The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-27
JOSEPH G. BRUCE MISSING.
An Express Company EmpIOye Whose
Accounts Are Straight.

Joseph G. Bruce, for twenty-five years
with the Adams Express Company, is miss
ing A week ago last Thursday he left the
city on hunting trip. to be gone during a
ten days vacation. His plan, as announced
before he started, was to visit relatives IN
Shelbyville and Greensburg before paying a
visit to his mother in Dearborn county. Be-
fore he left he borrowed a valise from d..
Ward, neighbor, who received his prop
erty back several days after Bruce left
Thinking that he was back home again.
DR.. Ward sent Bruce an invitation to spend
the evening with him, but was informed that
he had not returned. Somewhat puzzled
DR.. Ward examined the valise and found
that it had been shipped to him from New
Orleans, La. This fact being communicated
to the missing mans family, a search was
instituted by mail, when it was learned in a
short time that he had not visited any Of his
relatives, who had been expecting him. In
short time the facts in the case came to
the attention of the express company Of
ficials, with the result that a close exami-
nation of his accounts was made Nothing
irregular was found, however and the in
Nestigation rested so far as the company
was concerned.
During the long time Bruce has been con-
hected with the company he has handled
millions of dollars in sealed packages for
the company and by diligence has acquired
consldefaple property in the neighborhood
OF his nome, 14O4 WoodlaWn avenue. He is
also credited with having snug bank ac-
count which was unimpiared when he left.
He was known to have had $50 in his pos
session when he started on his, trip, and he
has not asked for any since then His
brother, George w. Bruce. is claim agent To =
the Citizens Street-rairoad Company, and
lives a few doors from him on Woodlawn
avenue. In discussing his brothers 1isap-
pearance yesterday, MIR. Bruce said that
H.
his brothers leaving, he feared that he
might have become involved financially with
the company that employed him, but that
on his being assured by Manager John j.
Henderson that his accounts w6re correct,
he became convinced that he must be de-
mented. In the light of after thought, it
occurred to him that If he had become flu
gitive, he would not have sent the Valise
back, addressed in his own handwriting. be-
cause that gave them the first clew to his
whereabouts.
Mr.. Bruce then stated that his brother had
been working hard of late in building up the
local branch of the Order OF Woodmen and
that when he left he turned his books over
to a fellow-employe named Purman, who
asserts that the missing man displayed signs
of being mentally deranged for some time
past. Mrs. Bruce Is suffering from a severe
nervous shock caused by the disappearance
of her husband and the publicity it will! give
the family, and was much aVerse to discuss
Ing the matter last night She SAYS, how
ever, that her husband has not been in good
health of late and has complained OF pains
in his head from time TO time. His home ife
however. has been pleasant, and she is sure
he is not short In his accounts with Marion
Lodge of the Order of Woodmen. Her great
tear is that he may be wandering about the
country demented and has met with violence.
Manager John j. Henderson, Of the express
company, said yesterday that while the COM
pany had made no effort to locate Bruce, he
had satisfied himself that his accounts were
straight and can state positively that the
missing man took no money belonging to
the company when he left. To make his
statement more effective, he said that Mr..
large sums of money dishonesty, but did
not do so. His family has instituted
search for him through the police of New
Orleans and other places in the South, and
hope to secure some trace of him soon.