The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-14
Eccentric Lawyer Has Disap-
peared and Friends Worry.
Fear That He is Sick In a Lone
ly Room.
NOT AT STATE LIBRARY
Fails to Visit His Haunts For
Over a Week.
One of the Most Persistent
BoOkworms in Kansas.

Charles Foster, an eccentric lawyer
and recluse, has absented himself from
his usual haunts-the state librar0 and
historical society rooms-for several
days and the fact gives rise to some
apprehension. Mr.. Foster, whose odd
inclinations as a lawyer are known
widely in the city, could not be located
today and as the search by friends re-
vealed nothing of his wherea bouts later
than Saturday morning, October 5, they
fear that some i'll has befallen him.
Mr.. Foster usually spends his days
almost entirely in the libraries of the
city. His practice has been limited en-
tirely to special work on cases for other
lawyers involving deep and exhaustive
reference work He IS read in the law
as no other lawyer in the vicinity, per-
haps.
AS far as can be recalled Mr.. Foster
was not in the state library last week
Mrs. Diggs says she has not seen him
there for several days He n light have
been there on a day early in the week.
but not later than Monday or Tuesday,
it is thought.
Mrs Diggs states that since she has
been state librarian Mr.. Foster has al
ways, heretofore, put in an appear
ance. On one occasion only does she
recall that he was absent for one day,
but came about the next 1T is now
several days since Mr.. Foster has been
in she said.
Up to two weeks ago Charles Foster
roomed and boarded at the Vegetarian
restaurant on Quincy street. 1t was
learned there today that he had left
there two weeks ago after disagree
ment with the proprietor over the care
of his room.
OF late Mr.. Foster had called every
morning at the home of Mrs. Julia
Pounds, corner Fourth and Harrison
e-+, 1,c+ he
however, was week ago Saturday
morning. Mrs Pounds said he may
have gone to the farm of Henry Wallace
at Mission Center. She had known him
to go there before.
Lawyer Frank Foster stated that the
missing man had not been in his office
for week or more.
The friends of Charles Foster fear
that he may be i'll in some lonely room.
He makes a recluse of himself in the
matter of his living. He had been liv-
ing for over a year at the Hygienic res
taurant until his departure two weeks
ago
Charles Foster is such a familiar fig
ure about the city, courts and libraries
that he is known to all the legal fra
ternity and patrons of the libraries. 1t
is not likely that he has left the city,
although it is barely possible. 1t is the
fact that the clockwork regularity of his
rounds is stopped entirely that creates
alarm over his disappearance.
He was always to be seen STOPPING
over a book A small man with slightly
bent shoulders. very plainly dressed, his
full short beard well turned toward
grey, with upper teeth prominent He
did not seek conversation, but when en-
gagged in the discussion of a topic in his
line gave full and kindly information in
an animated manner.
Later-Thomas Wood. son of J. G..
Wood received a postal card from
Charles Foster today, mailed in Okla
hona He went from Topeka to Law
renee. from there to Ottawa and then to
Oklahoma.