The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-03-21

of police departments under
the head of mysterious disap-
pearances" is many a tale
more weird and interesting
than any penned by writer's of fiction.
For a person to suddenly vanish as if
earth had swallowed him up is most
difficult feat. This is the opinion of po-
lice and expert detectives. Yet despite
this dictum, hundreds of persons drop
out of sight every year. What becomes
of these people is a mystery few de-
tectives will attempt to explain.
The most notable and ineXplicable
case of mysterious disappearance dur
ing the past year was that of Frank
Ely Rogers, a boy of fourteen, who dis
appeared from his home in Evanston.
Ill. He was accompanied by his aunt.
Miss Florence Ely. Since their disap-
pearance last July all efforts to find
them have been futile.
The remarkable cunning with which
Miss Ely and the boy have eluded pur-
suit and concealed every possible clew
to their whereabouts suggests the won
| derful ingenuity always displayed by
the insane. 1t has bailled the police in
every city in the country. 1t has en-
| abled frail. delicate woman of forty,
without money and apparently without
accompliceS, TO hide herself and her
boy companion for eight months from
the vigilance of trained detectives.
Until last July Miss Ely had been
piano teacher in Evanston. She is forty
years old, slender and of delicate ply
| sique. Her hair is dark brown. Her
| large dark eyes are expressive. Alto
gether she is a handsome gentlewoman
of more than usual intelligence and de-
voted to music. For twenty years she
made her home with her sister. the
wife of James C. Rogers as did also
her mother who is heartbroken over
the peculiar action of her daughter.
The family lives on Hinman avenue,
one of the most beautiful residence
streets of Evanston, short distance
from the campus of the Northwestern
university. Mr.. Rogers is connected
with the mercantile firm of Carson.
Pirie, Scott & Co., in Chicago. and is
a man of ability and some means
When Frank was born, fourteen
years ago. Miss Ely idoliZed the baby
She loved him as if she were his moth
er, and it was her delight to care for
and amuse him. AS he grew into boy
hood her affection kept pace with his
growth. The care of the boy took
precedence of all else in her mind.
AS the boy grew older and her alb
sorption in him increased she gave up
nearly all her social duties. She wish
ed to devote her entire time to her
nephew.
Finally, in July last. Mr. and Mrs
Rogers decided to send the boy Frank
away to military school, in the hope
of breaking up the infatuation of the
couple. He was to leave July 10, and
the boy was warned not to tell Miss
Ely of the plan. He promptly inform
ed his aunt of all that was on foot.
To forestal this separation it is sup
posed that Miss Ely decided to go
away with her nephew.
On the morning of July 13 Frank
left home ostensibly to attend picnic
I'm the woods near town. He said good
by cheerfully to his mother and his
grandmother, the aged Mrs Ely, and
sighted his aunt, as it is now remem-
bered. By persistent search their move
ments for an hour or so after they left
the house have been traced.
The boy walked by circuitous route
to the station of the Chicago and
Northwestern railroad. There Miss
Ely met him in about half an hour.
She had left satchel at the station
the day before and on this morning
she got the satchel from Station Agent