Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-13
WHEREISMR. RICHEY?
THE WELL-KNOwN WOODSTOCK
CITIZEN Is STILL. MISSING.
HE BORE A GOOD REPUTATION.
No One Understands Just why He
Left, Though His Financial Affairs
Are supposed To De InvOIved-Vcry
Prompt to Meet All Obligations.

Frothpt TO Meet All Obligations.
WOODSTOCK, VA. September r.
(Special.)-on August 18th. T. B. Richey.
In company with his wife left for New
York city, to spend ten days at Manhat-
tan Beach. n. Y, with Mrs Richey's
brother, William G. Duval, who is cashier
Of the Commercial National Bank, Of
that city, and her sister, Miss Mollie c.
Duval. of Frederick, Md.
The time was agreeably spent al the
resort until August 22d when Mr.. Richey
left for New York, resumably TO pur-
chase goods for his large stores in this
town. While in New York he had two
cashiers checks on the Shenandoah
County Bank, of this place aggregating
500. on his return in the evening he
complained Of being exceedingly tired,
saying that he would return to Wood
stock on the morrow. His friends ,ried
TO dissuade him from returning, but
without avail. Then Mrs. Richey pre-
pared to accompany him, but to this he
would not listen. He said she had not
receive the bepeft she had hoped to
gain. She was thus persuaded to remain
with her brother and sister for a short
while longer, and on the morning of the
sd her husband left for home, via New
York
Upon reaching Washington over the
Pennsylvania railroad he found that his
baggage had not arrived. He went to
the Howard House. registered, and took
room. He wrote a letter TO niece,
who was employed in the stores here
saying he was in the capital city await
ing his baggage, but that he would reach
home on the following day.
He complained to the clerk at the hotel
of the heat and said he would take a
car to a suburb until the city had cooled
off. This was about o'clock On the
night of August 23d, and since that time
nothing has been heard of him.
HE DID NOT COME.
on the next day the letter referred TO
above reached Woodstock, but BIT
Richey did not arrive, and nothing was
thought of IL until on the 26th, when 1t
was noticed that the envelope OF the let
ter was addressed in a strange hand. HIS
family and those connected with his bust
ness grew anxious. and wired to MIN IN
care of the Howard House. This elected
no reply A second message was theh
sent to the Howard House, which was
answered at once, and the Information
gained that his small valise was there,
but that he had not been seen Tor TWO
days.
Upon arriving at Washington and not
finding his baggage. Mr.. Richey tele-
eraphed TO his brother at New York TO
look out for it, After he had left the
hotel the answer was received, but was
not claimed. The relatives here advised
with his brothers-S. j. Richey, at Luray
/ $. Richey. at Fort Defiance, and Or.
S. O. Richey. at Washington-and imme-
diately proper steps were taken 60 locate
| the missing man.
The telegram at the hotel was opened
and the number of the check on the
trunk was found. An inquiry at the bag
| gage-room elected the fact that the Trunk
had been delivered before 10 O'Clock IN
| the evening. and that the same checK
had returned to New York on the ~
! o'clock train. What has become of the
trunk has been the much-mooted dues-
ton. unless Thomas Is. Richey claimed
| IT himself. The police of Washington and
| other eastern cities were engaged Tor
DAYS on the case, and for some time the
! idea of foul play had considerable follow
| ing i'm his old home, but as one thing then
another developed the idea has lost
| ground. and the belief is now general that
| he Is absent Of his own accord. 1he
question is asked on every side. "Why?'
| II has not as yet been answered.
ATTACHMENTS SUED OUT.
On September 9Th q number of attach
ments were sued out Of the Circuit Court,
and the Sheriff levied on the large stock
| Of goods in the twin stores of the miss
ing man. as well as on his pretty home.
on Church street. 70 stop such proceed
ings Mrs. q. +. Richey the wife OF the
missing man. petitioned the Court for a
receiver. and NJ Coffman, who is cash
Ter of the Shenandoah CountyBank, was
appointed. and Immediately assumed con-
troll. and the business is now being con-
ducted i'm the interests of his creditors.
Ii now appears that there is a large in
debtedncss outstanding, and this, cou-
pied with the fact that he left paper
among his private effects disposng or MS
property. should he not return, has
caused the opinion that he is away of
his own volition. In HIS business career
of ten or fifteen years Mr.. Richey had
always met his bills when due, and fTe-
ouently discounted them before they be-
came due. But recently, when the bills
commenced TO come In and were unpaid.
il led his friends TO think that he allow
ed the accounts TO stand in order to get
hold Of as much cash as possible before
leaving and that his departure has been
a thing of generalization. But why ne
should thus leave cannot be explained
now. Mr.. Richey leaves a devoted wife,
a nice home, and one of the most pros
perous businesses In the Valley.
Mrs. Richey is one Of The most beloved
women OF the Valley, prominent church
worker IN the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South. and wants the public to
know the truth about the matter.
The missing man was a prominent ciu-
zen in the town. was president of the
Nassanutten Cemetery Company stew
ard and leader Of the church choir of the
Methodist Episcopal church.