The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-14
KID N A PPED:'

Our citizens of Blank cannot have for rotten the strange disappearance Of that states greatest defaulttr. Julius Hunt angton. He was at an early day connect as with on, of UT largest hospitals, as drur,Sisf, having graduated frem one oi our largest medical colleges as an ex- pert lharmacist, ne was one ot the most brilliant of his class, was an adept Tn mixing chemicals, was of an lnvehtiVe' experimeata genius, ambitious tc become of great renown as a scientist In ms ambition to succeed, for some unknown cause, he became discouraged and iost control of himself, his will power gave way and for lime he abandoned his ideal principles an expert chemist and yielding to a political Impulse De- came a politician. He was elected treas urer Of his State. While in rh;s capacity he mysteEiously disappeared with more than one hundred thousand dollars oNthe States money, to the astonishment Of all kis friends. His bondsmen had to make this loss good which embarrassed ffem almost to bankruptcy. The States officers were put upon his track; private detectives were employed to capture him; a large reward was offered by the Governor and so, also, did his bondsmen add considerable to this amount. This O cers of the State and the "Pinkertons, as private detectives exert themselves to their utmost to capture this defaulter and fugitive from justice. All, however, to no avail. The sequel will show that he was not what appearances indicated but was an honora be gentleman suffer- ing from mistaken accusation by form or friends and traducers.
 Huntington, as the States treasurer, &xrou ay-jin thp hOndS which had been intrusted to his care with all the vigilance of his nature. He knew khe great trust and responsibility resting upon him. His life to him was but an atom in the scales of honor, in guarding that which had been entrusted to his care. While thus protecting this treas ure, at some unguarded moment, he, with this vast treasure, was "kidnapped' by bandits, and with the States money and bonds in the darkness of night, was hurried off to the fastness of mountain cave, where he was compelled to join their band. To accomplish his purpose, he became one of their most conspicuous allies. This is a case where the end 1ustihes the means" Abiding his time, which was perhaps months before he was hble to accomplish the object he had in view his great aim was to obtain their confidence and in this he was success ful; he became one of their trusted agents with the vast sum, which they had accumulated by robbery of stage coaches, holding up of railroad trains. by bank robberies and various and numerous ways Of relieving tho belated traveller of his hard earnings, obtained by the t'sweat of his brow These brgands were unconscious of the motive that prompted their captive to be interested in the accumulation of their hank account which was kept in bank in tho far dis Rant West.
 Huntington, by means of his wits, was not implicated in any of their robberies; he was custodian of their vast wealth, and impressed up ,l his captors the inn Dortauce of his personal attention in guarding this treasure. When the amount on hand reached the sum and in- terest taken from the States treasury at the time they kidnapped him, his plan of capturing these outlaws was com plete. He secretly communicated with the Pinkertons, who, at signal given by Huntington entered their stronghold, and, taking them unawares captured the entire gang. They are now serving life sentence in the States penitentiary. With a clear conscience he returned every dol lar of the States money and interest. His explanation was satisfa ctory. The amount of reward offered by the State and his bondsmen was paid to him. The Legislature also made an appropriation for his benefit commensurate with his noble act of guarding the States money 3n and out of the States treasury.
 His return at this time was most op- portune, as his afianced bride, Miss Preston, was taken very sick, and, after all that medical skill could do. died in khe morning of her young life. She had budded, bloomed and b1ossomed. but like all things animate and inanimate yielded to natures laws. Just at this time he disappeared as mysteriously as before.
 Recently I have become acquainted with some strange facts in connection with him. and I consider it my duty to communicate what have learned in con- nection with this mysterious case.
 You all know Colonel A, our fel- low townsman, has taken this Summ CT an extensive trip through the Northwest. going as far as St. Paul and Minneapolis, Knowing that he Is one of the rare per cons who has a wonderful memory and oan tell what he has seen, and describe things simply and clearly so that they stand out before the minds eye, I went to see him upon his return He greeted me with his us1ul cordiality, and enter kained me for quite while with an ac- count of his trip imparting information, more real and accurate about the North west and the people. than I had been
 
 ern travel that had read. As I arose to go, he remarked Do you remember the second mysterious disappearance oi one of our most conspicuous eitizens Huntington, the fautless defaulter?' ''what of it?" l inquired. Why, I saw him at St. Paul" said Colonel A. land there Is something marvelously strange about It.
 "One afternoon toward sunset, when was walking in the outskirts of St Paul, I saw a gentleman and lady com. ing in direction that would lead them across my path As they were passing not many paces ahead of me, I perceived to my astonshment that it was out kid mapped treasurer. I hailed him. Ht Booked at me. then threw a yeil over the lady's head, took her by the arm. and ran away as fast as he could, l looked after him until he disappeared. "Whc was the lady?" I asked. "To tell the truth, was so busy looking at him that 1 scarcely glanced at her: I only noticed that she seemed to be young and handsome" said the Colonel.
 ''I think you must be mistaken; he was not man to run away in that manner he was brave, you know, particularly SC in the presence of women. Besides yol will remember that he disappeared abou' the time of the pecuia~ death of Bessie Preston; he was deeply attached to her and now, to be consOIing himself so soor \,