The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-29
MEN WHO
DISAPPEAR.
Mysteries That Bottle
City Detectives.
POINTS FROM CHICAGO
Woman Is at the Bottom OF II In a
Majority Of Cases.
QUEER CASE OF JOHN MATTHEWS

teresting than any penned by writers OF
fiction, is hidden away in the records of
mysterious disappearances kept by the
Chicago police department Between 300
and 400 men and woI.en drop out OF sight
every year in this city-disappear as COM
pletely as If the earth had opened and
swallowed them. What becomes OF these
people is a mystery few detectives care 10
attempt 10 explain. Foul play is the ex
PLANTATION advanced by their relatives in
nine cases out Of ten, murder by footpads
being the customary plea, but in few in
stances are the facts such as 10 justify this
conclusion.
Wholesale killings for plunder could not
go on year after year without detection.
Sooner or later the bodies of some of the
alleged victims would turn up or stolen
valuables would be found in that market
for all thieves, the pawnshop. 1t is be-
cause Of lack of developments of this kind
that officers experienced in criminal mat
ters scout the idea of foul play. But peo-
pie keep on disappearing at an alarming
rate, and the natural question is, What
becomes Of them?
.They are not embezzlers or others who
haveknown cause for hiding themselves
II the reports received at police headquar-
ters are accurate nearly all of these miss
ing people are individuals free from fnan-
cial or domestic troubles and TO all out
ward appearances happily situated in life.
"Men do queer things at times, said
former Captain Elliott in discussing this
subject, land OF all their freaks that of
mysteriously disappearing is the oldest.
Sometimes they really become insane and
actually lose their identity, but as rule
infa
tally. In nearly every instance where a
man of sound mind disappears and no
murder has been committed close investi
cation will disclose the fact that he has
some real or fanoied cause for getting out
OF the way. Wives arc always positive
their husbands love them, but l have
known instances in which men who TO all
outward appearances were devoted hus-
bands were really weary of life with their
conjugal mates and quietly disappeared
in order TO get rid Of them.
"Thoy would not faco the scandal of the
divorce court, and indeed had no cause to
base an action on. Men sometimes be-
come annoyed because their business af-
fairs arc not in good shape and seek relief
In voluntary retirement. Others, again,
are imbued with love of adventure, and
after spending years In quiet domestic sur
roundings suddenly become imbued with
an unconQuerahle desire to see other phases
of life. 1t Is possible and even probable
that somo Of the people reported as miss
ing fall victims TO footrads, but the num-
ber Is small Crimes of this kind are cas-
lily detected, and while the perpetrators
may not bo caught in every instance the
identity of the victim and the fact of kill
ing are pretty sure TO be quickly cstab-
lishcd.
"Suddcn insanity accounts for many
mysterious disappcarances, but as a gen
eral thing you may charge them up to
women. Many mon live double lives, and
when tho situation gets distasteful it is
only natural they should try to better their
condition by dropping out of sight so far
as ono of their female partners is con-
cernod.
"One OF the queercst cases Of mysterious
disappearance with which the Chicago po-
lice department has had to deal is that of
John W. Matthews, who quietly dropped
out Of sight In this city in November,
1906, and has never been heard from An
uusually vigorous search was made for
Matthews because ne was an intimate
friend of Captain Campbell, secretary of
the department., and the latter interested
himself in seeing that tho hunt was n
thorough one. Matthews lived in Mon
mouth, Ills, and was man of consider
able wealth. He camc 20 Chicago about
the middle of November wearing a new
suit of clothes and with 500 in cash.
Hero he met and talked with several
friends, oil of whom aftCrward remarked
that no was in lno health and spirits.
Two days later Matthews was missing, and
no trace OF him was 90 be found.
1.-The police were bafilod, when mind
reader gave them clew which led to
strange disclosures. This person said Mat
thews had been suddenly tnken insane in
Chicago and had Eonc 20 "a hotel in Madi-
son street, near Clark street, where he
registered under his proper name, but in
an undeciphorable running hand, and had
been assigned TO room on the fourth
floor. Before bedtime, however, he had
taken n car and gone TO tho lake near
Jackson park, where he drowned himself.
Shortly after thls, the mind reader said,
the body was washed ashore in the Calu-
met region, where IL was found 10y n fish
erman, who appropriated the money and
yaluables and then 10 save himself trou-
bic buried the remains in the sands.
THE hotel the spot whore the suicide
occurred. the appearance Of the fisherman
and tho locality i'm which Matthews body
was wished ashore wcro all described with
much minutcness by the mind reader His
story caused great deal of mcrrincnt IN
police circles until Captain Campbell in
sisted that 10 should bc looked into, and all
the essential facts were found To be- cor
rect. Actual ful,idc and robbery of the
body were never established. and many OF
Matthews friends think be j. still alive
hut In othrr i.iurs there was un cxacti.
tudc NJ description ihat was alarming.
Matthews signature was found on tho
hotel register. and he had been assigned to