Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-14
WHERE IS MR.. ALVEY ?
4 REWARD OF 500 OFFERED ron
INFORMATION OF HIM.
IHE CANAL EMPTlED AID SEARCHED,
The Belief Obtains That the BODY of
the Unfortunate Gentleman VIII
TO Earth Yield Little Fruit.

No tidings have yet been received of
Mr. John II. Alvey, who so mysteriously
disappeared from his place of business.
no. 1904 east Cary street. last Wednes-
day afternoon. The search for him is
being prosecuted by day and night. and
every clIe that could possibly lead 10
the discovery of the missing merchant Is
being exhaustlvely run down.
When. on Thursday night. Mr. Alvey's
hat was found on the canal bank, be-
tween the Old and New pump-houses.
his family and the detectives engaged IN
the search for him concluded that he
had ended his life in the canal. With
this idea in view the canal was drained
Of its water on Sunday and a thorough
search Of the bottom was made. Tho
body was not found, however, and the
detectives have turned their attention to
the river.
Mr.. a. VI. Brownell, chief Of the De-
tective Bureau. IN discussing the case
last night, asserted 1t as his belief that
the body OF MIR. Alvey would be found
in The river. AT the point at which the
hat was found on the canal bank, the
river IS not more than fifteen feet dis
tant, and Mr.. BroWnell inclines to the
tell into the treacherous James at O.
point or under stress OF diseased mind.
wandered into the stream. lie now has
hts deputies watching and dragging the
river for the body.
a REWARD OFFERED.
The Alvey family. an Of whom have
| evidenced the greatest love for their
missing knsman. are 10th 10 believe that
he has ended his life They have offered
reward OF sio) for information leading
90 the discovery Of his whereabouts. If
alive. or OF his body. II dead. They give
the following description OF Mr.. Alvey:
Height. feet . or 10 inches; age. 81:
weight, rs pounds; dark complexion;
black hair. rather thin, slightly bald;
darl1-brown moustache, slightly gray;
brown eyes; high cheek-bOnes; thin face;
two upper front false teeth; wore away
| dark-blue diagonal coat and vest, made
! by Ebel & Sons, Richmond, Va: dark,
mixed trousers; plain gold set ring"
\ clue was received at the Detective
| Bureau yesterday which, for time. gave
| rise 10 the belief that Mr.. Alvey had
| been seen OF Toano, on the Peninsula
! Division of the Chesapeake and Ohio
| railroad II was related that a hatess
man had Knocked az the window Of the
| residence OF Mr. q. e.. Branch. near
! TOano. and asked for food. re fright
ened the ladies. and in order 10 reassure
! them tossed a $50 bin into the room 20
pay for what he got. explaining that he
was no ordinary tramp. He was given
something 10 eat but not charged for IT.
Mr. BrOwnell has worked this clue. but
thus far IL has failed 10 pan out
A TRAMP'S INFORMATION.
Another clue. 10 which but little i'm
| pOrtance IS attached is furnished by q
tramp. who relates that he saw Mr..
| Alvey on the railroad track higher up the
| canal than he had hitherto been traced.
This man claims 10 have been riding on
n freight train when he saw Mr. Alvey
bareheaded, walking up the track. He
gives a minute description Of the gentle
man. even 20 the color of his eyes. and
it being the belief Of all that such a de-
scription could not have been secured in
such a glimpse as would have been afford
| ed one riding on moving train
| the story is discredited. and the opinion
| is held that the tramp had CLEANED his
Information from the newspapers.