The morning call., 1895-01-26
n OAKLAND MYSTERY
Disappearance Of Miss Edith
Galloway.
MISSING FOR TWO MONTHS.
Her Mother Declares That the Girl
Was Abducted.
ADJOINING TOWNS BEING SEARCHED.
Statements Charging San Francisco
Man With Completely in the
Peculiar Affair.
ADJOINING TOWNS BEING SEARCHED.

A case of peculiar interest, involving the
abduction of 16-year-old girl by a man
who, until he met the girl, was for two
years the betrothed of her mother, has
come to the attention of Mrs. s. c. Sanford,
agent for the Society for the Prevention OF
Cruelty to Children at Oakland.
The girl alluded to is Edith Galloway,
who, until two months ago, resided with
her mother on Broadway, near Ninth
street, Oakland. She disappeared mys-
teriously some weeks since, and every eff
fort to find her has proved fruitless.
1t appears from Mrs. Galloway's state
ment as made to Mrs. Sanford some ten
days ago, that the disappearance of her
daughter is the result of an attachment she
had formed for G. w. n. Wilson, a razor
strop manufacturer of this city, whose ad-
dress is at 20S Octavia street. Mrs. Gallo
Way openly charges Wilson with the
abduction of her child, but this he indig-
nantly denies.
Mrs. Galloway, who is an attractive
widow of 40 years, states that she met
Wilson about two years ago, and that their
acquaintance soon ripened into warm at
tachment for each other. Wilson is good
looking fellow, is years old, with a
physique and manners calculated to make
an impression upon less susceptible natures
than that of Mrs. Galloway.
ct was understood that we would be
married soon," returned she, "and
wherever we went we were looked upon as
an afianced couple. During all this time
Wilson treated my daughter Edith as if
she were his own child and owing to his
advanced age and her tender years could
not possibly suspect that she would sup
plant me in his affections, as subsequent
events proved"
The widows courtship progressed charm
ingly for a time. Wilson's warshop was
then in clearinghouse on Market street,
opposite Jones. His business had in
creased to such an extent that he needed
assistance, and he offered the position to
Edith, who accepted the post with alacrity
What followed may be gathered from Mrs.
Galloway's subsequent statement to Mrs.
Sanford.
81 noticed" said she, ''that soon after
putting my daughter to work his visits G
me ceased and there was marked cool
ness in his manner toward me. / began to
suspect something was wrong two months
ago, and instituted inquiries. 1 found that
Wilson and Edith were intimate beyond
the bounds of propriety and l demanded
that my daughter should be returned to
me. Wilson said l could not have her, as
she had promised to become his wife. NV
daughter disappeared and have not seen
her since"
Police Officer Wells was detailed upon
the case, and after difficult search found
Wilson. The latter denied that he knew
the whereabouts of the girl, and offered to
do all in his power to find her. This was
subsequently disproved, for at that time
Wilson was occupying a cottage on
Webster street, near Ellis, where Edith
was known among the neighbors as Will
n tO do
ception Edith always addressed Wilson as
"uncle.'
1t is surmised by the police that Wilson
assisted the girl out of town, but he main
tains emphatically that he does not know
where she is. A girl answering to her
description has recently been seen at Hol-
lister and Modesto, but Mrs Galloway,
in those towns, failed to find her at either
place. Wilson is still in town, but if he
has fixed place of residence the officers of
the Humane Society do not know it. Mrs.
Galloway is almost distracted at the dis
appearance of her child, who, at times, she
believes must be dead.
at is strange case," said General Nc
Comb yesterday. 1.-THE girl has disap-
peared as completely as if swallowed up by
the earth. No reason can be advanced in
explanation OF her disappearance, save
that of abduction, and in support of this
the police have no evidence whatever.
Despite Wilson's denials I am convinced
that he knows more about the affair than
he cares to tell. The circumstance of his
betrothal to the mother and his subsequent
intimacy with the daughter is not credita-
BILE TO him. The girl always manifested in
tense love for her mother until she began
to work for Wilson. Soon after this she
and has not since been SEEM
Descriptions of the girl have been sent to
many towns in the State, and it is thought
that news concerning her whereabouts will
be received shortly.