson a Vagabond
And a Brute.

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No tidings have yet been received regard
ing the missing John Henderson. That he
has deliberately left his home and family
seems to be an assured fact. A ridge on
which he was last seen was secured on either
side for distance of five miles. Into the
canyons and over the mountains, through
fern and behind logs the search was prose-
cuted, but no trace of the missing man was
found. The party returned to Summit and
after an interview with the grief-stricken
wife, in which several conflicting stories
were told, a vote was taken. OF the. forty
five searchers, thirty-four concluded that
Henderson had skipped" while. the other
eleven were of the opinion that he had been
accidently killed and that the hunt for his
body should be continued. About the only
reason for supposing him dead is the fact
that he was hunting with dangerous gun.
1t is said that unless care was exercised in
loading the weapon, the cartridge was liable
to explode and fly back with serious conse-
quences. Henderson, however was used to
the gun and being an experienced hunter
the theory that he was killed i'll that way is
given little credence. On the other hand
there are many potent reasons for supposing
that he has run away. From reliable
sources the story comes that this is not
the first time he has left relatives, friends
and creditors to mourn his loss. Several
years ago he was guilty of a similar offsnse
and for days searching parties secured the
country for his remains. Their efforts
and Henderson was given up for lost.
Like bad penny, however, he returned
after long absence, when it was learned
that he had been living at Seattle. Since
then he has resided at Summit, where he
is considered one of the most worthless,
shiftless hounds in the county. His fail
ure to provide suitable Accommodations for
his wife and child is sufficient evidence
are better for having gotten rid of his com.
psny. According to reports, the average
stable is palace compared with the howell
in which his wife and little one are COM
ground and covered with shakes, through
which the wiud whistles, is said to consti-
tute their dwelling. It is about ten or
twelve feet square. In the center an open
the dogs sleep; the cold ground serves for
a floor and in this one small room the fam
lily cock, eat and sleep. Work has been
offered by the neighbors, but too shiftless
ont miserable existence, and though
many times suffering for the necessaries of
life, the. wife has overlooked his many
faults and tried TO get along with him. 1t
is said that he has made frequent threats
of leaving her, and now that she is soon to
become mother, he again threatened de-
sertion unless she underwent successful
criminal operation. This most unnatural
act, it is supposed, the mother refused to
give her consent to. when the loathsome
father called his little 9,year- old girl to his
side and kissed her goodbye for the first
time in years. He then shouldered his
gun and supposedly left on a. deer hunt.
The belief that of his own volition he then
deserted his home and family has grown
stronger during the past ten days. Since
that time, stories OF his family relationship
have been told throughout the neighbor-
hood which give color to the desertiou tile
ory, and further evidence that this is the
correct one, is the fact that O man answer
ing Henderson's description, was seen in
the vicinity of Mary's Peak the next day
after leaving home Since Henderson left,
the neighbors have provided his family with
groceries and provisions and it is fair te
presume that they will receive far better
care hereafter than they have in the past
That the worse than worthless husband
and father has left to never again return
seems like all act of Providence aud moi
only the deserted family, but the entire
neighborhood, have ample reason to con
gratulate themselves over the result.