The daily sentinel., 1900-04-28
LIGHT ON oURAY MYSTERY.
Ascending Lawyer is the Son
of a Prominent Minister in
EngIand-.A Slick Rascal

cleared.
The real identity of the individual
who did business here under tho name
ofJ.J. A. Powell has been accurately
established.
His real name is John 81. Webpebloe,
and he is the son OF prominent minister
of London. England.
Just when Mr.. Webpebloe, alias Pow
ell, left the shores Of his British home.
local Investigators OF his antecedents do
not know. That portion Of Mr.. Web
pie dates from about 1892, whom he was
popular attorney, newspaper publisher
stock operator in Winfield, Va, small
city near Richmond.
In that year Mr.. Webpebloe struck
Winfield apparently fresh from the Brit
ish soil. He was bright smooth, suave
fellow, gallant in his demeanor, and
withal popular and friend maker.
He swung to tho breeze the shingls of
barrister, bought and edited weekly
paper, speculated on the stock market Of
Richmond and last but not least, won
tho heart and hand Of a fair Virginia
maiden, to whom he was welded in 1893,
As the result of this union two children
were born to the apparently happy
couple.
Mr.. Weopeblos was the ideal husband.
Kind and loving to his wife and indul-
gent to his children. The Virginia home
was beautiful one and the business ap-
parently prosperous.
The stock business took the head of
the house on numerous trips to New
York, but he was ever mindful of his
wife, and on these visits letters were re-
ceived from him almost daily.
In 1895 he was called to New York os-
tensibly on important business. After
being absent from home several days he
wrote his confiding wife that he had be-
como financially involved. and that when
she received that letter he would be out
at sea and far on his way toward Eng
land where he expected to get some as
sistancs from his father, and that he
would write to her whom he reached
London.
Time passed but no tidings came from
the absent husband. A letter from the
father in London stated that the son
had not been at home or that nothing
had been heard Of him for a number Of
months.
The complications OF the situation
multiplied. About the time that Mrs.
Webpebloe's suspicious were thoroughly
aroused there appeared upon the scene
a man who claimed to be Webpebloe's
assignee, and after the usual legal pro-
cess, he took possession Of the missing
lawyer editors available effects, which
were sold to satisfy notes amounting to
over $4,000 given by Webpebloe to his
brothers. preachers, one living in Boston
and the other in Canada,
The wife was left penniless and has
been supported since 1896 by the missing
mans father.
A very rigid investig alton OF the where
abouts OF Webpebloe only revealed traces
Of him in Liverpool late in 1896 and in
Cape Town in 1897.
At the close OF the last year mentioned
he left Cape town in sailing vessel and
according to tho mans own story, as re-
cited to Ouray friends, came direct to
America and soon afterwards to Ouray,
where he assu med the name OF J. j. A.
Powell.
His career here 10 10 we'll known that
only . brief review OF it 10 necessary.
He was the Same bright appearing law
yer, suave and polite. popular, shrewd,
attentive to business and successful in
his practice.
History repeated itself. He not only
won friends, but the heart, hand and
confidence of fair woman, whom be led
to Hymen's supposed sacred altar. Bus
ineae called him away from his wife, let
tors followed, and then the same myster-
ious disappearance as followed his New
York trip in 1896.
The nane he assumed here is that Of
prominent lawyer practicing in Vir-
ginia, Who Wa ignorant Of tho imposi-
tion until Ouray people acquainted him
With the fasts iew weeks ago.