Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-16
THINK IT WAS ALVEv.
Nh, Isaac Garrison Believes He
is Now in Cincinnati
SAW HIM ON A TRAIN.
The Man Answers 10 The Description OF
the Missing Merchant.
MYSTERIOUS STRANGER IN BON AIR
visits the Farm OF Mr.. w. :. Forbes,
But Refuses to speak-Except That
This Mon wenrx IN Hoard He Nrfrh1
Easily he Taken for Alvey.
MYSTERIOUS STRANGER IN BON AIR
visits the Farm of Mr. w. $. Forbes,
Easily he Taken for Alvey.

Mr.. Isaac Garrison, a supervisor OF tho
Chesapeake and Ohio railway. who lives
az No. 22o9 east Marshall street, is posi-
tive that no travelled with Mr.. John 4.
Alvey, whose mysterious disappearance
has created such a profound sensation
here, from Clifton Forge TO Cincinnati
last Thursday.
He was not personally acquainted with
Mr.. Alvey. but he recognized photo
graph tho instant Il was shown to him.
and positively asserted that the features
OF tho man ne saw on the Chesapeake
and Ohio train wero identical with those
the man wore collar turned down at
tho corners, and that HIS coat was closely
buttoned. just as It appears in Mr.. AL.
veyI latest photograph.
OVERHEARD HIM TALKING.
Mr.. Garrison says his attention was
first attracted to tho man in tho dining
car on Thursday morning, while tho train
was travelling between Clifton Forge and
Hinton. The man. he says. was protest.
ing that the charge Of 81 was altogether
! too much for the breakfast. Mr.. Garri-
son heard him say that while he did not
care about dollar no thought the
| charge was most unreasonable.
Mr. Garrison saw the man enter the
dning-car with another gentleman be-
tween Charleston and Huntington. lie
sat ut tho next table. and could not help
overhearing much OF the conversation.
Tho man whom ho now believes TO have
been Mr.. Alvey spoke OF his success IN
business In Richmond and said that no
/ made $4,000 a year out Of the grocery
and feed business. He also discussed
politics, and talked so much as TO oeca-
/ sion remark when tho train reached
! Cincinnati Mr.. Garrison saw the man
! leave Tho train.
a MAN AT BON AIR.
A man answering the description Of the
missing merchant. save that he wore
/ beard has been wandering about IN the
/ neighborhood o. Bon Air.
Mr.. W. S. Forbes, the well-known pro-
vision merchant OF this city. has sum-
mer home about half o mile from Bon
| Air. The family is now in Richmond. and
| the property Is being cared for by Dir.
| Bynum. Mr. Forbes's manager Yesterday
Mr. Bynum called Mr. Forbes up over tho
phone and told him that on Monday
morning. just at daybreak, he had dis
! covered a man OF small stature, weigh
ing about 12J pounds, standing on tho
lawn, lust within the gate. The stable
boy approached and inlerrogated tho
stranger The mysterious visitor de-
clined 10 make any reply 70 any OF tho
many questions asked him. He never
opened his mouth, but after staring va
cantly at the boy for few moments
turned and left the grounds.
WAS THERE AGAIN.
Tuesday morning when the house was
opened the same man was found stand
| ing on the front porch. Again was he
| questioned, and again did he go through
| the performance of the preceding day. re-
| fusing TO speak "A word In response TO
| the questions asked him. Dir. Bynum re-
ported the matter TO Nv. Forbes. and
! that gentleman naturally concluded that
! the strange visitor was Mr.. Alvey. Flo
| gave orders that q strict search should be
made for the man, and that II found he
| should be held until Identified.
The matter was reported TO the detec-
| tlves, and Chesterfield viii now be scour-
ed for the unfortunate gentleman. II Is
considered to be very likely that he Is In
Chesterfield. Where his hat was found on
the canal bank is but short distance be-
low the belt-line bridge connecting Hem
rico with Chesterfield. and Mr.. Alvey
could very readily have crossed 20 tho
opposite side OK the river on this bridge,
and then descended 70 the tracks OF the
Southern railway and made his way to
Bon Air. The POINT which gives RISE
10 doubt IS that the man sean at Bon
Air wore a beard, which almost conceal
ed his features. He was about - years
81 IL. IL
| scription, weighed about Is pounds. was
dark comp.exioned, and was very well
dressed All OF this answers Mr.. Aivey's
| description, save the beard.
SEARCHING THE RIVER.
While every clue which presents itself
Is thoroughly developed. the detectives
have not ralinqulshed the idea that Mr..
Alvey's body may be found IN the river.
ana tho stream Is being thoroughly
searched.
There are numberiess men at work
along the river. some dredging. and
others scanning with eager eyes the eddies
and pools that BE among the houlders.
Mr. Edward Alvey said yesterday that
he had nodded that his brother appeared
restless and worried several days before
the Wednesday when he disappeared. He
had an appointment with Mr.. Ben Lips
comb. co-admlnistrator Of the Lipscomb
estate. 20 20 10 Presclo Isle 70 attend to
the sale OF some stock on the Lipscomb
farm. and he stated 20 his brother that
he did not care 20 go. Then he changed
his mind and went, and he never appear
ed 20 be himself again AFTER he returned
/ 10 Richmond.
lie worried too much about that es-
tate" said Dir. Alvey. THAT was the
| cause OF an his mental trouble"