The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1894-10-18
ANOTHER MYSTERY
The Disappearance of John
E. Overton.
WEALTHY BACHELOR AND FARMER
he was Last Seen in East Portland on
Monday--The Case is Now Being
Investigated.

There is another mysterious disap-
pearance in Portland. This time it is
farmer, John E. Overton. The circum
stances under which he has disappeared
indicate most plausibly toul play. There
is good reason to believe that unless
John E. Overton turns up within "a hours
with a most peculiar story of his alb
sence-the unraveling of the mystery of
the old mans fate will add another to
the long list of inexplicable disappear
ances and murders in this city. At the
outset it is known Overton has enemies
and the first suspicion settles upon them
if they can be found.
John E. Overton is well known almost
all over East Portland. He is wealthy
man, and owns finely improved and
valuable farm II miles east of this city,
on the Base Line road, at the intersec-
tion of the road to Fairview. He is an
old bachelor, lives alone in his house,
and, contrary to the usual kind of such
people who live in solitude, and some
times in miserableness, Overton is not
eccentric or remarkable in anyway. He
has many friends, and his neighbors
look upon him as most upright and
trustworthy citizen. He has no kindred
whatsoever.
Last Monday morning Overton left his
home and started for East Portland with
load of baled hay. He has not been
seen since between and o'clock on
that afternoon. What has become of
the wagon, the horses, the load of hay
are only few of the questions being
asked by the missing mans friends,
who today instituted search for him
and enlisted the aid of the officers of the
law.
1t is known that Overton left his house
and started for town at a. m. He was
seen near Montavilla by couple of resi-
dents. One of them was Mr.. Sam Bliss.
The next place he was seen was at the
canning factory at East Seventh and
Belmont streets. This was between 2
and 8 O'Clock in the afternoon. No one
remembers whether he came to the can
ming establishment or not. Mr.. Over
toms business at the factory was to see
about balance due him on a. quantity
time previous. Manager Holcomb, of
the cannery, saw Overton few mo-
ments. There was nothing strange in
his appearance.
When Overton comes to East Portland
he always puts up at the Lyons stables,
where everybody has known him for
years. This time, however, he did not
stop there.
HIS HOUSE ROBBED.
It is a singular fact that Overton's g
house has been robbed-literally emp
tied-since his Disappearance This
robbery seems to be evidence strong
enough in itself to substantiate the be-
lief that foul play has been done.
The discovery of the robbery was made
yesterday. Overton's only hired help is
a man by the name of Palmer, the son of
neighboring farmer. Palmer has been
working for Overton for some time. He
lives with his family some distance
away.
When Overton left home he told his
~4es-- ~sSOS~N oOAAO HOTA W U6
done for that day. He would return in
the afternoon, and the sheep should be
kept penned up until his return.
Palmer went about his work as in
structed, and after his days labor went
home. Next morning he was surprised
to find that Mr.. Overton had not re-
turned. Palmer attended to the live
stock, and later in the day he went over
to Mr.. Joseph Engless' and Mr.. John
Conley's, overton's nearest neighbors.
Palmer remarked his surprise that his
employer had not come back from town.
Mr.. Conley said that perhaps something
had occurred to detain him, and that he
would be back that day (Tuesday). AS
the day passed and nothing was seen OF