Evening journal., 1902-09-26
VANDERBILT
DISAPPEARS
Man Who Recently Received
Fortune Is Missing
NOT SEEN SINCE TUESDAY
Theories Of Foul PLAY and Abduction
Have Been AdVanced-The
Police Are At Work

recently was left s75O.OOO by the will
of John McClary, of Atlanta, Ca, is
lsuangely missing from his home. No.
40S Porter street. in this city. He went
out Of the house at $50 o'clock on
Tuesday morning TO be gone but a few
minutes. and has not been back since.
1t is reported that Mr.. Vandegrlft was
seen on Tuesday night and that he
was taken from the East TO the West
Side CT town I'm O cab. II also is al
legged that he was seen on the same
night by a policeman.
The family OF the missing man are
worried over his disappearance. and
ask that little publicity be given 10 the
affair. "He Is home was his wife's
first reply to question asked by an
Evening Journal reporter this morn
ing. q don't want It put In the
papers" she said.
'He has been seen: know he has,
she mumured. "and there has been
too much published already about our
affairs"
This gave It away that the man wns
not home How much money he had
with him when he left is not known,
but II Us said that he was showing con-
siderable on the night before his dis
lappearance.
Was Arranging for Spread
On Monday night Mr.. Vandegrift was
in the saloon of John NJ. Lacey No.
800 Maryland avenue. making arrange
ments for a spread to the nachinists
I.F 81
he was employed before he received hlf
fortune.
'iHe had been drinking some when
he was in here" said Mr.. Lacey. "nnd
advised him not TO drink much. lie
paid for everything that he bought, and
did not display any money larger than
la 81 bill I understand. though, that
he showed several $40 bills in places
that he visited after leaving here. He
planned to have the set out on Wednes-
day evening. I have not seen him since
that right"
Where do you think he is?" Mr.
Lacey was asked.
I think he is in the creek" was the
reply.
''Why do you think so?" Because
there ara plenty Of people who would
knock hsm in the head and drop the
body into the river for the sake OF O
little money.
Was Preparing for Pleasure Trip
II is said that Mr.. Vandegrift had
planned to take his family for n triI
to New York ON the day Of his disap-
pearance and the grips were all packed
and the family waited for him TO come
for them. He did not appear and 81
the trip had TO be abandoned.
Stranger Visits vandeRrlft Home
Some think that Mr.. vandegrift ii
being held in this city for a ransom
They think this because a strange mar
who went to the vandegrift home be
cause a strange man who went to the
Vandegrift home between / and
O'clock this morning, aroused the fam
lily and asked to see Mr.. Vandegrift
After acting in a suspicious manner he
left
Police Are Puzzled
The family Of Mr. Vandegrift notified
the police of his disappearance. early
last Wednesday. but there has been nc
clew discovered to the missing man'i
whereabouts. II the police know any,
thing they viii not tell. They do mo-
believe that the missing man is dead.
Given Money for His Kindness
Several years ago Mr.. Vandegrift as
sisted a stranger who was taken sicl
on one of the Ericsson Line passenge
boats at Delaware City. He had
bottle of whiskey with him and gav,
I the stranger some, afterwards staying
, with him until he was able to TAX
care of himself. This kind action re
suited I'm the. stranger at his dealt
Z leaving to Vandegrift all of his estate
valued at S75O.00O. Vandegrift recent,
returned from Atlanta with enough o
the money to show that the story wa
not a myth.
Henderer Is Not Missing
, Fred Henderer. Of 632 South Connel
: street. who was reported to have bee
{ with Vandegrift, was seen at his HON
today and says that he has not see
Mr.. Vandegrift. The report was tina
Henderer mad received $500 from Nj
Vandegrift and that they We're bot
missing. Henderer is at work in Bettl
= machine shop and has been at work a
d the week. He has neither receive
p iewelry nor money from Mr.. Vandt
r grift. They were friends and wOrke
in the same shop.