Evening star., 1896-10-30
A POS SlBLE MYSTERY
Zach Flynn, Fauquier County Drover, Dis
appears.
His NirGinfa Creditors Alarmed md
ton, Philadelphia and New York.



MIDDLEBURG, Va, October -. 1896.
Zach Flynn, cattle dIover and dealer
of this vicinity, has been missing for sev-
eral weeks, and the community is becom-
ing quite anxious to his fate. He left
home with several carloads of beef cattle
in the early part Of September. bound for
the northern markets. His failure to re-
turn by the end of the same week excit ed
no very great comment. as it had some
times happened before, that finding a
hard market in Washington or Baltimore
he would hold on to his stock ard forward
them to Philadelphia or New York. hop
ing to find there a more liberal buyer
But when the second week had passed
without his return or news of him, his
neighbors. particularly those from whom
he had bought the cattle. began to speak
together in quiet way. and after the
third week comment and inquiry became
more general. 1t then came to light that
the value of the beeves he had carried
Off amounted to something between $500
and S3.H". which he was to pay as the
custom is in this country when he came
home after the sale of the cattle.
He had commenced trading in small
way ten or fifteen years ago in this end
of Fauquier and Loudoun counties. near
the scene Of his birth and lifelong home
and year by year his dealings had in
creased until by honest thrift and fair
dealing he had won the confidence and
respect of all classes of people, and il
was supposed had amassed quite q con-
siderable sum of money.
Trying to Find Him.
The inquiry set on foot by his unex-
planned and continued absence developed
a good many facts that were never dream
ed Of by his nearest neighbors. Tracing
him ID Philadelphia it was found that he
sold the cattle carried from home at a
loss and there bought another lot and
carried them TO the New York market.
Selling these again at a loss he returned
to Philadelphia and purchased a third sup
ply. with which he started northward. II
is not known whether he had paid for
either of these last two purchases or not,
but a check that he had given to some
one being protested about this time the
seller of the last cattle became uneasy and
Intercepted the shipment on arrival at New
York and attached them. Since then
nothing whatever Of a reliable nature has
been heard from Flynn in his home neigh
borhood.
Further investigation shows that his
bank deposits have all been drawn out,
and it being his well-known habit to carry
large sums of money in a shot bag in his
trousers pocket many people believe he
mas been victim of foul play. This
theory gains force when Ii Is known that
of late he has taken to heavy drinking
when away from home. and when intoxi-
Gated was given to showing his money.
Others incline to the belief that he has
gone into hiding with a woman of Wash
iTgton city, with whom a few people have
known he has had strong infatuation
for several months. He has a wife and
twelve children living on the cid Charles
Smarr place, near here, In Fauquier coun-
ty, which he has rented for several years,
renting out his own farm near Landmark
because it is more convenient here for his
business.
4 Strange Telegram.
The mystery of his absence was enhanced
one day last week by a telegram signed
by him and addressed 10 his wife. saying he
would he home Thursday, but ne never
rot yet been traced. Il is said that he re-
Gently asked his wife If she had heard any
reports about him and the other woman.
and she replied that she had not and would
rot believe them if she had.
Silas Pearson, a former partner of
F1ynn's, cancelled the partnership some
months ago when Flynn got TO drinking.
but is ndorsar for him to a considerable
amount in the Leesburg bank and at his
il stance an attachment was last week laid
upon all of Flynns personally. just before
leries were made in the interest of various
other creditors. The affair creates an un-
usual stir in this staid and quiet commun-
ity, ai:d the pecun!ary losses fall heavy
upon people who are mostly unable to staad
! Under them. Among those who lose by
Flynn'S Hight is Charles Cochran Of Round
| Hill. who sold him $500 worth of cattle on
| credit.
| story to the effect that the woman in the
| case is the widow of one of the most prom
lnent ana highly connected form., re 81
| dents OF this county.