The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-11-15
HOW 1T ALL HAPPENED.
why John j. Griffin an Benjamin F. Rolfe
Misrepresentation Their Whereabouts
Was Finally Discovered.

The mystery of the Disappearance of John
j. Griffin of Al Franklin street and BENZ. F.
Rolfe who hadn't been heard of since they
left this city, November I'd, a week ago last
Friday, has at last been cleared up. There
is NJ thing at all sensational in the story
but there is good deal that is very un-
usual. 1t seems that young Griffin who is
ABOUT tWenty-seven years of age, had be-
came acquainted with Mr.. Rolfe. who is
older and has dealt in horses. He desired
to sell his horse or exchange it for heavier
one. and made trade with Mr.. Rolfe to
help him.
November End. the latter came to him and
said that he knew where there was good
chance for trade short distance out in
the country. So they decided to drive out
and when they left Mr.. Rolfe told Mrs.
Griffin that they were to drive but ten or
twelve miles into the country and would be
home the next night. #e,
But they didn't come home and by the
early part of last week Mrs. Griffin, who is
an elderly lady. began to get very much
worried. Mrs. Dorhuff, her daughter, who
is now stopping with her. took the matter
in hand and a week ago yesterday. saw
Marshal Tricky about it. and of course the
police have since been on the alert for any
traces of the missing men.
Then Mrs. Dorhuff had information sent
to the officers in neighboring towns. She
learned from man in this city that her
brother and Rolfe had started for Gray. but
Deputy Sheriff Doughty told her that no
such team had appeared in Gray. He did
tell her, however, that Rolfe was engaged
To- x,I,o ", hut
working in an Auburn shoe shop. There
fore when last Sunday had come and gone.
and for over week there had been no trace
of the missing son and brother. Mrs. Griffin
was thoroughly frightened and painfully
anxious and Mrs. Dorhuff resolved to go to
Auburn. as last resort and try to get some
news of Rolfe from the woman to whom he
issengaged.
She went to Auburn last Monday and in
quired at several shoe shops without sue
cess. Then she sought Sheriff Hill. and
together they drove about town, but the
woman she was searching for couldn't be
found. Then they inquired at all the
stables. but without success.
Mrs. Dorhuff returned nome Tuesday and
then belhought her to see Mr.. John C.Cobb.
knowing that Roife had horse that be-
loaged o hiu. Mr. Cobb had received a
letter from Rolfe November 4th, two days
after they left this city stating that they
had driven to Otisf1eld. where they had OBJ
tanned work on the farm of Joseph Gerrish.
Rolfe said nothing of Griffin, and probably
thought that he had written home. The
same day. last Tuesday, Mr. CT irish put in
an appearance at No. Al Franklin street
ard told the distressed family that young
Griffin had sent word by him that he was
all right and Was coming home today or
Friday.
They were SO delighted at the days good
news that they Immediately forgot the long
days of anxiety and worry that the young
mans thoughtlessness had caused them.
Mrs. Dorhuff did not find the woman she
WAS looking for in Auburn because she
asked for her by her maiden name. and
now she is widow. On the same day. last
Monday, Rolfe himself had come over to
Auburn in response to letter from this
woman, who had seen the newspaper notice,
and written him to find out what the
trouble was.
They drove to Otisfield in the first place
because they had learned there of a chance
to sell the horse.
Also yesterday, their whereabouts we've
learned by Deputy Sheriff Seth Sterling.
who, while returning from Bolster's Mills,
met at the station at oxford, Charles Cook.
who drives the stage between Oxford and
Naples. He told Deputy Sterling that the
missing men were at the farm of Joseph
Gerrish at Spurs corner, in Otisfeld. for
he had seen them there.