Evening star., 1901-06-08
ABSE N IT A WEEK
Unexplained Disappearance i of Two
Government Employees.
SUGGESTION Of AN ELOPEMEHT
The Man in the Case Writes Wife
Letter nof Farewell.
WOMAN LEAVES CHILDREN

William Morey, a married man with five
small children. who has been employed as
a mechanical draughtsman in the military
information division of the War Depart
ment. and Mrs. Clara Ridell. a widow,
with two children, employed as an inter-
prefer In the same division, were reported
by Col. w. A. Simpson, chief of that dt-
vision. this morning, to have been absent
without leave for week. The first of this
week Mrs Morey, who lives In kensing-
ton. received note from her husband.
which read: Dear wife: I am going to
leave you forever. 1 will see that you get
500 a month during your life. enough for
you and the children. My reputation here
Is ruined. You can do what you please
about the woman In the case"
Saturday Mrs. RidelI sold her beautiful
country home near. Alexandria, the cid
Da1ngerfeld estate, to c. B. Hazard real
estate dealer in this city, for 900 cash,
ana since that time she has not been at her
previous lodgings, which were an apart
ment building on U street, where she had
llved FOR several months. Mr. Hazard says he
bought the farm with the stock, furniture
ana all appurtenances. The farm had been
leased to family with whom Mrs Ri
delIs two children lived, and when she
sold the place she incidentally asked Mr..
Hazard to please look after the children,
as she was going away. Mr.. Hazard says
his impression was that she was only to be
absent temporarily.
Since the developments referred to Mr..
Hazard has put himself in communication
with Mrs. Margaret x. Atherton, Mrs
Rfdelis mother, of Newark Ohio. and Mrs.
Atherton will doubtless be here in a few
days to take charge of her grandchildren
Mrs Atherton is the widow Of the late
Representative Atherton of Ohio.
Causes but Little Surprise.
There is little surprise expressed at the
departure Of Mrs RideH and Mr.. Morey
simultaneously by those who have been
in position to observe their intimacy
with each other. 1t is stated that Morey
had not been going home nights for some
time, reporting to his wife that he was
doing some government work at Indian
Head, and it is also stated that the action
Of Mrs Ridell at her lodgings had been
such as to compel the managers of the
place to give her warning to leave. Mrs.
Ridell Is about fortyfour years old Is
small of stature and not considered pre-
possessing in appearance. She was, how
ever, a linguist of considerable ability by
means of which, she held her position in
the department.
About thirteen or fourteen years ago.
While her family was travelling in SWitZer-
land she met and married Mr. Ridell
Upon their return to this country Mrs
Atherton bought for them the beautiful
country seat of Daingerfield about fifteen
miles south Of Washington, and there the
young couple repaired. Two children were
born to them, the first a boy. who is now
twelve years old. and then a daughter now
about eight years of age Three or four
years ago Mr.. Ridell died and she came to
Washington to live. Without great Difficult
ty friends Of her father, who has been dead
Ior nearly eleven years, secured for her
position In the War Department at a sal
ary Of $75 a month. During most Of this
time she lived in the city alone, having lea.
her children to the care Of servants down
on her farm.
Morey is said to be a resident of Michi-
gan. He Is only about thirty-two years
OF age. His father went to Ceylon
as a Methodist minister, and afterward
became United States consul at that place.
he married a native and William Morey.
Jr., was born Of the union The latter is
snort OF stature and weighs about 146
pounds. His complexion is of the pure
olive type, his hair and mustache black.