The record-union., 1894-10-02
WHERE Is THE TEXAS PREACHER I?
Strange Disappearance of a Clergy
man of Denton.
He Found Himself In Sacramento Un.
der Peculiar Circumstances, But
He Didn't Go Home.

Letters have been received here of late
making earnest inquiry concerning Rev.
Charles Baker, a Clergyman of Denton,
Texas, who recently disappeared from the
latter place under mysterious circum-
stances and was next heard from in this
city.
The story of the reverend gentleman's
escapade is told by Dallas paper of Sep
tember 18th. For several weeks prior to
that date the cities of Texas had been
searched because of the mysterious dis
appearance of the Rev. Baker, who was
pastor of the Denton Christian Church.
On June 18th he left on the north bound
Missouri, Kansas and Texas passenger
train. saying that he was called on busi-
ness TO Tioga, station in Grayson
County, twenty-five miles from Denton,
and that he would return in the afternoon
OF the same day on the Texas and Pacific
passenger train. Mr.. Baker did not re-
turn, and alter an absence OF several days
all Denton became excited.
The wires were worked and the country
was searched, but there was as little trace
OF Baker as there would have been had
the ground swallowed him. Interest in
his disappearance became intensified from
the TACT that IL occurred at time when he
was supposed 10 be supremely happy, he
having only little more than week be-
fore married Miss Carrie Dunbar, very
pretty and very amiable daughter of a
FAMILY united 10 his church.
From benton messages were sent to
the TWO elders at Iioga asking if the
| pastor had been there, and the responses
came bacl. that he had not. AcGuaint-
ances OF the missing pastor were every
where interviewed. Some thought that
| he had Deon foully dealt with. while
others believed that his mind had been
temporarily affected from overwork.
DIligent inquiry all over the United States
/ Jailed to bring any news of the missing
! pastor.
WAS IN SACRAMENTO.
! The conclusion was generally INDUCED
in that he had been foully dealt with. but
tnat impression was erroneous, as the
following letter. received on the 18th by
DIR. j. NJ. Massie OF Dallas, shows:
SACRAMENTO Cali, September l2, 1894
! Deoo' trieftd: l nave just mailed a letter tC
| Brother Davis explaining all the past l want
! TO come back TO Texas because all | love is
| there, ana to Dallas for your medical care
am SO sick that letter-Writing eXnausts Inc in
a few moments. 1 wish to make u few state
ments III order TO give you the medical side o
my trouble. in June L left Denton to attend
! 10 some business, the nature, time and place
OF which have all gone from me. L can ac-
| count for nothing more until l found myself
! IN the midst OF Il raging mob OF railroad
! strikers IN conflict with the United States
soldiers. How / got here. what did to ge
| here, God only knows, do not. Iour brother
| CHARLES BAKER.
"What do you think of the case, DIR
| Massle?" reporter inquired.
My solution of it is this: The man haC
been overiaXed physically and mentally
At the same time he presided every Sun
day and Sunday night at Denton, filled
several appointments at missionary
! points weekly,and prepared and delivered
an address before one of the medical as
sociationS that met at Dallas, and during
| these weeks he had the matter Of mar
riage on his mind. All these put together
doubled the mental and physical strain
upon his mind, resulting in temporary
| insanity and loss of memory"
WHAT BECAME OF HIM?
| A RECORD UNION reporter more than a
week ago made inquiries at the hotels in
this city, but could find no trace of Baker
He had probably registered under an as
sumed name, as the hotel men knew OF
no one named Baker having been there.
1t was then supposed that he had returned
to his home in Texas, but it appears his
friends there are still inquiring abou,
| him.