People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-08-08
A DEEP MYSTERY.
Express Messenger Elmer Ferguson
Disappears in St. Louis.
FOUL PLAY is FEARED.
A telegram Sent by Him to Friend
the Only Trace.
Sumo avs 81. Louis Post Dispatch

fatality which finds its climax in
deep mystery.
The month of August has been for
him fatal month. On the 17t1 of |
this month. 1898, two robbers held up
the train Oh which he was the mes
senger near st. James, Mo. On the
End Of this month, 1893, robber held |
up his train and shot him near Pacific,
Mo. Now in the month Of August, |
1895, he has disappeared as absolutely |
as though the earth had swallowed |
him up.
Elmer Ferguson, although but q
years old, has been an express mesSen-
ger for the Wells-Fargo Co. for sever
al years. His run is over the Frisco.
Last Tuesday evening he came in over
this line from the Indian Territory.
He checked up his accounts, which, on |
the surface, were correct, and report |
ed at the general offices Of the cOmpa-
ny on Fourth street.
Here he drew his months pay and
outside Of appearing and complaining
of feeling little tired after his trip, he
appeared 10 his usual frame of mind.
He left the offices without saying
where he was going, but it has since
been learned that he went around
town, paying up number of small
bills.
From the time he left the office he
was not seen again by any Of his aSSO-
ciates until that evening, when he
paid a social call at the residence of
Mr.. Van Arsdal. who lives at 23l4
Hickory street. He remained there
until II o'clock, when he left to catch
the 1l:45 train over the Missouri Pa
cifC to Webster Groves.
This suburb is FergusOn'S home.
He lives there with the family of
Judge Saunders, an old friend of the
messengers mother. She lives at
Wellington, KaDS., and the Saunders
es used to live there also. When they
came to st. Louis Ferguson lived with
them and when they went out to Web
ster Groves he accompanied them.
Although he had forty-fve minutes
to catch the train Tuesday night, he
did not 90 to WebSter'S Groves. This
was the first night he had missed in
all the time he had been out there.
The SaunderSes were expecting him
and were greatly worried at his nom
appearance, knowing his steady hab-
its, but on the following morning
they were treasured by receiving a tel
egram signed Elmer D. Ferguson,
stating that he would be home on the
HAS train that night. twas filed at
1880 a. H., at the Uunion Station
Wednesday night came, but no Fer
guSOn put in an appearance, and the
Saundersers were at a loss to explain
his unusual conduct.
Claude Saunders, son of the Judge
is the night messenger Of the Wells
Fargo Co. at the Union station, and
it seemed strange to them that he did
not say something to him in case he
missed his train. They were more
than non-plussed, but thought he
would certainly show up Friday morn
ing to make his southern run.
But he did not do it. The Wells
Fargo Co. then learned for the first
time Of his disappearance. Supt.
Grover B. Simpson was more than
surprised when he learned the cir
cumstances, and he Immediately
started an investigation which reveal
ed the facts as above stated. He also
discovered that the telegram sent
Wednesday morning was in Ferguson's
handwriting, so that he was really at
the Union station that morning, but
no trace of him having been about
the station that night could be found.
Nor could anyone be found except the
telegraph operator, who had seen him
since he left the Van Arsdel resi-
dence.
Supt. Simpson waited until yester
day, and as there were no signs of The
missing man he laid the circum
stances in the case before Chief Des
mond, who put Detectives Allendel
and Smlthimmediately to work.
There seems to be no clew at pres
ent to go on. Ferguson was one OF
the most trusted men in the Wells
Fargo Co.'S employ, and go far as can
be ascertained his accounts are all
straight. 1t would be possible for a
messenger to steal both a way bill
and a money package on his trip and
conceal the theft for a few days, but
the fact that Ferguson paid number
of little bills after drawing his wages
argues against this. If he were going
to rob the company and skip it is
hardly likely that he would be paying
any debts before his departure.
His habits were of the best. So faI
as known he had no vices. He was
fond OF dress and would attract atten'
ton by the care bestowed on his per.
sOnal appearance. When last seen he
wore gray sack suit. brown derby
hat, "tOoth-pick' tan shoes, a blue
striped shirt witha black dotted four
finland tie. He is q years old, 5 feet
@ 10 inches tall, weighs 166 pounds and
has his front teeth conSpicuouSly
filed with gold.
The above article is only more
lengthy rehearsal Of what has beer
wired to this city. Gene Ferguson re-
ceiyed a telegram from Supt. Simpson
of the Wells Fargo Co., soon after
Elmer's disappearance, but nothing
has been said publicly in the hope
that he would be found. His unques.
tiOnable character in this city assures
US that, should anything have befal
len him, it has been through some
dark plot of villiany. The relatives
in this city have the deepest sympa
thizing anxiety of the public in their