Evening journal., 1899-01-20
AN AMATEUR DETECTIVE,
WILMINGTON BOY WON AFTER
NEW YORK POLICE FAILED.

NGW fOnN fOIlCE FAILED.
HORACE G. EAsTBURN CoMPIl-
MENTED FOR HIS CLEVER
WORK IN DISCOVERING THE
WHEREABOUTS OF WILLIAM
BELL BY THE POLICE OF THAT
CITY.
A young Wilmington man this week
successfully engaged in a piece Of detec
tive work that won for him the en-
comiums OF the New York police. He
g HoTace Greeley Ebssburn, an en-
ploye Of the Institute Free Library,
and he discovered a missing man whom
the New York police had failed to 10
cate.
On January last William Besl dis
appeared from his home, No. 81 Culver
avenue, Jersey CITY, and his relatives
G uld learn Of no trace to his
whereabouts, though they had reported
the fact Of his disappearance to both
the New York and Jersey City police.
Bell was born in Delaware, near Pleas
ant Hi.l, fill5y-iour years ago, and hae
been very wealS-minded since his
birth Samuel Eastburn, OF Pleasant
Hill, is his guardian. but he made his
home with his brother-in-law William
r. Armstrong. No. 81 Culver avenue,
Jersey City Bell has fortune OF
seyera, thousand dollars.
Horace G. Ehstburu, being given
lpower Of attorney By his uncle, Sam
uel Eastburn, guardian Of Bell, went
70 New York the first Of the week and
began his search for the missing man.
He went to police headquarters but
could obtain very little satisfaction.
He then had printed Bills Offering a
reward Of $50 for the missing man,
and containing his full description.
These bills Mr. Eastburn had distrib-
nted in every police precinct in New
York and every city and town in New
Jersey.
Mr.. Ehstburn examined all the police
records in every precinct in the me
tropolis and Brooklyn, taking every
description that tailed in the slightest
Eith that OF William Bea. In the Fifty
seventh precinct, Brooklyn, on January
II, he found what he considered a
good clue to the missing man and re.
solved to follow it up. From an Off
Ger there he learned that man an
swering Bells description had been ar
lrested as a yagrant and sent to Ray.
mond street Jail to await trial. Upon
going there, Mr. Eastburn found thai
, lthe man had been sent TO the Kings
e county hospital, there examined as tC
- his sanity and sent to Kings county
almshOuse as a lunatic.
Mr.. Easaburn then went to the aims
house and then realized the enormitl
h. OF his undertaking. The place wal
- cvercrowded, there being over 100
T Migrants confined there. He found tn
name Of william Ben on The records
but was told by the authorities that
although Beil was in the building, ]
would be almost impossible TO fin
- him. Eastbmn. undaunted, began III
o search of the building. He went from
i ward to ward calling the name Of vii
j. liam Bell. but no one answered. L
one room, about 5Ox3O feet, clos
l. packed with benches, upon whic
d tramps were lying asleep. Mr.. East
t. burn went from man to man, raisin
his hat, and closely examining his fes
=" turss. Flna.ly he came to a man who's
,e he thought resembled Bell about th
re eyes. Shaking him, he ca,led him b
In name
Hello, Horace!" the man replied. 7
"a make sure Of his identity, Nh. Eas
ID burn closely questioned the man, WI
es told him that he WAS Horace Eae
burn. and where he lived.
he Il was singular that Mr.. Eastbu
W should have recognized Bel, as il h
re- been several years sinoe he had se'
ng him. When he wandered away fro
IN his home Bell wore his long, cur
mt hair in pOmpadour fashion, and had
n full beard and mustache. He wore
q soft black hat, black overcOat, gr
en- sack coat and vsst and gray trouse
When found in the almshouse he W
mt clbthed in only duck blouse and a c.
ton shirt and had his hair c.ipped a